LA’s Top Jazz Players Go Electronic as Simplexity with Producers Steve Tavaglione and John von Seggern
Los Angeles – November 12, 2009 – West Coast electronic jazz group Simplexity (http://www.myspace.com/simplexitymusic) will be releasing their debut album Extreme Measures worldwide on Tuesday February 2, 2010.
Simplexity is a hyper-dimensional electronic jazz project formed by producer, noted computer musician and bassist John von Seggern together with Los Angeles sound designer and top studio musician Steve Tavaglione, joined by some of the most innovative and respected jazz players on the West Coast – keys player John Beasley, drummer Gary Novak, trumpeter Walt Fowler, and clarinetist/EVI player Judd Miller. The album also contains some of the last recordings of bassist Dave Carpenter, to whom Extreme Measures is dedicated.
Extreme Measures was recorded over a couple days of jam sessions and overdubs at drummer Gary Novak’s Kronos Recording studio in Burbank. Sax, drums, keyboards, and bass were mixed and combined with computer beats and grooves in live session, then later edited and remixed into compositions by John von Seggern, nicknamed John von Badass by the players, although he typically just goes by John von.
The release event for Extreme Measures will be a live performance by Simplexity taking place at Los Angeles’ home for experimental instrumental music, ResBox on January 21 at 8pm. ResBox is a monthly event featuring the world’s best experimental music, curated by musician and filmmaker Hans Fjellestad. The event takes place at the Steve Allen Theater at the Center for Inquiry West, 4773 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90027.
Although Extreme Measures is the group’s first release under the Simplexity name, the members of this illustrious group are each well-known in their own right as giants of the West Coast music scene. Between them, they have amassed hundreds of recording credits for albums, film and television.
Producer/remixer John von Seggern is a sound designer, bassist and DJ, who relocated to Southern California in 2001 after a decade spent in Asia (Tokyo and Hong Kong) performing and recording with some of the region’s most influential artists. Von Seggern now lives in Los Angeles, where he plays techno at warehouse events and runs the digital labels Vibration Institute and Xeriscape. He also works for German music software company Native Instruments and has been a collaborator and music technology consultant for numerous Hollywood composers and producers. John von specializes in cutting-edge beats and sounds as well as creating new fusions and mixtures of music from genres around the world.
Steve Tavaglione who co-produced and played saxophone and electronics on Extreme Measures is a woodwind and EWI musician most notable for his extensive film and TV music credits including work on “CSI,” “CSI:NY,” WALL-E, Ocean’s 11, 12, and 13 and many, many more. He has recorded and performed with Sergio Mendes, Roger Waters, Michael Jackson, Vinnie Colaiuta, John Patitucci, Scott Kinsey, Scott Henderson and countless others.
John Beasley is a composer, pianist, producer, and arranger who has recorded and performed with many major innovators of modern music including Miles Davis, Jon Hassell, Freddie Hubbard, Steely Dan, James Brown and Chick Corea. He has released nine solo recordings including his recent, acclaimed album Positootly. Additionally he is one of the most in demand players and music directors for films and television shows in Hollywood on projects such as Wall-E, Finding Nemo, Dreamgirls, “The Simpsons,” Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, “American Idol” and many more.
Drummer Gary Novak has worked with such musical greats as Michael McDonald, Natalie Cole, David Sanborn, Anita Baker, Lee Ritenour, George Benson, Chick Corea, Allan Holdsworth, and Alanis Morissette. He also performs on many film and television scores in addition to engineering and producing in his own Kronos Recording studio where Extreme Measures was recorded.
The late, great, bassist Dave Carpenter appeared on over two hundred recordings, and had dozens of television, film scores and soundtracks to his recording credit; Extreme Measures was one of the last projects he recorded on. He worked with many celebrated jazz artists such as Allan Holdsworth, Peter Erskine, Buddy Rich, Woody Herman, Lee Ritenour, Rod Stewart, Barbara Streisand, David Benoit, Boz Scaggs, and more. He also appeared as a soloist with the Los Angeles and Berlin Philharmonics as well as the Tanglewood and BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestras. He was a beloved friend to the musicians of Simplexity and many musicians and friends throughout the music world who feel this loss deeply.
Walt Fowler is yet an another titanic player in Los Angeles, most noted for his work with Frank Zappa’s Mothers of Invention he has also played with Ray Charles, Buddy Rich, James Taylor, George Benson, Diana Ross, James Brown, Roberta Flack, Stanley Clarke, The Doors, Manhattan Transfer, Fishbone, and many others. Additionally he is an in demand player and orchestrator on top Hollywood Films such as Dark Knight, The Simpsons Movie and Transformers to name just some recent projects.
Judd Miller is arguably the top EVI player in the world. His expertise on the instrument and his superlative sound design from his enormous, self-created sound design library has established him as one of the most popular musicians for top movie scores. His has worked with composers Maurice Jarre, Stewart Copeland, Danny Elfman, James Newton Howard, John Williams, James Horner, and more. His programming and sound design skills are also well known in the jazz world including ongoing collaborations with such artists as the Yellowjackets, Michael Brecker, Peter Erskine, Charlie Haden, and many, many more.
Extreme Measures will be released digitally worldwide in all the major online services including iTunes, Amazon.com, and Rhapsody and on CD at Amazon.com and local outlets in Los Angeles on February 2, 2010, through the Vibration Institute Music label.
# # #
Hi there, I just stumbled upon this website while browsing on online as I’m looking for some info on electric cellos!. It is an informative blog so I bookmarked your site and I intend to revisit you another day to give it a proper read when I’ll more free time.
We love the cello. Please visit often. Peace!
Aw, this was a really quality post. In theory I’d like to write like this too – taking time and real effort to make a good article… but what can I say… I procrastinate alot and never seem to get something done.
I thought it was going to be some boring old post, but it really compensated for my time. I will post a link to this page on my blog. I am sure my visitors will find that very useful.
Check us out often!
I just couldnt leave your website before saying that I really enjoyed the quality information you offer to your visitors… Will be back often to check up on new stuff you post!
This is my first time i visit here. I found so many interesting stuff in your blog especially its discussion. From the tons of comments on your articles, I guess I am not the only one having all the enjoyment here! keep up the good work.