Asterperious Special by Gavin Templeton
“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."
Tracklist
| 1. | December | 7:08 |
| 2. | Asterperious Special | 8:25 |
| 3. | Misplaced Optimism | 6:41 |
| 4. | The Divide | 6:32 |
| 5. | Around Arroyo | 5:05 |
| 6. | Grace In Concession | 2:21 |
| 7. | Terminal | 5:17 |
| 8. | Row | 5:46 |
| 9. | Whistler | 5:02 |
| 10. | Ya Moosh! | 5:03 |
Credits
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
License
All rights reserved.
Gavin Templeton is a Los Angeles based saxophonist, woodwind player, composer and educator. With roots in bebop, Gavin incorporates jazz, rock, funk, Indian classical music, West African drumming, traditional Balkan music, and modern classical into his compositions/improv. Gavin performs regularly under his own name, as well as PLOTZ!, DR. MiNT, and the Vinny Golia Sextet, among others.