James Celestino profile picture

James Celestino

About Me

New News! The group "Off the Veil" James has been playing & recording with has decided on a name change. Apparently it is a very close match to another act, and you can't have that. SO, the groups new name is "Striation". They will be hitting the marketing hard and have some awesome tracks on the upcoming CD (release date somewhere around July-August 2009). We'll be posting a couple tracks here as soon as we get them released for promotion.
On a similar note, James has also been in the studio again with the "Gypsy Johns" recording their next CD (EKk is all we get for the CD info thus far). James is singing three tunes on the CD! and there will be two female guest singers appearing on it (Brandie Frampton & Beth Pliley)--so a bit of a diversion from the last CD, which was mostly instrumental.
The last bit of new news is that James is gearing up and preparing for a short two to three week tour in South America this coming December/January and a European tour in the summer of 2010 with the "Gypsy Johns". Also, he will be doing local gigs with "Striation" as soon as the CD is complete.
Check out James on the newly released "GYPSY JOHNS" CD "Tales of the Stone Bear" at the Gypsy Johns' Myspace page; www.myspace.com/GYPSYJOHNS
or link to the Gypsy Johns from his top friends.
James has a long history of studio sit-in work, as well as extensive experience playing with some seriously professional and interesting live line-ups. He recently completed recording a new CD with the fusion act, “Gypsy Johns,” that borrows from various styles such as Romanian-Gyspy/Rock/Jazz/Latin/and Classical. The line-up consists of Mike Cocos on guitar (a classically trained native Romanian), Kent Lyngle on Bass (a Utah native), and Irminsul (Keyboardist; Utahan), the EP CD, "Tales of the Stone Bear," was released in January of 2009.
Even with his current involvements, James is always open for live gig and studio session work as well as general networking .
Along with his private projects, he recently completed a session with Judd August Rappe for Judd's upcoming CD. He would like to extend a huge expression of gratitude for all the wonderful musicians he’s already connected and worked with, as well as those he’s recently met and is in collaboration with (Thanks Mates! JC).
Background and history:
Born and raised in the surrounding areas of Los Angeles California (Burbank & Glendale), he cut his teeth on rock and pop of the mid 70's through the eighties (all of them in that era), but later dialed into Funk, Fusion and Jazz with exposure to the likes of Stanley Clark (whom he had the pleasure of seeing perform in an intimate bar setting in Germany--Billy Cobham on drums), Allan Holdsworth (who coincidently opened for Stanley that night with Chad Wackerman on drums—both acts were an altogether life altering experience for him), The Police, Bella Fleck, Weather Report, Chick Corea, Jeff Lorber, MAnu Katché, Lee Ritenour, Terry Bozzio, Vangelis, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, The Rippingtons, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Tony Williams, Con Funk Shun, Slave, etc. While he still enjoys playing most styles, he is now more predisposed to stretch himself within the forms of Rock-Fusion, Funk, Jazz, and Electronica. (Musical Bibliography below) His successes in the music biz have far reaching destinations and include touring in Germany, California, Eastern U.S. coast, and the Mid-West USA, with some fine acts, and is consistently humbled by his good fortune in his affiliation with the great players he’s graced to accompany--AND looks forward to continued jamming with the same. (again--Thanks Mates!, JC).
As he works on his solo project, he is fitting in a few new and fresh single recordings of his work to post soon thereafter--along with getting several of his past projects' recordings transferred over to digital for posting (like live recordings at the Hard Rock Café in Heidelberg, etc.). In the mean time, visitors can check out some of his work through the links above in his musical bibliography.
Additionally, he is always exploring the local musician scene searching for players who want to stretch their skills and really concentrate on musicianship, composition, and musical substance. James approaches music as an art form and not just a means to an end and as such is always engaged in an ongoing quest for newness.
”One should always play in services to the music—the ‘self’ part must remain subordinate to everything.” --JC
In addition to music, James holds an MFA in Creative Writing (Fiction), is a lyricist, and teaches College Writing in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Drumming history:
________________
"Gypsy Johns" --
(Fusion Gypsy Rock; Utah): 2008-->Current Project
CD: "Tales of the Stone Bear" (2009)
***********************************************
"Off the Veil" --
(Rock/Alternative/Progressive): Live & Studio Project;
2008-->Current Project
***********************************************
"Judd August Rappe" --
(Rock/Indie; Minnesota): Studio session work;
Tracks: "Buy Whos Definition"/"The Forecast"/"High Water Mark"/"This Song is Over" (CD); 2008
***********************************************
"Radiata" --
(Rock/Punk; Utah): Live & Studio session work;
Tracks: "Fading"/"Unclean"/"Crest Fallen Heart" (CD); 2007
***********************************************
"Wally Cleave and the Beavers" --
(Top 40; Utah): Live work; 1999-2001
***********************************************
"Your Mom" --
(Rock/Fusion; Utah): Live work; 1999-2001
***********************************************
"Brainstick" --
(Rock, Utah): "Stand-by" Studio sessions (Demo CD); 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
***********************************************
"Blackwater Jack" --
(formerly-"Just Jr."; Rock/Blues; Utah): regional touring & studio sessions (Demo CD). 1994-2005.
***********************************************
"Dave Hutchings" --
(Fusion/New Age) "The Ageless", Studio percussion work (CD), 1995; Odyssey Records.
***********************************************
"Phat Daddy" --
(Rock; Utah): Live work & Studio session (Demo CD); 1996-98
***********************************************
"Willie Tso" --
(Folk/Blugrass; Utah): "Ask The Indian Why" (CD), Studio session work; 1995; Lodestar Productions.
***********************************************
"The Amateurs" --
(Ska; North Carolina): East Coast Touring; 1988-90
***********************************************
"Jancree" --
(Rock; Germany): Regional touring & Studio session (Demo CD); 1985-86
Jancree on the web
***********************************************
"Five Wheel Drive" --
(Southern Rock; Germany): Regional touring & Studio session work (EP) 1984-85
***********************************************
"Red Dragon Drum & Bugle Corp" --
(USAF; Texas): 1982
***********************************************
***************************************


Myspace Layouts - Image Hosting - Comments

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 15/01/2008
Band Members: Live and Studio Drummer
Influences: Hear and purchase James' work on the new "Gypsy Johns" CD, "Tales of the Stone Bear" by going to CDBaby: or to the Gypsy's website www.GYPSYJOHNS.com

His Influences are extensive, however, here are a few:

King Crimson, Weather Report, Talking Heads, Rush, Victor, Genesis, Cake, Goo Goo Dolls, Dave Mathews Band, MSG, Oingo Boingo, Yes, Peter gabriel, U.K., Garbage, Stewart Copeland, Police, ELP, NIN, Maroon 5, Terry Bozzio, Allan Holdsworth, Stanley Clark, Joe Satriani, Prashant Aswani, The Police, the Brubecks, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Tom Waits, Lou Reed, Steve Gadd, Robbie Robertson, Billy Cobham, Dave Weckl, Tony Williams, Yellow Jacket, The Rippingtons, Jeff Beck, Vital Information (Steve Smith), Miles Davis, MAnu Katché, Be Bop Deluxe, Brian Setzer orchestra, and tons more.
Sounds Like: The style he's engaged with at any given moment -- with his own personal touch.
Record Label: Unsigned

My Blog

The item has been deleted


Posted by on