Welcome to the official web page for J Starpoli
     
     Diversity is a key concept in my musical world.  Since musical sound is a multi-dimensional phenomenon, my aim is to employ a variety of approaches to explore the vast reaches of audible space.  Through many types of projects I strive to maintain a sense of discipline and order while embracing life's inherent chaos and having fun in the process.  The results play on passion and intellect, from the ecstatic to the sublime.  Here you will find a collection of resources about my music.  Follow the sound and enjoy!



      About me:

     Composer / performer Jeremy Starpoli has been developing his unique musical interests in the northeast United States for over two decades. His original music explores our perception of the fundamental parameters of musical sound (pitch, rhythm, dynamics and tone color) as a basis for creating detailed worlds of sound in a variety of styles.  As a composer, Starpoli's interest in sound as a perceptual substance motivates endless variations of musical material.  As a performer, Starpoli has over fifteen years experience playing primarily slide trombone along with a variety of bass strings and percussion instruments.  Based in Western Massachusetts, Starpoli has collaborated with many regional and internationally-known musicians such as Joe McPhee, Jessica Pavone, Dan Greenwood (a.k.a. Diagram A), Ben Karetnick, Cliff White, and many others.  He has performed with groups such his own RICEnsemble, the Middletown (CT) Creative Orchestra, power-noise-core band Squidlaunch, etc.  His approach to the trombone utilizes a wide variety of conventional and extended techniques, allowing for diverse sound-types and moods.  The music of J Starpoli is noisy and passionate at times, at others it is textural or rhythmic or melodic, crossing many styles and sounds in a constant exploration.  Follow the sound.

          Contact:
You can send me EMAIL (if you retype this address with the correct symbols):  starpolimail[at]suchfun[dot]net 

     Upcoming Events
:

TBA...

previous events at starpolisounds.suchfun.net/pastshows.html


     Projects:


     Ear Contact on WMUA Radio
Sundays 7-9pm
Broadcasting at 91.1FM in western MA or streaming live @ WMUA.org

check out what I have been playing at wmua.org/playlists

Send recordings to:
      Ear Contact
      c/o WMUA
      105 Campus Center
      University of Massachusetts
      Amherst, MA 01003
 

       Composition

Audio:
J Starpoli - Pheepo Troth.mp3
(J Starpoli, Michael Dessen (mdessen.com), Doug LaRosa - trombones)
recorded 2004

J Starpoli -TextForTwo.mp3
(J Starpoli - trombone, Seth Dellinger - contrabass)
Recorded October 2001 live at the Music Overground series, Manhattan, NYC

J Starpoli - Ik_tak_tak.mp3
(Zach Weingarten- guitar, J Starpoli- trombone and bass guitar, Bob Gibeault- drum set)

Theory:
J Starpoli - Sonogrammatics.pdf

Sonogrammatics: A Method of Musical Composition Based on Sound Analysis
my Division III "thesis" for Hampshire College


     Performance

Video:
     Here are some links to miscellaneous performances I have given with non-regular groups or as a sideman.  Most of the video footage in this section was shot by the ubiquitous Ted Lee; check out his mammoth documenting of the western MA scene at www.youtube.com/user/ZEBU1212

Ron Schneiderman / Andy Crespo Duo with J Starpoli & Peter Bonos at The Elevens in Northampton, MA - September 1, 2011
Peter Bonos Blow Out! at Feeding Tube Records in Northampton, MA - August 30, 2011
Joe McPhee / Chris Corsano / Andy Crespo / J Starpoli at Flywheel - March 2, 2011 (set 1)

Joe McPhee / Chris Corsano / Andy Crespo / J Starpoli at Flywheel - March 2, 2011 (set2)
Free Jazz Scream Team at Flywheel in Easthampton, MA - August 31, 2010
Gastric RICE Lavage Ensemble at Flywheel in Easthampton, MA - May 2, 2010
Belltone Suicide at Grey Matter Books in Hadley, MA - March 18, 2010
J Starpoli with Peter Bonos and Matt Weston at the Elevens in Northampton, MA - August 2, 2009
AO Groupuscule at the Purple House in Northampton, MA - November 15, 2008
 
Audio:
Part of a work by Jack Callahan, titled substantia absolute infinita, for two trombones, is posted here: jackcallahan.tumblr.com
There are a few jammin' tracks recorded with guitarist Dan Lederer on his music page: danlederer.com/music.htm

Here is a track my friend Ethan (ex-Squidlaunch) put together with audio samples from myself and others: stateshirt.com/music/driving-forever/
Hear miscellaneous audio tracks at www.myspace.com/jaystarsound

Links:
Annual poetry conference in Northfield, MA where I collaborate with creative writers:
haikucircle.com/jeremy-starpoli.html
Western MA faves Fat Worm of Error (fatwormoferror.suchfun.net) put out an LP, "Broods" that features me in a horn section. 
     Here is the Ecstatic Peace description: Fat Worm of Error: Broods LP on Ecstatic Peace

Picture of me playing with Drew Hutchinson's Frugal Jazz Project: frugaljazzproject.blogspot.com


     Greenwood / Starpoli duo
Dan Greenwood: handmade electronics  (diagram-a-greenwood.blogspot.com)
J Starpoli: amplified trombone


Video:

Greenwood_Starpoli at Feeding Tube Records in Northampton, MA May 7, 2012

Audio:
Greenwood_Starpoli_09.24.2011_No1.mp3
Greenwood_Starpoli_10.25.2011_No2.mp3

check out a short track from back in the day at www.myspace.com/jaystarsound

two upcoming cassete releases in 2012 (self-released and on Bonescraper Recordings bonescraperrecordings.wordpress.com)


     Something Else (a.k.a Digital Abacus, Leo and the Spectacles, etc.)
Steve: alto sax
Victor: tenor sax
Jeremy: trombone
Leo: guitar
Lou: guitar
Brian: bass
Bruce: drums

Video:


(from the Rendezvous in Turners Falls, MA - February 26, 2012):
Tezlabi
Rhino
Radar
2 Dub 2 Dub 2
Funky Jam
-------
Something Else at the Arts Block in Greenfield, MA - November 19, 2011
Something Else at the Arts Block in Greenfield, MA - September 10, 2011


Audio:
Leo has posted a live set and some bonus material at
soundcloud.com/fradubio/sets


     Cardinaux / Starpoli duo
Eliot Cardinaux: piano, keyboards (myspace.com/eliotcardinaux)
J Starpoli: trombone


Audio:
soundcloud.com/starpoli-cardinaux

check out some of Eliot's poetry at
amemoryiswhatwecamehereoncetosee.blogspot.com and bsa-music.blogspot.com


     PRINTS
Video:


PRINTS at Feeding Tube Records in Northampton, MA - January 30, 2011
(Victor Signore - tenor saxophone, J Starpoli - trombone, Andy Crespo - bass, Bruce Todd - drums)

PRINTS at Flywheel Grand Re-opening in Easthampton, MA - April 18, 2010
(Victor Signore - tenor saxophone, J Starpoli - trombone, Andy Crespo - bass, Bruce Todd - drums)

PRINTS at Dad City in Amherst, MA - October 4, 2009
(Peter Bonos - trumpet, Victor Signore - tenor saxophone, J Starpoli - trombone, Andy Crespo - bass, Bruce Todd- drums)


     Rob Skelton's Pitchfork
Check out some of Rob's prolific musical ouput, some featuring yours truly, at www.myspace.com/skeltonspitchfork

Video:
A search for Rob Skelton on YouTube, will reveal his masterful songcraft with some great local history in the lyrics.  Here are videos that I have found with me playing in the band:
from ROBSKELTONSONGS' Channel:
Rob Skelton's Pitchfork: Marion Barry
Rob Skelton's Pitchfork: I'm In Love
Rob Skelton's Pitchfork: White Hole with Larry Berger
Rob Skelton's Pitchfork: Blackberry with a Deviation from the Norm (B)
also
Rob Skelton's Pitchfork at Positronic Design Holyoke, MA


     Co-op Jazz (co-opjazz.com)
Les Patlove: french horn
J Starpoli: trombone
David Greenberg: guitar
Bill Winslow: keyboards
Michael Suter: bass
Dana Tolman: drums

We perform monthly at Green Fields Market in Greenfield, MA (see franklincommunity.coop for their calendar of events) and also perform regularly at venues such as the Shutesbury Athletic Club and Cushman Market in Amherst


     RICEnsemble
Video:


RICEnsemble at the Starbux Studios Rent Party in Turners Falls, MA - February 6, 2011

(J Starpoli- trombone, fretless bass guitar, hand percussion, digital editing and live mixing)

RICEnsemble at the Montague Phantom Brain Exchange #16 in Lake Pleasant, MA - April 18, 2009

(J Starpoli- trombone, fretless bass guitar, contrabass, hand percussion, metronomes, digital editing, live mixing, with audience participation)   
Live performance from Lake Pleasant, MA at the National Spiritualist Alliance Hall.

Audio:

RICEnsemble - LiveAtMeadArtMuseum.mp3
(J Starpoli -
trombone, fretless bass, hand percussion, digital editing, live mixing)
Live performance from the Mead Art Museum at Amherst College, March 2010.

RICEnsemble - Ponomedar.mp3

(J Starpoli- trombone, digital editing)
Recorded in Western MA, 2008

also check out some short bonus tracks at www.myspace.com/jaystarsound


     Pyramid Scheme Trio
Josiah Cuneo: drums and percussion (josiahcuneo.blogspot.com)
Victor Signore: saxophone (valleyartshare.com/profile/VictorSignore)
J Starpoli: trombone


www.myspace.com/thepyramidschemetrio

Audio:
Live in concert at the Issue Project Room via WFMU's freemusicarchive.org/music/Pyramid_Scheme_Trio


    
Resistance Blue Duo
Ben Karetnick: drumset
J Starpoli: trombone


Check out www.myspace.com/resistanceblue for more info on our
CD available directly from me or Peacock Recordings www.peacock-recordings.com

Here is an article where the Valley Advocate tells you why we're too experimental: valleyadvocate.com/article.cfm?aid=9652  We must be on to something!

As a throwback to our early work together, you can hear a former group we recorded with featuring bassist Kazuto Sato and trumpeter Pasquale Cangiano courtesy of the latter's www.blackrhombus.com/archive_mumford_babbs.php


     Correspondence Quartet
Jackson Moore: saxophone (jacksonmoore.net)
Jessica Pavone: viola and violin (jessicapavone.com)
Seth Dellinger: contrabass (youtube.com/user/beeayboll)
J Starpoli: trombone


Audio:
J Starpoli - UntitledPieceForCQ.mp3

this is a composition written for the group, using the improvisational language material developed in our live shows

4-CD box set available from Cadence North Country Distributors:
go to klompfoot.com and type Correspondence in the title field or Jackson Moore in the artist field
hear some of the tracks courtesy of Jackson's aletheiarecords.com


     Squidlaunch
Brendon: vocals (peaceandrhythm.blogspot.com)
Shawn: guitar
Bob: guitar and sax
Phloyd: trombone and noisemakers
Dan: bass and electronics
Ethan: drums (stateshirt.com)


Western Mass. Power Violence! As young people into all sorts of radical music and artistry, we knew we could add something to the then burgeoning international noise / hardcore scene beyond emulating our influences. Plus, we could clear a crowed punk show in less than a minute flat. The band went through many changes over its' history, but during my time in it I had a blast (literally) finding all the "wrong" sounds on my trombone, and I haven't changed since. Song titles such as "Amoxil Lysergic Capacity", "Blyrfyx", "Feast on Vomit", etc., will perhaps give some sense of what this band was about.

Links:
www.myspace.com/squidlaunch

We have a 7" from a show recorded on WFMU in 1995 and released twelve years later on Interplanetary Music / Cardboard / Bonescraper / $ tree / LFA / Spooky Tree Records
     Check out this review by WFMU:
blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2007/09/recent-new-bin-.html

There is also a track on the X-Pluralus compilation from Mystra Records, which can be found here (among other places):
www.forcedexposure.com/labels/mystra.records.html
www.discogs.com/artist/Squidlaunch