A Brief History of PLOTZ!
A fixture in Southern California’s underground Balkan/gypsy, jazz, and rock music scenes, PLOTZ! has been rocking stages and thrilling audiences for the better part of a decade. With Daniel Rosenboom on trumpets, Gavin Templeton on saxophones, Brian Walsh on clarinets and saxophones, Jake Vossler on guitars, Orest Balaban on bass, and Austin Wrinkle on drums, PLOTZ! is made up of some of California’s most accomplished and innovative young musicians.
In the fall of 2004, guitarist Jake Vossler, drummer Austin Wrinkle, and bassist Orest Balaban came together to form a power trio that was dedicated to the re-interpretation of traditional Balkan folk music. Focusing on performing these tunes with burning speed and precision, a free-wheeling improvisatory aesthetic, and a heavy rock sound, they created a sound that was at once infectious, danceable, and downright thrashing.
Shortly thereafter, in the spring of 2005, trumpeter Daniel Rosenboom joined the group, and the group’s signature sound developed further. The performed extensively throughout southern California, and began to incorporate original tunes written with the Balkan-jazz-rock aesthetic. In the summer of 2006 they recorded their first album, Extraordinary Renditions, which they released in early 2007 on their own PLOTZ! Music Productions label.
In early 2007, bassist Orest Balaban moved to Hawaii, and after a short hiatus, the group was joined by bassist Antony DiGenarro. Also in the fall of 2007, saxophonist Gavin Templeton, and clarinetist/saxophonist Brian Walsh joined PLOTZ!. Throughout the next year, PLOTZ! expand their sound and concept and continued to perform extensively throughout Southern California. In the summer of 2008 they recorded a live album, Live 2008, which was released later that fall.
In early 2009, Orest returned to the group after moving back to the mainland, and the band hit the ground running. With all the pieces in place they set out to record yet another album in the summer of 2009, The KiD. They released The KiD in 2010 to much critical acclaim, and have continued to rock Southern California with their unique and compelling sound.
PLOTZ! plans to go back into the studio in 2012 to record a new album with several guest artists including Macedonian guitar virtuoso Miroslav Tadic, the world-renowned world percussion group Hands On’Semble, and others yet to be announced. Look for that later this year!
