String Planet

Novi Novog and Larry Tuttle have created a brave new world of music. Their group, String Planet (and similarly-titled debut album), combines two stringed instruments seldom in the spotlight -- viola and The Stick -- for a genre-crossing sound utilizing classical, jazz, new age, pop and world elements.

Novi, a top viola session musician, and Larry, a longtime proponent of "The Chapman Stick," have been playing string-music together for the past 15 years in Los Angeles-area groups such as Freeway Philharmonic and SoulSkin.

The viola is a little larger than a violin and in orchestras is used more for the inner harmonic voice than the lead melody line (Novi likes to slip back and forth between the two).

Larry describes The Stick as "a string section posing as a 2X4" since this long, narrow, upright, electric instrument has six bass strings tapped (not strummed) with the left hand and six melody strings played with the right hand. Since a Stick player can simultaneously play rhythm along with chords, harmonies or melody parts, it often gives the listener the impression of hearing two instruments.

On the Strina Planet album, the viola and Stick are backed by a world music rhythm section including a wide variety of hand drums and percussion with subtle touches of synthesizer for color.

One tune features a string quartet and two guest vocals are sung by recording artist Lauren Wood (Novi's cousin). Using The Stick, Tuttle composed all 13 tunes on the album.

"Even. though this is primarily- instrumental music," explains Larry, "my compQsing mGstly comes out of my background in pop music, so I generally write songs with a verse/chorus/ bridge structure, going for that hooky pop song appeal. There is no easy category to put us in, which is both our blessing and our curse, but classical crossover would probably come the closest."

Tuttle goes on to say, "There is a concept in science fiction called 'a sense of wonder,' and I wanted to have that with String Planet's music. Our goal was to make it creative, exotic, unique and exciting. Beauty, imagination and groove were our cornerstones. I wanted to create a showcase for Novi's big talent, especially her gift for improvising. All of her parts began as spontaneous improvisations and from there we chose the best ideas to keep for the finished arrangements. We always try to leave a few sections open, both in the studio and in concert, for her to go anywhere she wants, leaving the door open for magic to happen."

Furthering the band's artistic conceptualization of expansive imagination and other-worldly creativity is the ceramic sculpture depicted on the CD cover. Titled "Alien," it was crafted by another cousin of Novi's, the late Elyse Saperstein.

Both Novog and Tuttle have impressive credentials starting with extensive early classical training, progressing through recording and touring with major-label rock bands, and then concentrating more on string-oriented ensembles.

Novi began playing piano at age four, took up violin at age eight and then moved on to viola. As part of the American Youth Symphony, she studied under Mehli Mehta. Novi attended the California Institute for the Arts on a full scholarship where she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree after studying under Louis Kievman with additional instruction in composition from Leonard Stein and Alan Chaplin. She also won the American String Teachers Association competition.

But simultaneously, Novog also pursued a career in the world of pop and rock music. In her childhood, she began playing and recording with her cousin Lauren Wood which led to an album on the Musicor label as Rebecca and the Sunnybrook Farmers.

The group evolved into Chunky, Novi & Ernie with two albums on Warner Bros. Records. As Lauren began her solo career (see www.laurenwood.com). Novi continued to be featured on her recordings. Novi went on to record and tour in the rock band Sumner on the Elektra/Asylum label.

Within a few years Novi rose to prominence in the Los Angeles session scene as a violist for recordings (albums, films, TV shows and commercials) or concerts.

She has a long list of credits highlighted by her viola solos on such big chart hit singles as The Doobie Brothers' "Black Water" and Prince's "Purple Rain" and "Raspberry Beret."

Novi also has performed on recordings by pop artists as diverse as Cher, James Taylor, Madonna, Bonnie Raitt, Michael Jackson, Bon Jovi, Neil Diamond, Kenny Loggins, Ray Charles and Julio Iglesias.

Novog's talents also extend to working in other genres such as folk (Indigo Girls, Gordon Lightfoot, Dan Fogelberg, Shawn Colvin), country (Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris & Linda Ronstadt, Kenny Rogers), jazz (Stanley Clarke, David Benoit), new age (John Tesh, Nicholas Gunn, Tangerine Dream, David Arkenstone), and blues (John Mayall).

In addition, Novi has performed on stage with many other artists including Everclear, Aretha Franklin, Johnny Mathis, Frank Zappa, Scott Weiland, John Cale, Gladys Knight and Luther Vandross. Some of Novi's film soundtrack work includes "Pretty Woman," "Dead Poet's Society," "Sliding Doors," "Mr. Holland's Opus" and "One Fine Day."

Growing up in Seattle, Larry Tuttle discovered the string bass at age nine and embarked on a childhood saturated in music -- playing in school, city and regional symphony orchestras. He played principal bass for a summer at the National Music Camp in Interlochen (the foremost program of its kind in the country) and sat in with the Seattle Symphony as an honor student.

He also studied under that orchestra's principal bassist James Harnett at the University of Washington. Larry received extensive private study from such notables as Ron Simon, Ring Warner and Oscar Zimmermann, and took a revelatory ear-training course from jazz great Gary Peacock (Keith Jarrett).

Discovering the electric bass and progressive rock bands such as Yes, ELP and Gentle Giant while in high school, Larry went on to play for ten years with the rock group Russia which moved to Los Angeles and recorded two albums for Warner Bros. Records.

"When I began playing The Stick," says Tuttle, "it was a life-changing move. It opened entire vistas of musical expression for me. It allowed me to continue as a bass player while adding the opportunity to play melodies at the same time, and it became an ideal instrument to compose on as well."

In 1999 Larry released Through the Gates, an album of solos performed on The Stick.

Larry and Novi met when they formed the instrumental string ensemble Freeway. Philharmonic with guitarist Robert Stanton. While in that group they recorded four albums -- Freeway Philharmonic, Car Tunes, Sonic Detour and Road to Joy.

In 2003 Tuttle and Novog joined the part-vocal-and-part-instrumental band SoulSkin which recorded a self-titled album and were featured on National Public Radio. In recent years Novi and Larry have worked frequently creating string arrangements for various artists, performing in classical string ensembles, and playing concerts with Freeway Philharmonic and as String Planet.

Now with their first String Planet recording, their years together show a deep affinity for each other's playing and their uncanny entwining-interplay within each song. "(often can sense what Larry is going to play," states Novi. "I love to move around within a song playing the melody, then a counter-melody, then a harmony part, and maybe adding some coloring and inner voices. We try for lots of dynamics. Our passion is the sound of strings working together."

Composing, performing and recording together for almost two decades in FREEWAY PHILHARMONIC, violist Novi and composer/Stick player Larry Tuttle developed their original style by combining classical melodies and harmonies with the drive and energy of world music. Designed to be accessible, their music is filled with hooks, memorable themes and compelling rhythms. Imagination is priority one in their sound.

Album Description
The debut CD from violist Novi and composer/Stick player Larry Tuttle, String Planet combines a 21st-century approach to strings with a world-beat rhythm section.

This is classical crossover with a serious ethnic groove. Soaring and visionary melodies float over an unstoppable river of drums and percussion. Novi contributes lots of heartfelt and creative improvisations with her beloved viola "Stinky" while Larry Tuttle's Stick provides a clean and sparkling foundation on the Stick.

Although primarily an instrumental CD, String Planet also contains two guest vocals from Lauren Wood (the singer of "Fallen" from the "Pretty Woman" soundtrack) and one tune featuring string quartet.

NOVI NOVOG - VIOLA
Novi Novog and her viola have been heard and seen on recordings, films and concert stages all over the world. She is one of LA's top session musicians, with a long list of credits including solos on Prince's "Purple Rain" and "Raspberry Beret," The Doobie Brothers' "Black Water", and album appearances for such diverse artists as Bonnie Raitt, Terrance Trent D'Arby, Michael Jackson, 10,000 Maniacs, Cher, James Taylor, Spinal Tap, Madonna, Tom Petty and Tangerine Dream. Her performing credits include such names as Frank Zappa, The Doobie Brothers, Aretha Franklin and Jennifer Warnes.

Throughout her childhood Novi played and recorded music with her first cousin, Lauren Wood. Their first album was on the Musicor Label, then they moved on to Warner Brothers and recorded as CHUNKY, NOVI AND ERNIE. Novi and Lauren still continue their lifelong musical relationship today, with Lauren contributing two vocals on the debut STRING PLANET CD.

LARRY TUTTLE -THE STICK
Larry Tuttle and The Stick were on a collision course right from the start. It was a perfect fit. Growing up in Seattle, Washington, Larry Tuttle discovered the string bass at age nine and embarked on a childhood saturated in classical music, playing in school orchestras, All-City orchestras, Youth Symphonies, college symphonies, and just about every kind of ensemble imaginable. A short study course in ear-training with jazz great Gary Peacock was a revelation, opening his ears to jazz and helping to develop deep listening skills and musical philosophy.

Discovering the electric bass and progressive rock bands such as Yes, ELP and Gentle Giant, Larry went on to play for ten years with rock group RUSSIA, moving to Los Angeles and recording two albums for Warner Bros. Records.

After the RUSSIA years, looking to expand his musical choices, he added The Stick to his repertoire of instruments. It was a life-changing move. The Stick opened up whole new worlds of musical expression. As a new instrument with plenty of untapped potential, it offered both a challenge and an opportunity for creating a totally unique and personal musical voice. In 1999, Larry recorded "THROUGH THE GATES," a CD of solos performed on The Stick.