1.28.12 Simplexity » Steve Tavaglione + John Beasley + John von Seggern + Gary Novak + Jon Margulies
Simplexity is a hyperdimensional electronic jazz project formed by computer musician/bassist ..John von Seggern.. together with LA sound designer/studio musician ..Steve Tavaglione.., joined by some of the heaviest players on the West Coast including keyboardist ..John Beasley.., drummer ..Gary Novak.., bassist ..Dave Carpenter.., trumpeter ..Walt Fowler.., and sound designer/EVI master ..Judd Miller……. .. Our first album will be released Feb 2nd 2010 thru ..Vibration Institute Music… .. .. .. John Beasley .. .. .. Gary Novak .. .. .. Steve Tav and John von .. .. .. Jon Marguiles
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An original voice in instrumental music, Steve “Tav” Tavaglione is well known as a multi-styled saxophonist, clarinetist, flautist and E.W.I. wind-synth player, who uses imagery and passion to guide his performance.
Since making his professional debut with Sly and the Family Stone at the 1st Annual American Music Awards, Tav has cultivated a reputation as one of the music industry’s most inventive players. He has recorded and/or performed with Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Diana Ross, George Benson, Lee Ritenour and many others. As a founding member of the pioneering Worldbeat ensemble Caldera, Tav helped create an award winning Latin sound. (Caldera was one of the first groups to forge the direction, which inspired the current Flamenco and Global Pop crazes.)
Born in Riverside, California, Steve Tavaglione began performing professionally at age 18. Utilizing his ability to weave ideas within an ensemble setting, Tav teamed with Jorge Strunz and Eduardo Del Barrio in 1975 to form the pioneering World-Fusion group, Caldera. The trio recorded four acclaimed albums for Capitol Records and won Best Latin Group honors from Billboard and Cashbox in 1978-79. The band was one of few to have singles appear regularly on the Billboard Pop charts.
Post Caldera Tav gained an A-list reputation that continues to this day from his work with Pop icons such as Steve Winwood, Gino Vanelli, David Crosby and Andre Crouch, to International superstars like Sergio Mendes, Luis Miguel and Simone, to Jazz luminaries George Benson, Dave Weckl, Frank Gambale, Gary Willis, Vinnie Colaiuta, and Alan Holdsworth. Most recently, Tav performed and recorded in concert with legendary Pink Floyd alumnus, Roger Waters.
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LA WEEKLY: Brick’s Jazz Picks: Wild, Moaning, Screeching Jazz
by Brick Wahl Thursday, Jun 2 2011
As is the night before [Friday, June 3] at the Blue Whale, where pianist John Beasley’s Jazz Circle perform material from his terrific (and Grammy-nominated) Positootly!, plus some new raga-based material and even a noirish soundtrack (with stills from the flick itself). We find describing jazz piano next to impossible, but if we could, we’d go on and on about how much we dig Beasley’s playing. He’s got trumpeter Rashawn Ross, bassist Kevin Brandon and drummer Oscar Seaton in the Circle, plus incredible vocalist Dwight Trible, who blew minds at LACMA last week. $15. Way cool.
Friday, June 3 – Two sets: 9pm and 10:30pm
John Beasley Positootly! Jazz Circle
Playing new material, raga jazz, sneak peak of DUET CD with vocalist Dwight Trible, score to photography projection and favorites from Grammy-nominated Positootly! Album and Letter to Herbie
Positootly! featuring Jeff “Tain” Watts, Bennie Maupin, James Genus, Brian Lynch, Munyungo Jackson, John Beasley showcases Beasley’s original, propulsive, multi-layered compositions from funk and soul to bop, bossa nova, and nuevo tango along with three choice covers.
RASHAWN ROSS trumpet
KEVIN BRANDON bass
OSCAR SEATON drums
JOHN BEASLEY piano
Featuring Dwight Trible, vocal, Helen K Garber, photographer – Urban Noir – NY and LA nightscapes by Helen K Garber scored by John Beasley
LeRoy Downs, Jazz Cat MC
“Beasley, the one-time keyboardist for Freddie Hubbard and Miles Davis, reflects a variety of generational influences, incorporating the emphatic chordal clusters of Herbie Hancock, the rhythmic quirkiness of Monk and the lush intelligence of Art Tatum into a highly refined personal voice.” – LA Times
An original artist with a highly expressive and personal style, John Beasley, a veteran pianist, composer, and arranger, earned a 2011 Grammy nomination for his ninth album Positootly! (Best Jazz Instrumental Album
With a music career spanning three decades, Beasley’s credits reads like a who’s who in the music world. He has performed/recorded with illustrious artists, including Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, Thad Jones, Hubert Laws, Dianne Reeves, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Wallace Roney, James Moody, Christian McBride, Kenny Garrett, and Kenny Rankin; took the lead as Music Director for Grammy Award winners Steely Dan, Queen Latifah, Carly Simon (DVD) and AR Rahman’s tours; played on box office hits Wall-E, Shawshank Redemption, Finding Nemo; composed for TV series Star Trek, Cheers and Fame; and arranged music or was Music Director for reality shows American Idol and Search for the next Pussycat Doll, including arranging for Ricky Minor productions and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
As a solo recording artist, Beasley’s compositions, arrangements and playing are inventive, explorative and exquisitely realized expanding musical thought, transcending limitations and genres while maintaining his unique and unmistakable style not only in jazz, but blues, classical and world music as well. His nine solo recordings illustrate how adept he is at writing both lyrically, rhythmically and across boundaries.
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John von Seggern is a producer, sound designer, bassist and DJ, 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.
He has performed his unique blend of techno electro jazz at countless clubs, festivals and events in Asia and the US. His Hong Kong-based band Digital Cutup Lounge has released two CDs, Cutup Mixdown and Network Effects, in addition to remixing numerous international artists.
Von Seggern now lives in Los Angeles, where he has been running Vibration Institute since 2007 as well as doing electronic sound design for film projects and playing jazz bass.
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Born and raised in Chicago, Gary Novak was practically born with drum sticks in hand. Coming from parents of great musical talent, it is no wonder that Gary began playing the piano at the tender age of 8. While most musicians find their musical inspiration outside the home, Novak’s influence came from his parents. His mother, Carol Novak, also a pianist, played with her trio at the London House. His father, Larry Novak, the famous Chicago pianist, not only encouraged the career of his son but also put him to work. From the age of 10 to 12, Novak would work with his father’s trio in all the Chicago clubs, including Mr. Kelly’s, gaining the insight and experience that would lead to several musical milestones obtained at a very young age.
During high school, Novak worked with the jazz clarinet master Buddy Defranco as well as such notables as Joe Williams, Milt Hinton, Kenny Burrell, Barney Kessel and the great Louis Bellson. Novak’s blossoming reputation lead to the opportunity to represent Yamaha drums and Zildjian cymbal through endorsements at the age of 17.
At 19 years old, Novak moved to Los Angeles – an important step forward for Novak bringing many opportunities most could only dream of getting. Not only did Los Angeles bring him his first road job with Maynard Ferguson, but it marked a year of great exposure. Novak would come to work with Brandon Fields and record on his latest LP. He worked with such musical greats as Michael McDonald, Natalie Cole, David Sanborn and Anita Baker.
He teamed up with guitarist Lee Ritenour who employed him for his solo tour and the GRP All-Star tour in 1991.
Novak continued to tour throughout ’92, this time with George Benson. Although he had been working for the greater part of his life, he was not about to slow down. At 28, he joined Chick Corea’s newest band. After leaving it, he toured with other great musicians, such as Bob Berg and Allan Holdsworth. In 1998 he joined Canadian pop star Alanis Morissette’s band, recording and touring with her for over a year.
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Jon Margulies is a producer, DJ, guitarist, and the creator of Hobotech. A professional performer since 11 years old, he has appeared in a wildly diverse array of contexts and styles ranging from Winter Music Conference to Carnegie Hall. As the man behind Hobotech, he fuses roots Americana with big bass dance floor whomp, and has toured around the US including a recent appearance at the Coachella festival and an opening set for Bassnectar at Stubbs in Austin, TX.
His tracks have been released by a variety of labels, and his full length album Too Big To Fail is available on custom USB flashdrive or downloadable on iTunes and just about everywhere else. Jon has also composed music for the BMW films project, a documentary called The World’s Best Prom, the promotional campaign for the film It’s All Gone Pete Tong, and has engineered music for SNLs TV Funhouse.
As a leading expert on Ableton Live, Jon is the author of Ableton Live Power!, co-author of Your Ableton Live Studio with Chris Buono, and has written numerous articles forMusic Tech magazine. He teaches classes and workshops around the country for cutting-edge music school Dubspot and is an Adjunct Instructor at New York University.
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- January 27, 2012 / 3:33 am
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