DISCOGRAPHY
BALLAST
*****5 STARS***** from All About Jazz
"The jazz world is full of talented, energetic musicians with chops to burn and incredible backstories (more about that in a minute). What Templeton manages to do consistently throughout Ballast is convey something deeper. Listening to this disc, one gets the sense that Templeton is baring his soul, playing as if his very life depends on it. And somehow, he's lined up a band with the same attitude. This is what sets Ballast apart. There's something going on here above and beyond the high quality of Templeton's compositions and the amazing musicianship throughout this disc. This music is raw, unfettered, palpably fearless. Yet, in the midst of this swirl of amazing chops and hip jazz moves, there's vulnerability and warmth."
—Dave Wayne, All About Jazz
credits
released March 22, 2016
Featuring:
Gavin Templeton - Alto Saxophone
Joshua White - Piano
Richard Giddens - Bass
Gene Coye - Drums
Excerpt from Carlo Wolff's liner notes:
"BALLAST, the coiled, stimulating album Los Angeles jazzman Gavin Templeton has been crafting for more than a year, was inspired by a range of thought and experience that continues to drive Templeton - and now, thanks to its febrile, probing nature, us.
"This tough, hopeful recording is uncompromisingly modern, mostly hard, but at times unexpectedly, disarmingly sweet. And while most of its source material is uneasy, joy, even jauntiness, peek out.
"'Ballast' refers to the weights seamen place in a ship's hold to keep the keel even. It's the cinder blocks people in colder climes put in their trunks to keep their cars from sliding on ice.
"We all need a ballast, particularly when life, like Templeton's, is so turbulent."
Recorded May 11, 2015 at The Bridge Recording, Glendale, CA
Produced by Gavin Templeton and Daniel Rosenboom
Recording Engineer: Rich Breen
2nd Recording Engineer: Milton Gutiérrez
Mixed by Rich Breen at Dogmatic Sound
Mastered by Dave Collins at Dave Collins Mastering
Album Art, Design, and Photography by Eron Rauch
Liner Notes by Carlo Wolff
Special thanks to Greg Curtis at The Bridge Recording for his generosity and support.
Tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, composed by Gavin Templeton (ASCAP)
Tracks 4, 6, 8, 10 conceived by the Gavin Templeton Quartet
All music © Gavin Templeton Music (ASCAP) 2015
www.gavintempletonmusic.com
ORENDA RECORDS 0029
www.orendarecords.com
SOME SPINNING,
SOME AT REST
“Gavin Templeton has captured another alluring vision of the ever-evolving sound of L.A.” - Chris Barton, Los Angeles Times
"Templeton boasts an assured yet adventurous voice, sometimes with nods to Ornette Coleman and Henry Threadgill." - Josef Woodard, DownBeat Magazine
FEATURING:
Gavin Templeton - Alto Saxophone
Richard Giddens - Bass
Gene Coye - Drums
Gavin Templeton is the kind of musician who’s singing sound transcends time and space, captures the imagination, and leaves his listeners spellbound. On his latest release, Some Spinning, Some At Rest, his trio captures the essence of what jazz is at its very best: an exploration of musical and improvisational communication, rooted in song, and flowing from the heart.
The music played on this stellar recording achieves an element of timelessness that is rare in music today. It feels completely current, and yet somehow sounds like it could have come from almost any time or place. It sounds like three friends, who happen to be virtuosos, playing together in a room, sharing a vibe. And that’s exactly what it is.
For this album, Templeton tapped long-time friends Richard Giddens on bass, and Gene Coye on drums, and the chemistry is apparent from the first note. Their friendship stems back to their days at the California Institute of the Arts, and has continued as members of a close-knit musical community with common roots. The trio recorded Some Spinning, Some at Rest directly upon completing a brief tour in December 2013, and the depth of communication between the three is incredibly captivating and natural. The music flows forth effortlessly, with a common language rooted in friendship and shared history.
The writing on Some Spinning, Some At Rest is remarkably tuneful. The melodies almost feel like classics, and yet are distinctly original. The openness in the group’s approach to performing, flowing freely between tune and improvisation, is infectious. To quote the liner notes by legendary guitarist, Nels Cline:
"This trio really percolates rather than wails. I really enjoy the fact that with all the amazing invention evident, the band never really goes over the edge into mayhem - not that there's anything wrong with mayhem, of course! But Gavin scrupulously avoids wild gesticulations and overblowing, preferring to stay in the melodic zone, wrenching cogent variations out of what his compositions offer. The rhythm section really hits with a full head of steam, Coye's drum inventiveness and fire bursting at the seams - but they pull away from unbridled freakout. The effect of this is compelling and at times truly exhilarating."
I had the distinct pleasure to sit directly in front of this band as they recorded this record. They had decided to approach the recording process in as “live” a way as possible, setting up with minimal isolation and no headphones. Knowing that I would be mixing the project, I sat right front and center and positioned my ears where I imagined the focal point to be. The effect was simply transportive. I could have been in any jazz club or concert hall enjoying world-class musicians at play. They achieved depth of expression, never lost a sense of fun, and always stayed directed and honest.
Gavin Templeton has been one of my favorite musicians for the better part of a decade, and I’ve been fortunate to play and work with him in so many contexts that I’ve simply lost count. And now, I am incredibly proud to be releasing this beautiful recording during the inaugural year of Orenda Records. It embodies everything I love about music, and is record that will stand out whenever, wherever one chooses to listen.
Again, to quote Nels:
"Even though there is a whole lot to listen to here you could blaze some of these tracks at a pool party and only a few squares would whine. Who can resist such cool fire?
"I, for one, cannot."
— Daniel Rosenboom, Founder of Orenda Records
credits
released August 1, 2014
Gavin Templeton - Alto Saxophone
Richard Giddens - Bass
Gene Coye - Drums
Producer - Dan Rosenboom
Recording Engineer - Alex Chaloff
Mixing Engineer - Dan Rosenboom
Mastering Engineer - Stephen Marsh and Fernando Lee at Marsh Mastering, Hollywood Hills, CA
Designer and Photographer - Eron Rauch
Liner Notes Writer - Nels Cline
Recorded December 17, 2013 at Roy O. Disney Music Hall - Valencia, CA
All music composed by Gavin Templeton (ASCAP)
© Gavin Templeton Music (ASCAP) 2014
ORENDA RECORDS (ORENDA 0009)
www.orendarecords.com
IN SERIES
"Alto saxophonist Gavin Templeton boasts an assured yet adventurous voice, sometimes with nods to Ornette Coleman and Henry Threadgill."
–– Josef Woodard, Down Beat Magazine
"Templeton has captured another alluring vision of the ever-evolving sound of L.A."
–– Chris Barton, Los Angeles Times
"Alto saxophonist Gavin Templeton has become a pivotal force in the L.A. progressive jazz scene"
–– Glenn Astarita, All About Jazz
"Los Angeles alto saxophone phenomenon"
–– Robert Bush, San Diego Reader
'In Series' refers to a type of electrical daisy chain common in, among other things, Christmas lights, where the burning out of even one bulb ensures that the whole chain would cease to function. It could be an analogy for issues that challenged Templeton's world while living on the Westside of Los Angeles. Templeton reflects, "Santa Monica was the place where I spent a lot of time trying to figure out inroads into making it in the music scene in LA, and trying to figure out how to make money." He also became frustrated with the overt inequalities of the area. "The wealth and poverty of that area was crystal clear. You'd see a lot of expensive cars, driven by young people trying to look cool, driving past entire families digging through garbage cans."
Yet the issue that overshadows everything else concerned his girlfriend Karina, who at the time, was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Their engagement and subsequent marriage were intertwined chronologically with her diagnosis and treatment, turning what would normally have been a joyous time into an intensely nerve-wracking one with great uncertainty, and simultaneous hope and fear for what the future held for them.
This is the context for the seven emotionally charged pieces presented in Templeton's new album. The titles hint at a larger connected narrative, with pensive anticipation, a common emotive thread through many of these pieces ("Inbox," "Know Why," "The Other Shoe"). The music portrays the tension with a searching, restless tone throughout, from the starkness of Templeton's straight and pure alto sound, to guitarist Perry Smith's exquisitely forlorn improvisations. Matt Mayhall provides a driving pulse with an array of rock-influenced beats. There are also lighter, brighter moments, as in the frenzied pace of the tune "Bug" (named after Templeton's cat) and the beautiful ballad "Karina." The result is a suite of well-executed tunes exploring manifold emotional states, delving into introspection and reflection.
credits
released October 8, 2013
Gavin Templeton - alto saxophone
Perry Smith - guitar
Matt Politano - piano
Sam Minaie - bass
Matt Mayhall - drums
All music composed by Gavin Templeton (ASCAP)
© Gavin Templeton Music (ASCAP) 2013
Recorded at Westlake Recording Studios,
Los Angeles, CA on August 28, 2011
Produced by Gavin Templeton
Sound engineered by John Baffa
Assistant sound engineer - Steve Rusch
Mixed by Sam Minaie at Birdfood Studio, NYC
Mastered by Nate Wood at Kerseboom Studios, NYC
Album art and photography by Eron Rauch
ASTERPERIOUS SPECIAL
“Los Angeles saxophone phenomenon”
–– RobertBush, SanDiego Reader
"Templeton solos with startling spontaneity, jumping from
melodic sympathy to avant density in a heartbeat."
— Greg Burk, MetalJazz.com
"Asterperious Special" is the debut album from virtuoso saxophonist Gavin Templeton. Featuring an all-star lineup including Larry Koonse, Gary Fukushima, Darek Oles, and Joe LaBarbera and all new original compositions by Templeton, "Asterperious Special' is a beautiful dedication to his Grandfather:
"My grandpa served as a navigator in the US Air Corps during WWIi in the South Pacific. At 26 years old, he was the oldest crew member aboard his B24 bomber, Asterperious Special.
The crew went out on a number of routine missions that I can only imagine as terrifying. Many times they flew blind in the clouds to avoid being spotted. Among the obvious responsibilities as a navigator - getting from point A to point B and back - Grandpa had to make sure that they didn't collide with obstacles, including mountains.
Apparently, their topographical maps contained inaccuracies and couldn't be taken as gospel. On one of their missions, Grandpa looked at the map, felt that something wasn't right and told the pilot to gain altitude immediately. The pilot agreed and within seconds of ascending, they peered down and saw the peaks of trees protruding from the clouds just yards beneath them. They had run up against a mountain range that wasn't marked properly on their map.
Grandpa's last mission ended in a firefight with a handful of Japanese Zeros. Their nose gunner, and close friend of his, was seriously wounded. Grandpa pulled him out of the nose, helped treat his wounds as best he could, and then took over as gunner. Grandpa returned from the mission severely injured.
His crew went out on three more missions without him, and on their third bombing run they didn't return. My dad told me all that I know about what Grandpa did - like most of those in his generation who fought in WWII, he didn't want to talk much about it."
credits
released July 28, 2012
Gavin Templeton - alto saxophone
Larry Koonse - guitar
Gary Fukushima - piano
Darek Oles - bass
Joe LaBarbera - drums
All music is composed by Gavin Templeton (ASCAP)
© Gavin Templeton Music (ASCAP) 2012
Recorded at Roy O. Disney Music Hall
in Valencia, CA on January 8, 2010
Sound Engineered by John Baffa,
courtesy of TV Tray Studios
Mixed by John Baffa at TV Tray Studios
Mastered by Ron McMaster at Capitol Mastering
Album Art + Design by Kio Griffith / 9rpm.com