The Resume of Bill Plummer Encompasses 62 Released Albums

	BILL PLUMMER Résumé
With the release of his latest CD "Road to The Sky" featuring "Basses International", Bill Plummer continues a trend of career milestones which now encompasses 62 released albums, 43 television episodes and 24 major motion picture soundtracks. In his early career Bill studied under studio recording artist, and premier Jazz bassist, Monty Budwig. He played two years in the Los Angeles All City Orchestra and majored in music throughout Jr. and Sr. High School, performing as principal bassist in the school orchestras. Bill received his AA degree from Los Angeles City College studying Jazz Band and arranging under Bob McDonald and composition and harmony under Leonard Stein before leaving school to study privately under Herman Reinshagen, world renowned teacher and former principal bassist of the New York Philharmonic and Toscanini Symphony Orchestras. Many opportunities came to the forefront, beginning with Miriam Makeba, the great South African singers' first American tour, performing with her in Las Vegas, and at the Monterey Jazz Festival. Bill then returned to Las Vegas, being featured with the Frankie Ortega Trio, playing at the Riviera Hotel and recording and filming episodes for the syndicated television series "77 Sunset Strip." He next worked with avant-garde saxophonist, Anthony "Batman" Ortega, before backing Lou Rawls in night club appearances, and recording with Joe Sample and Paul Togawa as the International Jazz Trio, for Musifon records in Tokyo. As a member of the Herb and Loraine Geller Quartet, Bill worked the Mickey Rooney Show before joining the Buddy DeFranco-Tommy Gumina Quartet, which toured nationally, and recorded "Street of Dreams" in Chicago, for Mercury Records. Upon returning to Los Angeles, Bill worked with Al Jarreau at Dino's Lodge on the Sunset Strip, and recorded the "Tommy Peltier and the Jazz Corps" album featuring Roland Kirk for Dick Bock on World Pacific Records. He then toured with the George Shearing Quintet, performing at the Waikiki Shell in Honolulu and at the Worlds Fair in Seattle, before returning to L.A. to work and record with Jazz pianist, Pete Jolly at Sherry's in Hollywood. Bill then became a member of the Paul Horn Quintet, where he recorded five albums for CBS and RCA Records, and completed three national tours. The last album under the composer/conductor Lalo Schifrin "Jazz Suite on the Mass Texts" became a stepping stone into an extensive motion picture and recording career with Bill performing under such notable film composers as Quincy Jones, Elmer Bernstein, Lalo Schifrin, Jerry Goldsmith, Gil Melle, Henry Mancini, Don Ellis, Bill Marx, and Dimitri Tiomkin. Performances of the "Jazz Mass" included concerts with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Roger Wagner Choral conducted by Zubin Mehta, plus performances with the Minneapolis Symphony and Choir, USC Symphony and Choir, and the UCLA Symphony and Choir. During this period Bill also performed with the Miles Davis Quintet, featuring Herbie Hancock, Tony Williams and Wayne Shorter at the Jazz Workshop in San Diego, and the Orange County Jazz Festival. Bill also recorded Tom Waits first album "Closing Time", and two albums with Judee Sill, for David Geffen on Elektra Asylum Records. Bill returned to the Monterey Jazz Festival to once again perform the "Jazz Mass" with Lalo Schifrin, and to be featured with the Gabor Szabo Quintet, before leaving with Gabor to tour Mexico, and appear at the Mexico Worlds Fair with the Stan Getz Quartet. His next association was with Jazz Songstress Nancy Wilson, completing two national tours and recording two albums under the direction of big band Jazz Arranger Gerald Wilson for Capitol Records. He also recorded an album with singer Bill Henderson, and with West coast vibist Roy Ayres, during a brief stint with the Jack Wilson Jr. Quartet. In one of Bill's most treasured musical experiences, he then toured with Tony Bennett as a member of the re-formed Paul Horn Quintet, performing at Sinatra's Cal-Neva Lodge in Lake Tahoe, Caesars' Palace in Las Vegas, and an extended engagement at the Cocoanut Grove in Los Angeles, before taping two television specials with Tony for NBC in New York. Returning to Los Angeles, Bill was collaborating with bassist Wolfgang Melz and drummer Jim Keltner on the Basses International project, when introduced by them to Jimmy Miller, Manager of The Rolling Stones who commissioned him to record four songs for their Historic Triple Platinum album 'Exile on Main Street'. ("Rolling Stones" by John Perry, Shirmer Books) Also during this period Bill worked the Beverly Hills Jazz club "The Losers" backing such noted artists as Anita O'Day, Herb Jeffries, and Mavis Rivers. He made a short tour with Fran Jeffries in San Juan, Puerto Rico, before becoming a member of the "Hindustani Sextet" which featured Hari Har Rao, Emil Richards, and Don Ellis. This led to becoming a member of the Don Ellis Big Band which toured nationally and culminated in the sound track recording for the films, French Connection I and II. Bill's new interest in Classical East Indian music and his association with Hari Har Rao led to the study of Sitar under Hari Har, Ravi Shankar, Amiyo Das Guptas, and Shamim Ahmed, at Shankar's Kinara School of East Indian Music in Los Angeles, and the formation of Bill's own fourteen piece orchestra the "Cosmic Brotherhood", recording two albums "Sunshine World" on A & M, and "Bill Plummer and the Cosmic Brotherhood" on ABC Impulse Records Bill recorded the soundtrack and was instrumental "Sitar" coach to Jack Nicholson in the film "On a Clear Day" with Barbra Streisand, and "Sitar" coach to Peter Sellers in the films "The Party" and "Alice B. Toklas", recording and scoring the films under Henry Mancini. Under the baton of Hial Bancroft King, Bill was a featured soloist in his composition "Future Shock", performing premiers with the Tucson and Ft. Worth Symphony Orchestras. Bill has a keen interest in American Roots Traditional Music represented by his recording and performing affiliation with National Fiddle champion Byron Berline, recording his album "Dad's Favorites" on Rounder Records, his concertizing and recording with Joey Latimers' "Blues Monks", and performances with traditional guitarist Phil Boroff. With recording artists Art Johnson and Marc McClure, Bill formed a three-piece group called "Gas Food & Lodging", they were featured with Pat Boone on national tour for two years and scored and recorded film segments for Lindsay Wagner in the "Bionic Woman." Bill also recorded Marc McClures album, "Ol' Lady's and Baby's" for Capitol Records. Bill and Marc McClure then joined the new 'country' "Spanky & Our Gang." Under the management of Al Warbucks, they toured as opening act for Willie Nelson, performing in the Willie Nelson Picnic and recording the album "Change" for Epic Records. Throughout his playing career Bill has invested time in the music education field. Included is his tenure in the L.A. Docent Alliance Program; a three-year presidency of the 300 member Los Angeles Bass Club, producing and coordinating three International Bass Workshops at UCLA, CSULB, and the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, production of the "Wild Rose Ramblers" music symposiums at UCLA, performing and lecturing in the Don Ellis 12 University Music Series, three year music teacher and residential counselor at Morning Sky School in Idyllwild, 4 year faculty Guitar and Music Theory instructor at College of the Desert, in Palm Desert, California, and private bass teacher for the past forty years. Bill latest production, 'Road to the Sky' by 'Basses International' is a unique concept of "Stereo Basses" in collaboration with Wolfgang Melz, and Jim Keltner. This band opened the first La Quinta Classic Jazz Festival with Stan Getz and Diane Shuur, and the Mammoth Lakes Sierra Summer Festival, featuring Joe Sample. Besides his work as teacher, producer, leader, and player; performing concert, nightclub, hotel, country club, educational, and casual engagements; Bill still finds time for his orchestral pursuits, recently acting as principal bassist for the Mancini Symphony of the Desert, and the Coachella Valley Symphony Orchestra. Bill's performances at Basin Street West under the musical direction of Dennis Michaels, include concerts with Nell Carter, Frank Gorshin, Patti Page, Fran Jeffries, Barbara McNair, Herb Jeffries, Peter Marshall, and Jack Sheldon. Recent performances include The Pat Rizzo Quartet, Cal David, Yve Evans, Steve Medaio, Kenny Rankin, Bob Corwin, Conti Condoli, Jim Bailey, Andy Fraga, Yarik Urant, Misty Bade, Keith Droste, Larry Flahive, Joey Latimer's "Blues Monks," Chuck Alvarez, and the Straight Ahead Jazz Trio featuring pianist Joe Lettieri.and drummer Gene Stone. Involvement with International "Live" Internet broadcasts on "RadioFreeWorld.com" include: "Live at the Uptown Café," "The Blues Monks," "Bill Plummer, Coming Home Show #7," "Tommy Peltier and the Jazz Corps," and "Basses International". "Live at the Uptown," and the "Blues Monks," are two of five CD's just released, which feature Bill's recent recording endeavors with guitarist /composer/producer, Joey Latimer, on WAM Records, and a new Sitar recording for CCH on Stonefly Records. A new odyssey of life found Bill leaving Southern California and settling in Dubois, Wyoming. He began working with guitarist Mike Dowling, performing concerts at the National Wildlife Museum Theatre and Center of the Arts in Jackson Hole. In Dubois he performed, produced, and recorded with guitarist songwriter Peter Wagoner. They played at the Global Café in Lander which led to Bill becoming a member of the Lander Philharmonic Orchestra, and the decision to form the Wyoming Conservatory of Music, a non-profit music education corporation. He assembled the Rainbow Retti Strings, Jessica Dirks piano, Thomas Nelson Dirks violin, Rebecca Dirks cello, and Laurie Dirks bass, performing for elementary school concerts. During this period Bill also performed concerts with the Wyoming Symphony Orchestra. Bill was introduced to pianist and arranger Keith Phillips and to his wife, jazz pianist and vocalist, Pam Phillips, and began gigging and recording in the Jackson area with them. Keith accompanies vocalist Nicole Madison and Bill soon became her back up bassist recording and performing concerts in her band along with Matt Miles tenor, Ed Domer or Mike Calabrese drums, and Lawrence Bennett trumpet. The Jackson Hole Center of the Arts became the new location of the Bill Plummer Bass School perpetuating Bill’s ”unified fingerboard integration system” for electric and upright bass. While performing with the Lander Philharmonic Bill met trombonist John Kidwell and was asked to play in his band “Dogs of War”. Guitarist for the band was Peter Queal whom Bill had met and performed with at a master class he gave at the University of Wyoming under Dr. Kate McKeage. Bill and Peter Queal formed ”PQBP” a world music duo, featuring music from many countries. Besides concerts and night club engagements PQBP is a roster member of the Wyoming Arts Council, launching a new music educational concept, “instruction by inspiration”.
Other interesting new releases from a "bassist" standpoint are:
"Tommy Peltier's Jazz Corps" "Live at the Lighthouse" Vol I and II on Cadence Records, "Tommy Peltier's" new Jazz Opera "The Frogs Breath Saloon" for symphony, ballet, and chorus on Plastic Echo Records, and the producer and bassist for Grammy Award Winner Ric Marlow's "Tastes of Honey" on NLN Records. Basses International's CD release of "Road to the Sky" on ZIVO Records will also be accompanied by the release of "D TRAIN" a swing dance Jazz album, and "That's the Spirit" the Judee Sill Memorial CD. Bill Plummer directed "Basses International" at "Jazz in the Pines" the 7^th Annual Idyllwild Jazz Festival.
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