Buzz Feiten
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article needs references that appear in reliable third-party publications. Primary sources or sources affiliated with the subject are generally not sufficient for a Wikipedia article. Please add more appropriate citations from reliable sources. (January 2008) |
Howard "Buzz" Feiten (pronounced "feet'n") is a North American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and session musician.
He is best known as a lead and rhythm electric guitarist and for having patented a unique, scientifically-designed tuning system which re-configures its stringboard / neck for more accurate tonality. Thus Feiten qualifies as a Luthier, as well as a guitarist.
Contents |
[edit] Early years
Feiten grew up in Centerport, New York, where he was known by schoolmates and friends as 'Buzzy'. Son of a musical mother, Pauline (a classical pianist), and an airline pilot, Howard Sr., Feiten studied several musical instruments as a child, finally settling on the French horn. In 1966 he auditioned at Juilliard College on the French Horn, but was not admitted.
He debuted in commercial pop / rock music with a high school band called The Reasons Why (other players were Steve Beckmeier (rhythm guitar), Al Stegmeyer (drums), Danny 'Fingers' Horton (lead guitar), and Daniel Kretzer (keyboards)). The Reasons Why were locally successful on Long Island, and two of their songs, "Tell Her One More Time" and "Same Old Worries" briefly appeared on the Billboard Top 100 singles chart in 1966.[citation needed]
[edit] The Butterfield Blues Band
Still known as 'Buzzy', he jammed in New York City with Eric Clapton the next year,[citation needed] during Slowhand's 1967 first visit to the USA with supergroup Cream. This experience helped qualify Feiten, now increasingly seen as a 'wunderkind', to join the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, filling the post of the departed Elvin Bishop, who had gone solo. He recorded on the group's fifth album, Keep on Moving.
With Butterfield, Feiten played such famous gigs as the Atlantic City Pop Festival and the legendary Woodstock Festival, polishing his 'chops' on rhythm 'n' blues. As he matured into the adult music scene, his nickname became modified to 'Buzz'.
[edit] Other projects, and Full Moon
Feiten's next major combo engagement was as lead guitarist with The Rascals, Felix Cavaliere's group (formerly known as the Young Rascals) on the Rascals' Peaceful World and Island of Real albums, including a few original songs.
But as a young-adult player, Feiten achieved musicians' musician status in 1971 with his project album Full Moon,[citation needed] featuring Neil Larsen (keyboards), Freddie Beckmeier (bass), Phillip Wilson (drums), and Brother Gene Dinwiddie on tenor saxophone. Sidemen contributing to Full Moon included Randy Brecker, Airto Moreira, Ray Baretto, Dave Holland, and vocalists Robin Clark and Tasha Thomas. Considered one of the greatest early jazz-rock fusion albums,[citation needed] Full Moon gained airplay and vinyl album sales in many metropolitan and urban-suburban markets. It was re-released in 2000 on CD with a bonus track not included on the original. A sequel album, Buzz Feiten & The New Full Moon, was released in 1999, with a modified different complement of musicians: the original member Freddie Beckmeier, bass (brother of Steve from The Reasons Why), plus new members Jai Winding on keyboards, Brandon Fields on saxophones, and Gary Mallaber on drums. Two other Feiten projects had the 'Full Moon' name attached; one a Larsen-Feiten band studio-recorded release, and the other a 'live' album, Full Moon Live -- early 1980s recordings of some of the original Full Moon and Larsen-Feiten Band songs, with Neil Larsen on keyboards, Lenny Castro on percussion, Art Rodriguez on drums, and Vernon Porter on bass.
Feiten has played with many well-known acts, and his discography includes well over 100 collections with various artists, playing music ranging from straight blues, cabaret standards, pop, rock 'n' roll, rhythm 'n' blues, jazz, and fusion. His own musical projects have included The Reasons Why (with whom he first played electric bass), Full Moon, the Larsen-Feiten Band, and the Whirlies. He was briefly a member of the Dave Weckl Band, and recorded songs (including some of his originals) on two of Weckl's CDs, Synergy and Rhythm of the Soul. Synergy is considered one of his best jazz / fusion work, with several leading jazz musicians of the time.
Feiten's recordings and/or performances include the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, the Rascals, Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Etta James, The Brecker Brothers, Bruce Willis, Gregg Allman, James Taylor, Wilson Pickett, Chaka Khan, Olivia Newton-John, Neil Larsen,[1] Rickie Lee Jones, Stevie Wonder, Bette Midler, David Sanborn, Dave Weckl, Kenny Loggins, Art Porter Jr., Michael Franks, Dave Koz, Felix Cavaliere, Jeff Lorber, Stuart Hamm, Jason Miles, Claus Ogerman, Boz Scaggs, Mr. Mister, Richard Pelkoff, Bill Quateman, and many other great jazz, pop, rock and blues musicians. His much-imitated style and techniques on the electric guitar can be heard throughout late 20th century and early 21st century pop, rock, jazz, and fusion music.
Feiten's songwriting (and sometimes singing) credits include tracks with the Reasons Why, the Rascals, Chicago (#18), Full Moon, Larsen-Feiten Band, Casino Lights, Whirlies, the Dave Weckl Band, and Guitar Workshop in L.A. (1988). On the latter rare CD, Feiten 'faced-off' in a 'battle of the guitarists' with three other great rock and pop fretmen, Teddy Castellucci, James Harrah, and Jeff Baxter.
Some of Feiten's CDs, compilations, and re-releases have only been marketed in Germany and Japan, with minimal commercial publicity in the USA.
[edit] 'Buzz Feiten Tuning System'
Feiten also patented a new tuning system for guitars, called the 'Buzz Feiten tuning system'. It is a structural system permitting the tuning of guitars and basses more accurately, specifically on the lowest 3 or 4 frets, which otherwise tend to be somewhat out-of-tune compared to notes played on the rest of the neck. The difference, though subtle, is especially evident in the playing of chords. The system involves some minor alterations to the instrument and can be retrofitted to most guitars that do not already have it. It is installed at the factory on some new guitars and basses, including those bearing the Washburn brand.
Despite Feiten claiming to have invented this system, Luthiers have been using compensated guitar nuts before Feiten patented his system. One of the problems with the Feiten tuning system is that it requires a special guitar tuner that has Buzz Feiten presets as the strings have to be tuned flat or sharp because the nut is compensated, not the individual nut slots strings.[2] There are instructions on Feiten's website on how his system can be tuned without a tuner. Also these guitars have to be intonated by a Earvana, a company selling compensated nuts has come out with a similar system where the strings are individually intonated and is very affordable since the luthier does not need special training or pay to be Buzz Feiten Certified to install the nut.
Added 2/21/08: Steve Postell, formerly with Little Blue and Pure Prairie League, reports that Feiten is featured on three tracks on his new CD, whose release is anticipated on Immergent Records later in 2008. Postell reports that Feiten "... plays beautifully, and wrote two of the songs."
Added 7/29/09: There was a late 2008 release of the Japanese-published 'Buzz Feiten with special guest Brandon Fields' on CD, recorded at Musicians Institute in Los Angeles on January 11, 2007. The band includes Jerry Watts, bass, Dave Beyer, drums, and John Thomas, keyboards—disc credits are in English and Japanese. Notable among the six included tracks is a tribute to the late Brotha Gene Dinwiddie, saxophonist in the original 'Full Moon' project album. A video of the tune's live performance, 'Hey Dinwiddie', can be found on YouTube as of this writing.
[edit] Trivia
 |
Lists of miscellaneous information should be avoided. Please relocate any relevant information into appropriate sections or articles. (October 2009) |
Feiten was actually credited on the French Horn on one of Paul Butterfield's 1960s albums. He played in all-county and all-state orchestras on the instrument.
Feiten's older sister Paula was a top fashion-world 'cover girl' model in the mid-1960s. A younger brother, Jon, was also involved in music and the arts.
Feiten first played Carnegie Hall in 1966, on French Horn, in a select All-American orchestra, American Youth Performs.[citation needed] He would later return with other major acts, such as Rickie Lee Jones.[citation needed]
A notable Feiten quote: "Talent presents a large target", commenting to a schoolmate on how fame and substance abuse have claimed the lives of so many of their contemporaries. By staying clean, professional, and below-the-radar, Feiten has kept his 'chops' and his professional integrity intact, carrying the genius of his productive career well into middle age.
