Knipple
We always have some unexpected shenanigans – Jordank
Knipple is a Tulsa-based punk-jazz duo consisting of JordanK (bass/whale sounds) and Knicholas (drums/emotions). Known as a “rhythm section for hire” turned front-stage act, they perform eclectic, high-energy, and interactive music featuring bass, drums, loops, and audience participation with kazoos and games. Jordan explained, “Nicholas calls it punk jazz because of the distorted bass, high energy, our take on Latin music, and ukulele-folk with electronic beats.”
“We’re really just eclectic—more than any particular sound or genre, we just like too many styles of music to only play one. In the various bands we’ve played in, there’s stuff like Tulsa Sound, folk, rock, funk, hip-hop, jazz, and experimental—a pretty broad diet of music that speaks to us. Other bands are focused on gigs. Knipple has always gotten to exist purely as a vehicle to develop our music and relationship together. Showing up, getting to play what you want to play. It’s more about freedom than any style. Communication between Nicholas and me, improvising in front of an audience.” Funky Friendship is their most recent song.
Nicholas was born and raised in Tulsa with a stint in New Orleans. Jordan says he “moved here to go to the University of Tulsa and got involved in the local music scene. It’s a wonderful scene here—lots of great musicians, lots of support for music, a cheap cost of living, a perfect recipe—I could sustain a living as a musician from the beginning. I kept my calendar busy—playing rhythm bass & drums, getting other gigs.” Every week Knipple is in a different constellation of music, gigs, rehearsals, and travel. “Not a ton of consistency.” Says Jordan, “It’s really nice to have a variety.” Nicholas and Jordan have been in 15-20 different bands together over the last 17 years.
“Knipple was formed on a smoke break, and we kept playing bass and drums while everyone else went out to smoke. We thought it sounded pretty good. At a weekly standing jazz gig, I had, when the third member of the trio couldn’t make it, we decided to just have the two of us. It’s different making multiple sets of music as only drums and bass. But we keep adding things like loopers and effect pedals; we’ve been into this particular thing for about 10 years. We’re always adding electronics and keyboards; it keeps growing.” Later they found their name, Knipple, just by putting the letter K in front of different words. They thought it was very funny.
Jordan is a fan of Bobby McFerrin and admires how he really engages with people. “You have to watch him in ‘Live in Montreal.‘” Jordan describes McFerrin “turning expectations on their head; he backed up a local choir on Ave Maria, using his voice as an organ to lift their sound. By letting the choir lead the entire audience, he turned a solo performance into a communal, transcendent experience. It was deeply moving to see the focus shifted from ‘me’ to ‘us.’ It’s inspired us to encourage audience participation through all kinds of activities, games, themes, or just sticking a kazoo in their mouths. When the show stops being just about the people on stage, it becomes a collective experience. It affects the music, but it goes far beyond the music itself.”
Over the years, they have built a strong connection with The Church Studio through various recording sessions with several of the bands they perform in, such as the high-energy, New Orleans-style brass band King Cabbage; the multidisciplinary artist, singer-songwriter, and curator Kalyn Fay; and Chris “Poppa” Foster, a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist who leads Poppa Foster and the Goodtime Band.
Jordan’s history with the studio began years ago, though, at the Harwelden Mansion, where he first met owner Teresa Knox while playing jazz gigs with the late Tim Shadley. As Tim’s health declined, Teresa generously opened the studio’s doors, allowing the duo to record together as much as possible before he passed—a gesture Jordan still holds in high regard.
“I love the sound engineers, Gary Laney and Mike Prado, and Tunes at Noon is great,” he says of The Church Studio. “It’s wonderful to have a place that takes care of the local scene. Usually, recording in that kind of studio means it’s expensive and you’re priced out, but they’ve made it accessible and inclusive. We’ve benefited a lot from that.”
“And now we’re playing our first show with the headline at Cain’s, as the opening act for Carney Fest. We’re opening for Robert Randolph!” I asked if they were ready. “We have most of the material for the set—we’re preparing our tightest set to date. But we always have some unexpected shenanigans. Like we might have a high-five mosh pit—a minute-and-a-half song with people just running around high-fiving.” Look for them in their red and blue jumpsuits and prepare to be entertained!
You can often find Knipple at the Colony. Facebook Instagram Bandcamp
