photo - George Margolin

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 a top session musician, 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. To see Novi's full discography, clic here.

A valley girl from North Hollywood, CA, Novi began playing piano at age four. When she was eight, she took up the violin, then moved on to viola. As part of the American Youth Symphony, Novi studied under Mehli Mehta, then attended California Institute of the Arts on scholarship under Louis Kievman, where she received the American String Teachers Award. In addition to her work in viola and piano, she studied composition at Cal Arts under Leonard Stein and Alan Chaplin.

Throughout her childhood Novi played and recorded music with her cousin, Lauren Wood. Their first album was on the Musicor Label, then they moved on to Warner Brothers as CHUNKY, NOVI AND ERNIE. (To further check out CHUNKY, NOVI AND ERNIE or to purchase their CD's, visit LaurenWood.com). Novi and Lauren still continue their lifelong musical relationship today.

Novi has recorded several albums with her own groups, including four discs with instrumental group FREEWAY PHILHARMONIC (on the Sheffield Lab and Spindletop labels) and an album with rock group Sumner on the Elektra/Asylum label. She toured extensively with both groups.

photo - Helene Barbara

LARRY TUTTLE
-THE STICK-

Larry Tuttle and The Stick were on a collision course from the very 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 music, playing in school orchestras, All-City orchestras, Youth Symphonies, college symphonies, and just about every kind of ensemble imaginable. Larry studied classically at the University of Washington as a string bass major under James Harnett (principal bass - Seattle Symphony) as well as taking extensive private study with such notables as Ron Simon, Ring Warner and Oscar Zimmerman. 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. Larry played principal bass for a summer at the National Music Camp in Interlochen, as well as sitting in with the Seattle Symphony as an honor student.

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 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 entire vistas 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 musical identity. The Stick's two-handed playing technique and contrapuntal sound also made it an ideal instrument for expression as a composer. For more info on The Stick, clic here.

FREEWAY PHILHARMONIC, Larry and Novi's instrumental group through the late 80's and 90's, recorded four CD's for the Spindletop and Sheffield Lab labels. FREEWAY PHILHARMONIC toured throughout the United States and Canada, as Larry introduced The Stick to audiences everywhere. In 1999, Larry recorded "THROUGH THE GATES", a CD of solos performed on The Stick.