30/11/2020
We are shocked and saddened by the sudden death of Kali Fasteau. She and then-husband Donald Rafael Garrett, as Sea Ensemble, released a profound album on ESP-Disk’ in 1974 and made two more great albums for Italian label Red Records in the same era. As a leader, she formed the label Flying Note to release her music, first on cassette tapes and then CDs, and was prolific. A superb saxophonist, pianist, and singer, she also played flutes, viola, cello, drums, and instruments from around the world.
Kali stayed part of the ESP family even as she went her own way; she frequently participated in ESP events. Her set at ESP’s 50th anniversary concert in 2013 was one of the highlights. The piano at the venue was out of tune and not in good shape, as had been heard earlier in the day; somehow she made it sound like a vastly better instrument than it was. All of her performances were full of such magical moments.
