Kit Garoutte (far right) has played with a plethora of bands and musicians since 1970, starting with bands such as Colonel Jack (right - playin' for the Dogpatch Hoot 'n' Holler dance, circa 1971) in high school.

The first steady gig for Kit was just after high school as part of Crazy Alice at VIP's lounge in La Grande, Oregon. For several months he gigged 6 nights a week, 5 hours a night while going to college. After two terms he decided to discontinue the formal education for the time being and focus on performing with the band.

After a year-long stint with Crazy Alice Kit moved to the Boise, Idaho area to gig around Idaho and Oregon with the bands Rockbottom, Maranatha, and Omphalus.

Kit moved to Portland in '72. Kit has been a professional musician with bands like Selection (left) and many others, and as a solo artist ever since.

After a year or so with Selection Kit had the opportunity to join Slickaphonic (right), a hot funk band in the mold of Portland's legendary band Pleasure. It was with Slickaphonic that Kit and the band had the opportunity to perform at the old Paramount Theatre with Blue Magic and several other bands, and as Carla Thomas' band for another event in funky P.O.

Rainbow (left) was a hot "blue-eyed soul" and rock band that sold out virtually every performance (with lines out the door most of the time) for a time in venues such as the Up the Down Staircase, The Depot, The Faucet, The Inferno, and The Wreck of the Hesperus. Kit played guitar for the first couple of years with Rainbow, then became the band's bass player as he delved deeper into jazz guitar "on the side."

After Rainbow Kit worked for a short time with Lovin’ It featuring the now legendary and amazing diva Linda Hornbuckle.

Several years with Pressure Point followed. Pressure Point is one of the longest running, best and most successful "casual" bands in the Portland area. The band featured vocalist and bassist Mike Winkle, and a gaggle of excellent "hired guns" like Portland's most in-demand drummer Carlton Jackson, and killer sax players Jeff Homan, Lee Wuthenow, Michael Bard, and Michael York.

The Casey and Garoutte acoustic duo (right) was Kit's main focus for a couple of years. Kit and vocalist and guitarist Scott Casey performed around the Portland area and recorded a CD in partnership with Doug Durbrow and Desitrek Studio.

In Freeway Kit took over bass duties after Sandin Wilson. Mark J. and Chuck Wentzel were the leaders of the band and Freeway enjoyed a great deal of success at many of the most popular venues around Portland and Salem and the Northwest.

Kit worked with the Gary Ogan Project featuring the Linn sisters for series of performances. Jeff Miniweather played some great drums and as often happened with many of the players mentioned here, Kit would hook up with him again in Roger Sause's band (see below) playing a very different repertoire and style.

It was during this period that Kit worked as a clinician and product demonstrator with Sherman Ferguson (drummer with Kenny Burrell at the time) and Clark Salisbury.

These days Kit Garoutte performs most frequently as a solo artist. His original compositions for fingerstyle guitar utilize elements of many genres, the most apparent being jazz and new acoustic with classical, celtic, funk, rhythm and blues, soul, folk and blues coloring the mix in a most delightful way. In addition, Kit's instrumental repertoire includes an ecclectic mix of his arrangements of 'cover' material ranging from jazz standards by the likes of Miles Davis and Duke Ellington to smooth jazz tunes from Earl Klugh and Dave Grusin stretching across the board all the way to classic rock from The Allman Brothers.

Kit is once again performing with Gary Ogan and Denny Bixby as the Gary Ogan Trio, with Denny as the Garoutte-Bixby Band, with vocalist Margaret Linn, with saxophonist Victor Sharpe, occasionally subbing for Chuck Everett with Pressure Point, and with various other Portland, OR-based artists and bands as a sideman.

Photo by Fred Stickley

And now, the JazzKit is back! Witness this shot of Dan Stueber, Dave Captein and Kit Garoutte from a recent gig at World Trade Center Building #2 in downtown Portland.

Photo by Betty Thornton-Kellogg

Kit has over 35 years of formal and private study and on-the-job experience, including studies with jazz guitarists Larry Adair, Marv Lundblade, and John Stowell and has taught private lessons for over 25 years.

Kit currently teaches private guitar lessons at Portland Music Company's Beaverton store in addition to performing live and in the studio.

Photo by John Bellerby