Jason Schimmel

Schimmel performing with Estradasphere in 2007.

Jason Schimmel is best known as the guitarist and co-founder of the eclectic Santa Cruz band Estradasphere. He is also involved with Don Salsa, Secret Chiefs 3 and the Santa Cruz White Album Ensemble. He can also play the banjo and piano. He is well known for his versatile playing style, improvisational and compositional skill.

Born in Los Angeles, California in 1978. He began studying music at the age of eleven. Throughout his childhood his primary instrument was guitar. Studying many musical styles with various teachers throughout Los Angeles area, Schimmel developed a deep understanding of reading, improvising, and composing music.

During the time he was in high school he attended Harbor College where he continued his studies of harmony, theory, and jazz improvisation with Ken Miller from 1995-97. He then went on to attend the University of California, Santa Cruz, from 1997-02. During these years he focused on classical and jazz guitar, piano and voice. Receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Classical Guitar, Schimmel immersed himself in performance. Electronic music was also of interest to Schimmel during this time; he received a Bachelor of Arts minor in Electronic Music from UCSC, focusing on tape composition, analog synthesis, MIDI composition, and computer sequencing. During this time he studied many forms digital audio composition, recording techniques, and mixing.

Performance of original works is also very important to Schimmel. Recording over five albums’ worth of original compositions with the band Estradasphere, he has toured all over the U.S., Europe, and Canada many times in support of these albums. He has also recorded or performed with John Zorn’s COBRA and Masada, DJ Colette, Trey Spruance (Mr. Bungle, Secret Chiefs 3), the White Album Ensemble (Doobie Bros, Snail), Santa Cruz New Music Works, William Winant, Fred Frith, and Chris Brown. Currently Schimmel is composing, performing, and teaching throughout the Bay Area. In 2008, Schimmel released his debut solo album entitled the Orange Tulip Conspiracy on Mimicry Records.