Head 2 Head: Steve Tavaglione

Both an accomplished sound designer and skilled saxophone player, Steve Tavaglione has recorded with some of the biggest names in the industry, as well as performing on the soundtracks for hit television series' Charmed and CSI, and movies like American Beauty, and Finding Nemo, and Oceans 11. Having recently added Tassman to his studio, Steve sheds some light on how it is being integrated into his current projects.

1) Maybe you could start by telling us a bit about your background, how did you get into making music, and more specifically, music for films?

I started playing clarinet at 10 years old. I took up saxophone at 15 and flute at 20. I have always been an improviser since the beginning. I started messing with sound design at 21 using phase shifters , echo etc. My first big movie was Commando for James Horner. I was hired to play the Electric Wind Synthesizer. Before and after that, I was and am still working for Jay Gruska who pretty much broke me into studio work. I have played with and or recorded with artists from Sly and the Family Stone to Dennis Miller to Michael Jackson to Alan Holdsworth etc..

2) What projects have you been working on recently?

I worked for 3 months on Finding Nemo and am now working on Angels in America ,both for Thomas Newman. Also I did Cradle to the Grave , a kung fu / rap flick for John Frisell. I also work for John Keane on CSI, Jay Gruska on Charmed.

3) What were some of your favourite projects to work on?

Every Thomas Newman movie is a great joy and challenge. I liked working with Ed Shearmur on Reign of Fire. Also I enjoyed doing Oceans Eleven for David Holmes, and his latest CD.

4) What would you say would be the strongest 'Pros' and 'Cons' about working with a primarily computer based setup?

Pros: Everything is shrunk down to a smaller working space. There is much better storage space available than any hardware synth.The plugins are great and combinations available using multiple synths together are limitless.

Cons: Never enough DSP due to expanding imagination. Crashes. Failing eyesight.

5) How extensively do you use virtual instruments in your work and how are they integrated into your production process?

I use them heavily in most of my work. I also integrate them with my acoustic playing on clarinet, saxes and flutes. Virtual Instruments are indespensable for me in the world of sessions since i am asked to come with new sound ideas everytime i show up for a session.

6) How has your experience been of Tassman thus far, what sort of things has it been getting used for?

Working with Tom Newman I am around some greatest the greatest acoustic sound musicians, such as George Doering and Michael Fischer. Tom likes things to happen with unexpected results. With his Genius, the "anomalies" in the sound and performances are then integrated into well thought out compositions. It is the perfect blend of measured and unmeasured composition. Tassman has a trememdous amount of possibility for anomalies to occur with the instruments. Also the "acousticness" of the sounds blend well with orchestras.

7) If we gave you full control over what would be included in the next few updates of Tassman, what would you like to see included or expanded upon?

I would like to have more models of blown instruments with all of their attributes.

8) Are there any musicans or film composers who's work particularly excities you these days?

I am always blown away by Thomas Newmans' awareness of what works with film. I liked David Holmes' rawness and minimalism, bringing out the feeling of a player who might or might not be a virtuoso on his instrument but can communicate directly. On the artist side , i am blown away by Squarepusher,Venetian Squares,Pre fuse 73, Autechre and their respective genres. Musicianwise : Kurt Rosenwinkle, Zach Danziger, Scott Kinsey.

9) Finally what's coming up in the next while for you?

Finishing Angels in America for HBO with Newman, doing Oceans 12 in 2004 and all of the unpredicted challanges that will come up between now and then.

Thanks alot Steve!