"Cruizin' Down" finalCut

Blues For Big Dummy_FinalCut

"Cruizin' Down"

Oui' 3

www.oui3.com

In the spring of 2009, three Los Angeles musicians began meeting on a weekly basis. At first the goal was simply to play through songs from the "Real Books" for their own musical practice and pleasure. Before long, a musical chemistry between the three began to emerge that was concrete and unique. A "band sound" if you willwas present regardless of which tune they played. They soon began to compose their own material, drawing upon the classic elements of the jazz masters of the past, as well as the sounds of the "new school" of jazz incorporating modern funk, world rhythms of reggae and afro-cuban, as well as the futuristic sounds of electronica. Gigging routinely throughout the city at many venues firmly established in the jazz scene (Jax of Glendale, The Oyster House, Hotel Angeleno, etc.) has only enhanced the band chemistry while building an ever-increasing following of eclectic music lovers. The band members, Bill Wiseman, Lou Castro, and Jim Xavier (Guitar, Bass and Drums), representing the Mid-West, West Coast and East Coast, individually have a long list of credits on their own as supporting musicians for various national acts such as Wayne Newton, Paula Abdul, Al Wilson, Gladys Knight, Mandrill, Don Was, Phil Woods, Arthur Adams and many others. Their purpose is to continue in the long tradition of their musical influences and "pushing the bar line" as they say while striving for musical excellence and expression, Currently, Oui' 3 aspires to reach out to new crowds, through the release of their debut self-titled recording and live performances.

I was raised in Huntington Park, Santa Fe Springs, & Whittier, California where I attended high school. I first started singing when I was around 4 or 5 years old. My mom had a personal record collection which she let me listen to. Her favorites were Elvis, Nat "King" Cole, Sonny Knight, Tennesee Ernie Ford, Frank Sinatra, Jo Stafford, Chuck Berry, Herb Alpert's Tiajuana Brass, Stan Kenton, Wes Montgomery and whatever else was popular at the time.

I sang in choirs and vocal groups all through elementary and junior high school. I started playing bass when I was 16. My first bass was a Sears Silvertone Acoustic guitar that I got for Christmas. I learned three chords and then I just started playing the bottom strings. 2 years later, I bought a white Hagstrom 4-string. I was in business.

I played the usual gigs:high schools, casuals, weddings, the odd session and lots of cover gigs. I joined the musicians union and moved to LA in 1979. My first gig was a residency at The Bla Bla Cafe with a singer-songwriter named Dee Archer. I also produced albums by Cheryl Lyon, Boy Next Door, & The Mirrors. The Mirrors had a minor KROQ hit called, "One More Kiss".

I also got to play with Billy Cioffi & The Monte Carlos. This particular band played with all of the authentic oldies acts. When they needed a sub, they called me. Through them I got to play with The Shirelles, Johnny Tillotson, Dick & Dee Dee, The Coasters, Martha Reeves, and Chuck Berry.

Around the same time this was going on, I met Bill Wiseman. We were playing at Cantor's Kibbitz Room behind a tenor player named Eric Gold. Eric had seen me playing with English singer-songwriter, Paul Korda, and convinced me that I was the right bassist for his band. This was my first experience with guys that called themselves jazz musicians.
We did this for a couple of years before Eric passed away. After his passing, Bill and I went our seperate ways but we always stayed in touch and we always talked about playing again.

In the late 90's I joined the pioneering funk band, Mandrill. Mandrill has their own groove and to be able to play those songs was a real joy. A wonderful experience!

Around this same time, I also joined up with Arthur Adams, an amazing singer, writer, and guitarist. I'm honored to call him a friend and a mentor. It's a musical relationship that endures to this day and it never ceases to amaze me.

My favorite bassists & musicians, in no particular order: Gamble & Huff, Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Kate Bush, Gil Evans, Mark Isham, James Jamerson, George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Jaco Pastorious, John Entwistle, Miles Davis, Paul Chambers, Ron Carter, Billy Cox, Fudgie Kay Solomon, Anthony Jackson, Marcus Miller, Chris Squire, Michael Rutherford, Pino Palladino, Bootsy Collins, Larry Graham, Pat Metheny, John Coltrane, Barry Oakley, Ralph Vaughn-Williams, Vince Mendoza, Paul Simon, Bob Marley, Stevie Wonder. The list goes on & on.


I play 4 & 5-string fretted and fretless basses, acoustic upright, keyboards, percussion, and some guitar. I also sing lead and background vocals. I'm also a producer, writer, & arranger.


Right now I'm playing with Arthur Adams, Sir Sodoff & The TrainWrecks featuring Vivian Campbell on guitar, and Oui' 3, whose website you're on right now. You can also hear me on recordings by Dave Smallen, Audra Mae, Mandrill, Arthur Adams, Darious, the Mannish Boys, Andy Georges, Farron Frazier, Emily Grace Clark, and Emyna.

HOWEVER, OUI' 3 IS THE BAND THAT I'M MOST PROUD OF. IT'S BEEN THE THREE OF US FOR AWHILE NOW. AND IT KEEPS GETTING BETTER!

I would like to introduce to you Bill Wiseman, a Los Angeles based studio session & jazz guitarist. He is the guitarist for Oui'3 and also a solo Jazz Guitarist in the Los Angeles Area. The past three years Oui'3 have played all the major jazz clubs in Los Angeles, making a name for themselves in the area for their original, melodic and energetic music. Along with performing throughout Los Angeles, he also teaches Guitar, Compostion and Improvisation .

Bill Wiseman has played on numerous sessions including background music for TV shows and movies, and has lead many jazz groups in the Los Angeles area including the Wiseguys and his newest projects, Oui'3 and Granville Junction. He has played with artists such as Paula Abdul, Tony Newton, Brandon Fields, Doc Severinson, Joe Sample, Joe Williams, Chuck Findley, Phil Woods, Louie Bellson, Milt Hinton, Art Blakely, Clark Terry, Lee Konitz, Maynard Ferguson, Ed Shaughnessy and Andy Narell.

Along with a bachelor’s degree in music, he was fortunate to take lessons from Joe Pass and Pat Martino. He also studied with Phil Rizzo in Cleveland, Ohio, with whom he co-wrote a guitar book series, "Piano like Guitar". He has worked as a professor at the University of Las Vegas teaching jazz guitar and has played with many star acts on the Las Vegas strip such as Wayne Newton, Joe Williams, Gladys Knight, Frankie Avalon, Siegfried & Roy, Rip Taylor, Tom Jones, Marilyn McCoo, Rich Little, Allen and Rossi, Charo, Phyllis Diller, Tony Orlando, Four Lads and a Lady, Bottoms Up, Legends at the Imperial Palace, Jubilee at Bally’s Hotel & Casino, Guitar Chair at Hilton Hotel & Casino (Main), Flamingo Hilton, and Stardust Casino.



Jim Xavier was born in New Bedford, MA. His older brother Charlie was a drummer so there was always a drum kit readily available as well as band rehearsals happening. Early on his favorite way of practicing would be to play along to the radio or his favorite bands' albums (Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, The Police and Rush to name a few). Playing in the high school marching band led Jim to attending UMASS at Amherst with their superb band program. At UMASS, Jim studied for 4 years under marching percussion icon, Thom Hannum. After college, Jim returned to New Bedford and began playing around New England with various rock, jazz, and R/B bands. It was then that he began studying drumset with local legend Jackie Santos (Tavares, John Cafferty, Berklee College of Music). In 1996, Jim decided to move out west and try his luck in Los Angeles. He began to play around town with a number of working bands and doing some recording projects here and there. In 2004, he accepted a gig playing in the Top-40 band "Next Level", a road band playing casinos in both CA and NV. After a year he left Next Level and soon joined another working casino band, a swing showband called "The Kid n Nic Show". It was in this band where he met guitarist Bill Wiseman. After a year, both Jim and Bill left the casino gig. Back in LA, Jim began playing the LA bar circuit again with various working bands. He also became the drummer for known tribute act, Raymond Michael's Tribute to Elvis. Around 2009 Jim and Bill started talking about getting together to do some playing and that's when Bill introduced Jim to his former bandmate, bassist Lou Castro. The three began jamming, gigging and soon composing which led to the release of their debut cd, "Oui' 3". The trio continues to perform throughout southern California with their highly technical, yet "groovy" rendition of modern jazz.