John Karr’s musical contributions appear on TV-ROM Too in their entire form, they have been repurposed here (as all good music clips can) as soundtracks for the visual movies in the About BMUG… stack. If you use them for your own purposes, be sure to credit him as the original artist.
JOHN KARR (guitars, keyboards, composition, and production), one of the most skillful, original and accomplished guitarists and composers in the Bay Area, has just finished a 6 month run as sound designer/engineer with George Cotes Performance Work’s; “Invisible Site-A Virtual Sho” with raging critical acclaim. John has also toured Japan as production manager/soundman for D’Cuckoo; and engineering, playing on and co-produced their new CD (Isle Of Woman Records). Karr recently played guitar-synthesizer on Russell Waller and Ira Stein’s album on Narada Records as well as worked on live productions and recordings with: John Zorn, Sonic Youth, Fred Frith, Bill Evans, Zakir Hussain, The Tibetan Dance Company, The Rebel Poets (Revolutionary Records), DJ Black Syndicate, Kevin Ubanks, has played double bills with Steve Van Zant and Hugh Masakela. Written music for the National Public Radio Special ‘’Radio First Termer - Underground Radio in the Viet Nam War’’ and suffered thru a few too many unmentionable jingles. Karr has also done production and toured with French/African World-beat band Toure Kunda (Celluloid Records), played on and co-produced Jamaican Reggae artist Calbert Smith’s two albums and While a studying at Berklee in Boston, wrote music and played guitar for Meta Terra (World Records) and Vasco Da Gamma’s LP “Sex Sells Sex” on (Major Label Records). His biggest influences are a Johnson Stradler and a piece of cheese.
Jonathan Karr • (415) 282-9675
Standard Resume´ follows
Education:
Scarsdale High School • Scarsdale N.Y. • Graduated June ‘79.
Sarah Laurence College • Bronxville N.Y. Fall 79-80
Film scoring composition and Electronic music
The New School for Social Research • N.Y.C. Spring ’80
Audio production and /Analog Synthesis.
Jon Cage lecture series (1 semester Extension series)
Berklee School of Music • Boston, MA. Fall ‘80-84
Jazz Composition and Arranging, main instrument: Guitar
Private study with Norman David: Big Band Arranging
Internships:
WRVR • Jazz Radio Brooklyn, N.Y.
Marketing & Research, Arbitron ratings, coordinate prizes, give aways etc.
House Soundman, Stage Manager (for live music) summer ‘80
Work History:
Summer 1979 - “Lotus” -Top 40 band Toured college circuit thru-out Tri-State area.
(5 nights a week for 3 months) with full 3 way P.A., lighting rig, monitor system.
Responsibilities included Stage tech /Monitor mixer/ Driver
81- 84 While at Berklee I gigged extensively on the Boston music circuit and released two albums with my bands; MetaTerra (World Records) and Vasco Da Gamma (Major Label Records). Both received notable airplay on college radio thru-out the northeast. During this time I began a mobile recording company Skyline Audio, engineering many top local and national acts live to digital two track on location. I’ve also engineering over 75 Berklee and student recitals and worked at such clubs as: The 1369 Club, Jacks, Nightstage, Jonathan Swifts, Ryles Jazz Club, and The Willow Jazz Club, this led to engineering series of live Jazz radio broadcasts on WERS (Emerson College).
April 1983 - I co-founded and built, Sound Sanctuary Studios in Allston, MA. An 8 track analog recording studio utilizing Macintosh / MIDI sequencing using Vision Software. Responsibilities included: First engineer, office manager, databasing, advertising/graphic design.
May 1983 (1 week) East coast tour w/ French African band Toure Kunde (Cellioid) Responsibilities include: Driver / Stage tech. (gigs included the Pallidium in NYC)
In Feb.1990 - I moved to San Francisco. As an independent I have logged over a 1000+ hours engineering and producing local and regional bands. (Please note credits list) Studios and clubs I have worked: The Paradise, Slim’s, DNA, Morty’s, The Berkeley Square, The I-Beam, Bottom of the Hill, Razors Edge, The Cabaret,The Great American Music Hall, The Whiskey A GO GO in L.A..
Olde West Recording 24tk analog+ MIDI, first engineer / independent producer 1137 Howard St. SF/CA/owner Peter Echart
Duncan Street Studios 16 tk analog+MIDI, first engineer / independent producer 240 Duncan St. SF/CA /owner John Blakley
July-Sept.’91 D’ Cuckoo, (The cyber-tech all girl MIDI marimba band) Co-Produced their CD “D’Cuckoo” (Isle of Woman) Designed a very cool percussion sample library for them, engineered live shows and toured Japan for 6 weeks. Responsibilities included F.O.H. & Monitors, Performed at the 1st annual Cyber Arts International Conference.
Nov. ‘91- May ‘92 George Coates Performance Works - “Invisible Site” A multimedia/theater/opera extravaganza. (180 rehearsals and 200+ shows) Responsibilities included: F.O.H./ Monitors / house system maintenance including 15 wireless microphones and sound effects and foley design.
Nov.’92 Performed at the A.E.S.Show in San Francisco, original compositions on MIDI guitar representing Aware Software Co. of Boston MA.
Currently owner/engineer of Ear Relevant Recording in San Francisco.
Jonathan Karr 3328A 24th Street San Francisco, Calif 94110 (415) 282-9675
I have performed, produced, engineered, toured with, stage tech-ed, built sampling libraries, written music for:
Sonic Youth
Bill Evens
Fred Frith
John Zorn
Zakir Hussain
Hugh Masakela
Steven Van Zant
Toure Kunda (Celluloid)
Tommy Campbell
Bob Moses (ECM)
Kevin Ubanks
George Cotes Performance Works ”Invisible Site”
Laurence Ferlengetti
SEGA Video game ”Spiderman”,
The Tibetan Dance and Theater Co.
DEFUNKT (Antillies)
“The Endless Summer” Soundtrack (Tri-Surf Productions),
The Church of the Sub Genius
Tiger Okashi / Bobby Mintzer / Miroslav Vitious Group
WERS Boston,
Cgynet Pictures
Wells Fargo Bank
Aware Software Co.
The Merman
The Either Orchestra
Randy Roos
Lisa Suckdog (Ralph)
Yah Yah Littleman
Oomamaboomba
The Panther Moderns
Back Step Forward
D’ Cuckoo (Isle of Woman)
Eugene Chadborne
Don Paul (Revolutionary Records),
Victor Bailey (Weather Report),
Russell Waller / Ira Stein (Narada)
Big City Orchestra (sub-electric institute)
Edin Essen Trio
National Public Radio -”Radio First Termor” (Composed music for documentary about Bootleg-Pirate radio during the Viet Nam War.)
And a brief stint as a guitarist with The Pepsi Pop Tops !