John Novello
Keyboardist/composer/arranger, and producer, John Novello has played and worked with everybody from Chick Corea, Ritchie Cole, Hubert Laws, Andy Summers of the Police, Henry Mancini, Ramsey Lewis, to legendary rock bassist Billy Sheehan, Edgar Winter, Mark Isham, Donna Summer, Manhattan Transfer and A Taste of Honey. As a player he has a worldwide reputation in contemporary jazz and R & B/Soul on both acoustic and electronic instruments but most famously the Hammond B3 Organ.
Novello’s first solo CD “Tool Cool” was released to excellent reviews through ITI/Spindletop in the US and through Sentemo Records in Europe. His most recent solo record called Threshold, released on Holographic Records, is yet another offering of soulful Hammond B3 performances featuring Eric Marienthal on sax, Melvin Davis on bass, Eric McKain on percussion and Randy Drake on percussion. Recorded live at the famous Baked Potato in Los Angeles, this exceptional set has reached audiences everywhere with John’s unique Hammond B3 high energy on full display.
Novello, along with bassist Billy Sheehan, founded the now legendary progressive jazz blues rock trio Niacin based on Novello’s trademarked soulful B3 playing style and writing and features drummer extraordinaire Dennis Chambers and rock and roll hall of famer Billy Sheehan on bass. The first CD was released in Japan and Asia in July 1996 on Video Arts Inc; the US/European CD was released on Stretch/Concord Records in March 1997. Since then Niacin has toured the world and recorded 6 CD’s and their last release “Time Crunch” on Magnacarta Records is already heralded as one of the legendary progressive fusion records of all time. Niacin’s current release Organik has just been released in Japan and in the States and has already been picked by Jazziz Magazine as instrumental fusion record of the year 2006
Novello has also composed the score for the feature film, Au Pair, released in Europe and spent three months in Russia where he served as musical technical consultant and coach on the feature film Red Hot starring Donald Sutherland. John is currently scoring the music for the film The Pardon based on the true story of the only female to be put to death in Louisiana by electric chair - to be released early in 2008. Constantly reinventing himself, John teamed up with veteran producer/hit songwriter Andy Goldmark and created Novello B3 Soul which is a new contemporary jazz/hip hop project bring John back to his funk blues roots. Novello B3 Soul will be released March 2009 as a joint venture on NuGroove/NoGo records! www.myspace.com/novellob3soul
Author
Also, John’s new book, The Song That Never Ended, the story of how he and his wife Gloria Rusch met and created music together and fought cancer is now officially released on New Paradigm Books. (See newpara.com)
Quotes
"John's improvisation and composition exemplify the spirit of freedom and sense of adventure Jazz is all about. John Novello! Check him out, he's one of a kind." Edgar Winter
"John Novello's B-3 playing is incredible; it's rare to hear someone pushing the B to the limit and having such a great time doing it. His compositions are the perfect vehicle for his wide-ranging musical interests and virtuosic chops. The combination of John's tunes and Niacin's over-the-top rhythm section pretty much guarantees an evening that's perfect for simultaneously mind-expanding and head-banging." Ernie Rideout, Editor in Chief, Keyboard magazine
"B3 Soul has got that Groove!!! In the pocket, nice and heavy. I love the changes!" Isaac Hayes
"Your 'Salt & Pepper' and 'The Message' from B3 Soul SMOKE! Great grooves and great keyboard playing! Congratulations. Chick Corea
"John is a bad cat - definitely funky!" George Duke
"Novello is an outstanding gritty B3 blues player!” JazzTimes
“On Niacin’s latest CD Time Crunch” Novello, as he has done so often before, takes command of his instrument, unleashing a stream of furiously felt notes that are full of burn and always absent of compromise.” Jead Beaudoin Ghostland
“Novello’s wealth of sonic textures is almost unprecedented!” John Kelman, All About Jazz
"Niacin is like ELP on Sterioids. Novello plays fiery B3 licks that Keith Emerson should be playing!" Keyboard Magazine
"Novello is a white guy who plays with so much heart and soul that you'd swear when you look over his shoulder you see a gospel choir!" Legendary Bassist Billy Sheehan
For many years I have listened to, and thoroughly enjoyed John Novello's playing. His expertise on Hammond Organ and any other keyboard is immense and inspiring. The recordings he has produced with his band NIACIN, in the company of the mighty Billy Sheehan and legendary Dennis Chambers, are truly awesome. Composer, arranger and keyboard wizard, John has the full complement of musical talents. He deserves great acclaim. BRIAN AUGER, MARCH 2007
Novello
Keyboardist/Composer
Solo Albums
John Novello - "Too Cool" Composer/Keyboardist - ITI/Spindletop Records 1988
John Novello - On The Other Side – Composer/Keyboardist - Sentemo Records 1991
John Novello - What’s Goin’ On - Yamaha PianoSoft Plus 1993
John Novello - For You - Yamaha PianoSoft 1994
John Novello - The Lady Sings the Blues - Yamaha - 1995
John Novello - Here & Now - Yamaha – 1996
John Novello – Threshold 2004 Holographic Record
Selected Album Credits
Mark Isham - "Mark Isham" Midi B-3 Hammond Organ Virgin Records 1990
Manhattan Transfer - "Extensions" Atlantic Records
Chick Corea - "Eye of the Beholder" - Synthesist GRP Records
Al Vizutti - "Red Metal" Bainbridge Records
A Taste of Honey - "Ladies of The Eighties" Capital
Mr. Big - Organ - Atlantic Records 1995
Niacin - Billy Sheehan/John Novello Project 1996 Video Arts, Inc Japan
Niacin - Live Blood, Sweat & Beers - 1997 Video Arts Records, Japan
Niacin – Live Blood, Sweat & Beers – 2004 Us Version Magnacarta Records
Niacin - High Bias Stretch/Concord Records US & Video Arts, Inc in Japan
Niacin - Deep - MagnaCarta Records US & Video Arts, Inc in Japan/Asia
Niacin – Time Crunch – Magna Carta Records US & Video Arts, Inc Japan/Asia
Niacin – Organik Video Arts, Inc Japan/Asia 2005
Gloria Rusch - Tightrope Novello/Rusch Records 2000
Man of The Year 2004 Beeswax records Hammond B3 and Piano
As Long As You’re Living Yours - The Music of Keith Jarrett 2000
Peggy’s Blues Skylight Andy Summer (police) 2000 Hammond B3
ELP Tribute: Encores Legends & Paradox - 1999
The music of Keith Emerson, Greg Lake & Carl Palmer
Producer
Niacin - Billy Sheehan/John Novello Project 1996 Video Arts, Inc Japan
Niacin - Live Blood, Sweat & Beers - 1997 Video Arts Records, Japan
Niacin - High Bias Stretch/Concord Records US & Video Arts, Inc in Japan
Niacin - Deep - MagnaCarta Records US & Video Arts, Inc in Japan/Asia
Niacin – Time Crunch – MagnaCarta Records US & Video Arts, Inc Japan/Asia
Niacin - Organik 2005 Magnacarta Records US & Video Arts, Inc Japan/Asia
Gloria Rusch - Tightrope Novello/Rusch Records 2000
John Novello - "Too Cool" Composer/Keyboardist - ITI/Spindletop Records 1988
John Novello - On The Other Side – Composer/Keyboardist - Sentemo Records 1991
Carmel Helene – LunaTek Music 2003
Live Concert Background
Chick Corea - Synthesizer Programmer, Muscial Educational Consultant - DCI Videos
Ramsey Lewis - Synthesist on 1984 live tour
Hubert & Ronnie Laws - Keyboardist/Synthesist Berklee Jazz Festival
Ritchie Cole - Piano 1981-82
Manhattan Transfer - Rehearsal Pianist/Musical Director on album "Extensions."
Al Vizutti - Keyboardist 1981
Larry Coryell - Keyboardist 1981
Donna Summer - Multi synthesist 1981-81
A Taste Of Honey - Musical Director/keyboardist/Arranger 1978 - 1981
Edgar Winter - Hammond B3 1984
Niacin- Cofounder composer/Hammond B3 - 1996-06 world tours
Feature Films/Videos
Au Pair - Original Filmscore - Translantic Entertainment Heinrich Dahms Director 1991
Red Hot - Music Technical Consultant - SC Entertainment - Paul Haggis Director 1995
The Omega Code - TBS - 1999
Niacin - Live At The Blue Note, Tokyo, Japan Video Arts Inc 1996
l Leonard – 2006
Author – Nonfiction
“The Song That Never Ended” 2002 A jazz musician’s intuitive discussion of his journey to love and beyond through the passing of his spouse. New Paradigm Books 2003
Author - Music Education
The Contemoporary Keyboardist Manual - Hal Leonard 1999
The Contemporary Keyboardist Three-Part Video Series -Hal Leonard 2000
The Contemporary Keyboardist Stylistic Etudes - Hal Leonard – 1999 Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.
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