NAMM has launched a new video series, the “Bonzai Beat,” as part of its Playback blog. Music and recording industry figure, Mr. Bonzai, hosts the series, with this new episode featuring Larry Klein.
https://ww1.namm.org/playback/bonzai-beat/bonzai-beat-larry-klein
Larry Klein is a GRAMMY(r) award-winning producer, musician, songwriter, and label executive well known for his work on albums with Joni Mitchell and Herbie Hancock. During his career, Klein has produced more than 100 albums. Currently, Klein is producing albums for multiple artists, including southern gospel/soul singer Lizz Wright, jazz/blues singer Madeleine Peyroux, and more.
Klein grew up in Southern California, where he studied at an after-school musical program at The Community Schools at USC while still in high school. The program gave him the tools to hone his playing and compositional skills with university professors. While in college at California State University Los Angeles, he worked with various jazz and Latin groups. His formative experiences provided the foundation that led to Klein’s touring with high-caliber groundbreakers, including percussionist Willie Bobo, saxophonists Joe Henderson and Wayne Shorter, and trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, among others. These early experiences led to Klein gaining a reputation as a musical prodigy, leading to his collaboration with icons like Stanley Clarke.
During the 1970s and 1980s, Klein worked on many projects, collaborating with diverse acts like Neil Diamond, Bobby McFerrin, Dianne Reeves, and Robbie Robertson. It was during this time that Klein began his work on film soundtracks, to which his credits include Raging Bull (1980), The King of Comedy (1982), and Toy Story (1995), among others.
Learn more: https://www.larrykleinmusic.com
Mr. Bonzai is an award-winning photographer, author, and interviewer. He has written more than 1,000 articles for outlets in the United States, Europe, and Asia, and has published numerous books, including Studio Life (Mix, 1984), Hal Blaine and The Wrecking Crew (Mix, 1992), The Sound of Money (Focal, 2000), Faces of Music (Cengage, 2006), Music Smarts (Berklee Press, 2009), and John Lennon’s Tooth (BookBaby, 2012). His photos and articles have appeared in Rolling Stone, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Billboard, Mix, EQ, Keyboard, Daily Variety, Hollywood Reporter, Los Angeles Magazine, Disney Channel Magazine, Sound & Recording, and Relix, among others. http://www.mrbonzai.com
NAMM’s Playback blog shares compelling stories to inspire innovation in and connection to the industry and member community. NAMM is a not-for-profit association with a mission to strengthen the $17 billion music products industry. NAMM is comprised of approximately 10,400 member companies located in 104 countries and regions. NAMM events and members fund The NAMM Foundation’s (https://www.nammfoundation.org) efforts to promote the pleasures and benefits of music, and advance active participation in music making across the lifespan. For more information about NAMM, please visit https://www.namm.org
