The David Winogrond Spacetet

David Winogrond - drums

David Winogrond started playing drums at age eleven. He has an extensive discography, dating back to 1972 that includes many indie rock releases and has toured both Europe and North America on many occasions. David was a member of Davie Allan and The Arrows for thirteen years and has also played with To Damascus (with Sylvia Juncosa, part of the 80’s Paisley Underground scene), Pat Smear (formerly with The Germs, Nirvana, and Foo Fighters), SS-20 (psychedelic art damage band on Greg Shaw’s Vox Records), and Skooshny (a recording-only 60’s pop band since 1975, in the mold of early Kinks and Byrds).

David’s background is primarily rock, but his love of jazz led him to start recording a jazz influenced solo album, “Pictures at An Existentialism”, to satisfy this passion. He blended his love of jazz and psychedelia, and then mixed this with the influences of collaborator Jack Chandler, and others (Arlan Schierbaum, DJ Bonebrake, Davie Allan, and Bruce Wagner.)  A 2nd album was recorded, “In The Ether”, also with Jack Chandler and a different set of musicians (including Michael Campagna), released Feb 17, 2009. These projects led David to form his own band, The David Winogrond Spacetet, as a vehicle for live performance with a more consistent personnel.  

David Leech - saxes and flute

David Leech was born in Nome, Alaska and grew up in Seattle, Washington and Columbus, Ohio. He got his early musical training in the public schools, starting with saxophone and later adding the flute and clarinet. He majored in music at Ohio State University, graduating with a BA in Music Education. Following college he served in the U.S. Navy as (what else?) a musician. During this period he also played in the Rounders, an R&B group that served as the house band at Abe's 506 club in Pensacola, Florida, backing up many touring stars such as Joe Tex and Clarence Carter. At this time he also did his first professional recordings with R&B stars James & Bobby Purify.

After discharge from the Navy, David headed west to California where, after a few years as a school teacher, he launched his musical career, playing with a wide variety of groups including the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, The Modernaires, and rhythm & blues artists Roy Milton, Big Joe Turner, Lowell Fulson and The Coasters. At the same time he continued his education at Cal State Northridge and The Dick Grove music school. David has had his compositions and arrangements published and recorded by top jazz stars such as Buddy Childers and Clark Terry.

Events in his personal life (a marriage, two children among them) convinced David to leave the music profession and take up computer programming, where he had a successful career for twenty-five years. Now, being semi-retired from that field, he is reactivating his music life.

Michael Campagna - guitarMichael Campagna is a guitarist, composer and educator with over 30 years of experience.  He has performed professionally since the age of 16 when, in his native Buffalo, N.Y., he joined Jesse James and the Outlaws’ blues band, and jammed with notables like Freddie King.  

Following his precocious beginnings, he became band leader for Elmo Weatherspoon, with whom he toured. He studied electronic music at the University of Buffalo,  jazz theory with Charles Mingus, and utilized the world’s first Moog installation.  He also studied Indian classical music from masters Mani Irani and Mir Ben Jacob.  He has worked with a diverse roster of musical artists including Chaka Knan, Jennifer Holiday, Jeffery Osborne, Michale C. Ford and Wei Wei.

After forming several local bands, he moved to Los Angeles in 1975. His career expanded to include film scoring, a successful club act called Ash & Campagna, composing songs recorded by Chaka Khan and Jennifer Holiday, and playing in African and world beat bands. He has toured Italy, Switzerland, India, Canada, and throughout the United States. During the ‘90s he was a member of the industrial/trance pioneers Psychic TV.

Michael also co-leads Om 7 with Larry Thrasher, and his own band The Average Johnsons. He teaches guitar at South Pasadena Conservatory.

Previous Members:

Jack Chandler - saxes and flute

Jack Chandler, saxes and flute, started playing saxophone when he was seven years old. He attended the Indiana University School of Music and has toured with big band, ska/rock, r&b/gospel, circus, and salsa outfits in the U.S. and Europe.  He has worked with Sonny Simmons (formerly with Eric Dolphy and Charles Mingus), Cliff Hugo (bass player from Supertramp), Michael C. Ford (Pulitzer-nominated spoken word artist), L.A. jazz icon Jimmie Maddin, and Ralph Carney. He was also a member of the Miles Davis inspired jazz-fusion outfit Bitches Brew, which won Best Live Band at the 2000 San Francisco Bammy Awards. Influences include Dexter Gordon, Wayne Shorter, Gato Barbieri, Maceo Parker, and Jimi Hendrix.

Jack currently leads his own straight-ahead Ice Age Jazztet.

Chet West - bass,  hosozao shamisen

A native Angelino who began playing guitar at the age of 16. A few years later he would take up the bass in cover bands in Texas. Since returning to Los Angeles in the early 80's he's appeared on independent CD releases and club dates with a variety of local acts. Most notably, Sheishe, Randy Kovitz & Lies Like Truth and The Average Johnsons with Michael Campagna.
 
A self taught musician with a lifelong love of jazz, his curiosity has recently led to forays into the music of Mexico and Central America (with The Berger/Sanchez Project) as well as playing the hosozao shamisen, a three stringed Japanese lute.

Larry Rott - bass

Larry Rott has had 4 strings in his hands since playing Cello at 10 years old.  He switched to Upright Bass, then Electric and now doubles on both.  A musical chameleon with big ears and a wide groove, he's played with multiple bands in as many genres since his mid-teens.  Born in Detroit, his family background is extensive: an Uncle who A&R'd for Capitol and worked with The Beatles, a cousin who worked in NYC with Gil Evans, an Aunt who sang on Decca and The Sunliners (who later became Rare Earth).  
 
Rott played in Doll Congress, an LA Band that spawned the careers of Michael Penn, Patrick Warren (session keyboardist extraordinaire) and Rafael "Danny" Gayol (Leonard Cohen and more).  He's toured Europe and Asia and currently makes his home in Los Angeles.

Bruce Wagner - guitar, bass and keyboards

Bruce Wagner has also been a member of Davie Allan and The Arrows, SS-20, and Skooshny; all with David. They also worked together on Rhino Records comedy albums, and with The Kazoo Brothers (playing Kazoos, of course); doing shows with punk rock bands (X, Plugz), and appearing on television (Dinah Shore Show).

Bruce: “I’ve been very lucky to meet and play with some of my favorite artists like Arthur Lee (Love), John Densmore (Doors), Ike Turner, Sky Saxon (Seeds), and Mars Bonfire (“Born To Be Wild” Steppenwolf song writer). I’m also appearing “live” as my alter-ego Bruce Jones, playing an evil brew of bluesy swamp rock psychedelia."

Tom Bone - trombone

Tom has played with Macy Gray, Johnny Guitar Watson, The Gap band, The Funk Bros, Billy Bang, George Clinton, Ray Charles and others. He also did avant garde theatre and jazz in Germany.