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If
Not Now
1. Monday
2. If
Not Now
3. Peace
For My Sons (Part II)
4. I'd
Rather Walk
5. Roscoe's
Graph
6. Dear
Prudence
7.
While The Cat's Away
8. Color Of Truth
9.
Behind Blue Eyes
10. Droids
Purchase
this CD
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John
Fremgen
If
Not Now
John
Fremgen- Upright and Electric Bass
Jermey Brown- Drums
Mitch Watkins - Guitar
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Cadence
Magazine calls John Fremgen "
an adroit craftsman
on the strings slapping and popping away on electric or plucking
resonant tones on acoustic." He can be seen performing
in Austin with various artists including Tony Campise, Paul
Glasse, Doug Hall, Mitch Watkins, Abra Moore, Gerry Gibbs, and
Jeff Hellmer. He has performed with many jazz luminaries including
Jamie Findlay, Shelly Berg, Rick Margitza, Gary Foster, Leni
Stern, Ernie Watts and Larry Koonse. He is an assistant professor
at The University of Texas where he teaches jazz improvisation,
jazz theory, jazz history, jazz bass and directs the AIME ensemble.
He has performed, taught and conducted across the US as well
as Switzerland, Russia, and Holland. He has appeared on many
jingles and national broadcasts including "Morning Becomes
Eclectic", "Late Night With David Letterman"
and the Bravo documentary "In My Life" with George
Martin. His bass playing can be heard on the TV shows "Party
Of Five", "Dawson's Creek" and the motion picture
"Down To You". He records for the Viewpoint record
label and has released three solo CD's featuring Peter Erskine,
Shelly Berg and many others. John Fremgen endorses Acoustic
Image amplifiers and MTD basses.
Selected
Discography:
As a leader:
"Meanwhile" with Peter Erskine and Mitch Watkins (Viewpoint)
"Pieces of String" with Peter Erskine and Shelly Berg
(Viewpoint)
"If Not Now" various (Viewpoint)
As
a sideman:
"Words For Living" PJ Olsson (Columbia)
"Beautifully Insane" PJ Olsson (Columbia)
"PJ Olsson" PJ Olsson (Red Ink)
"Dust" PJ Olsson (HitIt!)
"Jazz, Bars, Battlescars" Tony Campise (Viewpoint)
"Tucker Livingston" Tucker Livingston (Austin Incubator
Project)
"In My Life" George Martin (MCA)
"Faithful" Sara Hickman (Sleeveless)
"Somhilgesfil" Joe Richardson Express (Viewpoint)
"Goodnight Venus" Libby Kirkpatrick (Heart Music)
"Inside Stories" Suzi Stern (Viewpoint)
"Math And Science" Math And Science (Brick Red)
"Unknown Soldiers" Third Coast Jazz Orchestra (Seabreeze)
"Peak Moments" Jeff Hellmer/Rick Margitza (Viewpoint)
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Words
of Praise:
John
Fremgen has incredibly keen instincts. At times, his interplay
creates an impromptu three-part counterpoint. John is a devoted
student of the Bill Evans trios, and his interactive playing
is an extension of that influence. On the other hand, he instinctively
provides a solid, foundational style at precisely those moments
when a counterbalance is necessary to the gamesmanship of Peter
and Mitch. As a soloist, John is never predictable, yet he always
creates a clear and compelling path for the listener to follow.
John's musical palette is wide, so it is not uncommon to hear,
for instance, his love of delta blues insinuated into a straight-ahead
solo. Beautiful.
- Shelly Berg
Fremgen
shows himself an adroit craftsman on the strings, slapping and
popping away on electric or plucking resonant tones on acoustic.
-Cadence Magazine, 2005
John
Fremgen is the best bass player on the scene today-at home in
virtually any setting or lineup.
- Christopher Hess, The Austin Chronicle
This
band was a pleasant surprise
."A Nightingale Sang
in Berkeley Square" gives scope for a fine solo by Fremgen.
- Dave Davies, HiFi+ Magazine, 2004
Fremgen
is consistently on his toes, strong and energetic, and the group
swings hard and happy.
- Judith Schlesinger, All Music Guide review of "Pieces
of String"
Bassist
John Fremgen has been ubiquitous of late as a producer and band
member on other people's recordings and club gigs, but Meanwhile
(Viewpoint) gives him an opportunity to step into the spotlight
as bandleader and accomplished soloist.
- Jay Trachtenberg, Austin Chronicle review of "Meanwhile"
[Fremgen's] bowed, upright bass passages stir the soul.
-Southland Blues Magazine review of "Somhilgisfel"
Herb
jazz with cajones. Jam band banditos get the goods on this album.
The flow is smooth and solid .arrangements are original and
played so naturally that musical rebates abound and there is
enough rock to keep the jazz weeds from getting out of hand.
I say, Now-(not if).
- Customer review on Cdbaby.com
Keep
it coming! I want to hear more.
I was looking for something different from the mainstream jazz
that you hear today. I stop listening to jazz on the radio because
it became boring.....same silking, smooth jazz. I wanted to
hear something new, something "raw". Something with
imagination. I found it! Truly an original approach in the jazz
genre. I like John's "Dear Prudence" better than the
Beatle's version. And "Behind Blue Eyes" is awesome.
Highly recommended to spice up your listening pleasure. I look
forward to the next one.
- Customer review on Cdbaby.com
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