JOEL FOUNTAIN - ‘saturn return’

While best known for his drumming with groups such as Maynard Ferguson’s “Big Bob Nouveau Band,” and the “One O’clock Lab Band”, Joel Fountain is also a prolific composer. With a Magna Cum Laude degree in Jazz Arranging from the prestigious University Of North Texas, Joel has spent many hours in front of a piano writing and scoring for jazz ensembles. Armed with a band of 6 world class jazz musicians, Joel Fountain’s first album release “saturn return” is an eclectic mix of heartfelt instrumental compositions. The band is made up of Paul Tynan on trumpet, Jeff Eckels on Bass, Wayne Delano on Saxophones, Steve Anderson on piano, Noel Johnston on Guitar, Scott Trayer on bass, and Joel Fountain on drums. All of these musicians are former members of the famed “One O’clock Lab Band.” and each are exceptional jazz musicians who perform and teach worldwide. Joel was born in Canada, but was quickly whisked away by his family to the beautiful South Island of New Zealand. Spending his youth in Christchurch, he attended the Christchurch Polytechnic School of jazz for one year before moving to Vancouver BC, Canada, at age 18. Immediately Joel began working as a freelance drummer, and has since had the chance to perform and record with many incredible Canadian artists; including - Chris Gestrin, Chris Tarry, Brad Turner, Mike Allen, Miles Black, Coco Love Alcorn, Ron Sanworth, George McFetridge, Marc Rogers, and many others. Continuing his musical studies at the University of North Texas, Joel had the chance to perform with musicians including John Abercrombie, The Brecker Brothers, Kenny Wheeler, Terry Gibbs, Rufus Reid, Tim Hagans, Bobby Shew, Fred Hersch, Russ Ferrante, Byron Stripling, and many others, including fellow classmate, Norah Jones. After graduation Joel spent a year touring the world with jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson, and performed with Slide Hampton, Diane Shurr, Steve Weist, Lew Soloff, and the many rotating members of the “Big Bop Nouveau” band.

Joel currently resides in Texas, and maintains a busy performing, touring, and recording schedule. The ‘saturn return’ touring band

Noel Johnston - guitar

Guitarist, producer, composer and educator, Noel Johnston has performed on over 25 albums. He has performed and/or recorded with Artists such as: Alex Acuna, Joey Baron, Ignacio Berroa, Vinnie Colaiuta, Sheila E., Pete LaRoca, Dave Liebman, Joe Lovano, Monica Mancini, Adam Nussbaum, The One O'Clock Lab Band, Bill Watrous, Gary Willis, and Kenny Wheeler. Currently, he can be heard playing in a variety of styles in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex, and around the country with his own Duos, Trios and Quartets, with the Blues-Musical "Blind Lemon Blues", and Jazz Artist John Adams. Now a freelance guitarist in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, he was previously in Sydney, Australia and Los Angeles, California. Noel has been on faculty as a Jazz Guitar instructor at the University of North Texas since 2000. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Studio/Jazz Guitar from the University of Southern California and a Master of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of North Texas. He has previously served on the faculty at Wesley Institute for Ministry & the Arts in Sydney, Australia, and at Grayson County College in Denison, TX.

Steve Anderson - piano

Steve anderson earned a Doctorate of Musical Arts (2005), and a Master’s of Music (2000) in composition at the University of North Texas, and a Bachelor of Music degree in composition at Brigham University in 1997. He studied composition with Cindy McTee, Joseph Klein, Tom Clark, Joseph Butch Rovan, Phil Winsor, and Paris Rutherford at UNT, and Stephen Jones, David Sargent, Michael Hicks, and Murray Boren at BYU. He studied jazz piano with Dan Haerle and Stephan Karlson at UNT, Dan Waldis at BYU, Gary Freeman at Eastfield College, and Wilson Brown at Ricks College.

As a pianist, Anderson has performed and recorded with the Lynn Seaton Trio (“Puttin’ On the Ritz” with Lynn Seaton and Joel Fountain– Nagel Heyer Records, 2005), and played and recorded with the One O’clock Lab Band (Lab 2001). He served as house pianist in the International Trombone Festival (2002) and was keyboardist for a short time with (country-western) gold-recording artist, Kevin Sharp (1996-1997). From 2003 to 2005, Anderson served as Assistant Professor of Jazz Piano at Western Illinois University and performed in the faculty jazz sextet. Currently, he teaches composition and jazz studies at UNC-Chapel Hill.

Scott Trayer - bass

Acceptance into graduate school at Manhattan School of Music in 2001 brought Scott to New York City. While at MSM he studied with bassist Jay Anderson, arranger Michael Abene and Grammy Award winning historian and researcher Phil Schaap. During his time in New York, Scott performed every Monday night at the trendy Jade Lounge in midtown Manhattan with the Jon Lundbom Quartet. This band featured Lundbom on guitar, Jon Irabagon on saxophones and Andrew Bain on drums. In June of 2002 Scott accepted a job offer from Carnival Cruise Lines. During his three years with Carnival, Scott played with jazz trios and show bands (pit orchestras) on many different ships sailing all over the world. Scott left the cruise industry in 2005 to accept an offer for a Teaching Assistantship from the University of New Orleans. He was also awarded a grant from the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation in 2005, but was forced to re-locate to texas after the hurricanes. Scott currently holds a Teaching Fellowship at the University of North Texas where he is finishing up his master's degree in jazz studies with a related field in ethnomusicology. He plays often with various groups in the Dallas area including frequent performances with UNT jazz faculty members. Scott has performed with Royce Campbell, John D'earth, Hod O'brien, Dave Larue, Makoto Ozone, Gunnar Mossblad, Marchel Ivery, Steffan Karlsson, and Dave Stryker.

Xavier Perex - Saxaphones

Currently residing in Manhattan, Xavier was born in Miami of Cuban parents, and represents two distinct cultures in his musical compositions and life. Although he has chosen jazz music as his vehicle for self-expression, elements of his Cuban Folkloric also make his multi-faceted musical personality While on scholarship at the University of Miami he studied composition under Ron Miller and won collegiate soloist of the year from Downbeat magazine. Upon graduation with honors he toured nationaly with Maynard Ferguson and “Big Bop Nouveau,” and has also been chosen to perform his original compositions as a part of Kennedy Center jazz in Washington DC. Also, Xavier was the only U.S representative selected to perform in the final elimination round at the White Foundation World Sax Competition, where he placed 2nd out of hundreds of applicants from more than 20 countries.

Xavier has performed in 13 countries and 48 states at famous music jazz clubs, jazz festivals, and jazz conferences, including “Jazz Alley” (Seattle, WA), “Blue Note”(New York), and “Birdland”(New York) with illustrious jazz artists including Maynard Ferguson, Dianne Schure, Geri Allen, Lew Soloff, Jon Faddis, David Liebman, Randy Brecker, Curtis Fuller, Jeff Hirshfield, Claire Fisher, Robert Hurst, Frank Lacy, Hector Martignon, Mark Colby, Eric Harland among others. In the “latin” music circuit, Xavier has performed with- Willy Chirino, Carlos Pel Pino, Dave Valentine, Larry Harlo, Marlena Burke, Meme Solis, Alfredo “Chocolate” Armenteros, Edy Martinez, Jose Antonio Fajardo, Tito Puente Jr., among many others.

Joel Fountain - Drums

Joel Fountain has over 15 years experience as a professional drummer, and holds a bachelors degree in music (magna cum laude) from the University of North Texas. As a freelance musician Joel has performed all over the DFW metroplex in jazz and pop bands.

Joel has performed toured worldwide with jazz trumpet legend Maynard Ferguson. While on the road with Maynard he had the opportunity to play with: Dianne Shuur, Lew Soloff, Steve Weist, Chip McNeil and Slide Hampton. While attending the University of North Texas, Joel was a member of the world famous One O'clock Lab Band and performed with Jazz greats such as: Fred Hersch, John Abercrombie, Rufus Reid, Terry Gibbs, Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, Kenny Wheeler and Russ Ferrante.

As an educator, Joel has presented Jazz and rhythm section workshops at Universities across the United States, Canada, and New Zealand, and also at countless high schools across the USA. He has taught drum lessons to high school and middle school students, as well as training and mentoring working professionals. Press & Raves for ‘saturn return’

“I really enjoyed you guys playing live. To say that it was a religious experience would only be half true. It was true inspiration.”

Jon, Student at Western Illinois University

“I finally had a chance to listen to the material you sent me and it's amazing! The music is sharp, edgy and at times abstract: Just what we like here at KNTU! There is some great potential here. Congratulations on the great work”

Jacqueline Herrera, Music Director KNTU FM 88.1, Dallas-Fort Worth

“OH MY GOD!!!! Your CD is breath taking!!!!!!!!! It is very beautiful. I have not heard such beautiful music for a while. Thank you for making it. Everyone MUST LISTEN to this CD if you want to listen to ‘MUSIC’.”

Akie, Graduate music student at The University of North Texas

“Fantastic, absolutely great Music…make me feel very, very good to see/hear this musicians/composers…is still hope of good music in/and for future generations. The Music and interpretations are so exciting and full of surprises that I feel sorry when I finish listening to them.”

Andy, Student at Jazz school Basel, Switzerland

“I found it hard not to admire you for creating music like that. It made my ears happy. Favorite track? I liked the last song the best – “please (don't ignore me)”. The spoken words at the end were an unexpected touch, too - insightful comments… forgive me for being in awe...”

Alex, Student at Lawrence University, Kansas

“I cherished listening to your CD, Saturn Return. The music fit my mood beautifully… I treasured your words at the end. I had heard them before, but hearing them while driving through that beautiful country was both poignant and joyful. I cried. Thank you.”

Joan, Vancouver Canada