Her First Set
Karen was able to persuade her parents into buying her a Ludwig drum kit for $300. Interestingly, a friend called Frankie Chavez was a major influence in her decision to learn how to play the instrument. She might have been curious about the drums, but she was also a quick learner. In fact, she was able to master difficult time signatures like the 5/4 in ‘Take Five’ by Dave Brubeck in no time at all.
Her First Set
Trio
The siblings decided to start a jazz trio in 1965. Richard and Karen were accompanied by Wesley Jacobs, Richard’s friend from school. Richard played the piano, Karen was on the drums, and Wesley played the tuba and bass. Karen was not a good singer at the time, but she was able to build enough confidence to perform after taking several vocal lessons.
Trio
