Artist description Melodic fast finger.

Music Style Blues, jazz-fusion, oriental.

Musical Influences Blues, rock, fusion, classical, world music.

Similar Artists John McLaughlin, Frank Gambale, Robben Ford, John Scofield

Artist History Irakli Kikvadze (stage names: Dr Ika, Jango Raveheart) was born in Tbilisi, Georgia (former USSR). He started to play a granddad's gramophone at the age of 4, piano at 7 and classical guitar at 12. After listening to Albert King, B.B. King and Albert Collins, Ika discovered the blues and electric guitar. Later, after having heard the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix, he fell in love with rock music which was a strictly forbidden fruit in the USSR. Ika started to play electric guitar and instantly got the blues, because everybody and everything that surrounded him was against it - starting with the Soviet System and ending with his parents. KGB was after him (Ika was listening to the "enemy" radios like BBC and the Voice of America) and police were cutting his moderately long hair short. While waiting for a better future Ika became a Doctor of Biology and earned a Bachelor's degree in music. When the strict attitude towards the "subversive western music" had softened, Dr Ika started to perform on several rock and blues festivals and twice was honored as the country's best guitarist. During the 1986-1989 Ika lived and worked as a scientist in Sweden. He has played with top jazz and blues musicians such as Jimmy Smith, Richard Roberts, Tom Levin and has twice performed with the legendary B.B.King - an unusual claim to fame from a neurosurgeon. In 1990, back in Georgia, Ika continued his scientific work (research on brain tissue transplantation, epilepsy and Parkinson's disease), and in addition, started to write music for films, cartoons, TV and theater. 1991-1993 were the most difficult years in Ika's life. The collapse of the Soviet system brought about an anarchy, corruption, extreme poverty and the rise of nationalism instead of democracy, freedom and prosperity. There was no electricity, no gas, and no food or other necessary products. The members of various different gangs were in the streets robbing people and killing each other for petrol, cars or just for a cigarette. Some of the notorious members of Drug Mafia and the war lords got important posts in the government and the future was unpredictable and bleak. It is not surprising that Dr Ika got the BLUES. Miraculously in 1993, Dr Ika and his wife, Lia, were awarded the Royal Society Fellowships to carry out research at Cardiff University. They left Georgia for good and immigrated to the UK. Along his scientific work, Ika started to play funk-fusion with the band "The Funker" and also totally different type of music in the rave clubs together with heavy house dance DJ Paul Lyons. Soon he was sharing the stage with such top DJs as Sasha, John Digwid, Carl Cox, Kalvin Andrews, Love Dub, Tall Paul and others. Experience he gained on the dance floor proved to be invaluable when he later produced a Future Music's platinum award winning guitar sample CD "Guitar Odyssey" (Zero-G Ltd.). Dr Ika now lives in Hertfordshire. He has given up his scientific career and has entirely devoted himself to music. Ika performs about 200 gigs a year with the Grapevine blues band or in duo with a singer Mike Chase. With the Grapevine Blues Band, Ika played on many blues festivals in the UK, sharing the stage with Gary Moore, Stan Webb, Papa George, Sonny Black and others. 2002 Dr. Ika was signed by "Blues Matters!" label (UK) and all original album "Dr Ikas Blues" was released.

Group Members Ika plays and records with several session musicians.

Instruments Parker midi fly, Parker P-38 custom, Gibson L6S custom, Shadow custom.

Albums Five albums-check them out on the Ika's site.

Press Reviews 1. "Dr.Ika is a tremendous blues guitarist with great taste and tone"... Jeff Calvin, Blues Revue. USA 2001. 2. "Ika is a big ears player,...his moods and scales are beautiful, they are consistently engaging" John Stix, "Guitar For The Practicing Musician", 1994.02 3. "Dr Ika can play with soul as well as breathtaking thchnical skill" - Tim Slater, "Guitarist",1994.08 4. "Dr Ika lets rip with some superb riffs and sequences" - Future Music", 1998.05 5. "Dr Ika is the best thing to come out of Russia" - Adam Crute, "The Mix", 1998.05 6. "Guitar Odyssey is a triumph in usability" - Big George Webley, "Sound on Sound", 1998.05 7. "I would love to see Ika play live" - Dave Stone, "Fender Back Line", 1999.03 Its a nice thought that a new blues label like BLUES MATTERS! can spring into life with innovative product of this quality. Its even nicer to think that a man who learnt his craft, not only as a physician, but as a guitarist, did so in a part of the world as far removed from Memphis and Chicago as you could get. The Mississippi Delta might be a place on the map, but it is also very portable state of mind. So, you've exercised your curiosity and taste well in picking up this particular pressing. And when you crank up the volume, as you inevitably will, don't worry about your health, its always nice to know there's a Doctor in the house... Roy Bainton Author of Talk To Me Baby, the Story of The Blues Band Here we have a man who has not only played with B.B King and Jimmy Smith, he's also a name on the rave club scene in a different context. is there no end to this mans versatility? Listening to this CD the answer seems to be in negative! This is a top class, eclectic musicianship with wide range of stylistic influences, but true Blues is always at the core, well produced and excellently played. If they're half as good as this live... somebody get me a ticket please!!... "Blues Matters!" Ashley Wainwright

Additional Info Ika is currently recording a new original album for

Location Hatfield, Herts - United Kingdom

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