By the close of the 1990s, DKV Trio was one of the leading free jazz trios based out of Chicago. The highly skilled and passionate members -- Hamid Drake (percussion), Kent Kessler (bass), and Ken Vandermark (reeds) -- initially came together in 1994, for Vandermark's Standards release on Quinnah records. The trio worked so well together that they continued to perform, eventually recording several strong albums, including their debut, Baraka, and the two-disc Live in Wels & Chicago, 1998, both on Okkadisk. DKV Trio has also recorded with legendary Chicago tenor saxophonist Fred Anderson, and guitarist Joe Morris. All three also perform and record in several other acclaimed groups, such as the Brotzmann Tentet, Fred Anderson Trio, and Vandermark 5. DKV Trio has performed at Austria's Music Unlimited '98 Festival, the 1999 Chicago Jazz Festival, and regularly at Chicago jazz clubs including the Empty Bottle and the Velvet Lounge. ~ Joslyn Layne