Artist description The Helmut Stein Experience is the soundtrack to a look into the darker elements of the human condition. Mixing elements of Deep Soul, Jazz, Blues and Pop, the music howls as well as whispers. It's late night music for a restless soul.

Music Style A mix of retro-mod r&b/soul, jazz, blues and popular song

Musical Influences Ray Charles, Tom Waits, Paul Weller, Randy Newman, Elvis Costello, The Beatles

Similar Artists Tom Waits, Paul Weller, Elvis Costello, Randy Newman

Artist History The Helmut Stein Experience started as a solo side project for singer/songwriter/composer R. Scott (formerly of jazz/funk outfit 00 Soul)to work out song ideas in 2000. However, it quickly became a duo in 2001 with the addition of Philip Golla on tenor sax and clarinet. The duo hit the local clubs and developed the core sound. The project became a full-time endeavor the same year and expanded to an sextet- including trumpet, female vocal, bass and drums. The band has been gigging around the L.A./O.C. area non-stop since forming. Jan 2002 saw the release of their debut single "On Return" on Butterfly Records and their self-released CD of the same name is due in December.

Group Members R. Scott - keyboards, vocals; Philip Golla - tenor sax, clarinet; David Dusseau - trumpet, flugelhorn; April Sweeney - vocals; Sean O. - bass; Mark Gusek - drums

Instruments vocals, keyboards, tenor sax/clarinet, trumpet/flugelhorn, bass and drums

Albums On Return

Press Reviews OC WEEKLY - On Return is a perfect three minutes of music, in which lovely, gentle organ notes carve a path for Scott's gruff, smoky vocals, which crash into some sweet New Orleans horn lines and Melinda Jones' goddess-like backup crooning, an immaculate melding of soulfulness and spirituality. Big, Bad Feeling is a beaten-down R&B/jazz number, with Jones singing like shes drowning in a frigid sea of heartbreak as Scott's vocals get very Tom Waits. SOUNDFLAT - Smooth & groovy jazzy Modsounds on this two tracker! Both tracks have a cool bar athmosphere, complete with saxophone, electropiano & those fab vocals of MELINDA JONES! Snap yer fingers & mix up some Martinis..its another classy Butterfly release! Glossy Coverart! ROCTOBER - Seductive, sad, Jazzy soul-pop with brassy class and torchy heat! (Issue 34) HOTBANDS.COM/PICK OF THE WEEK - The Helmut Stein Experience, hailing from the Los Angeles suburb of Lakewood, is the current project of keyboardist, singer/songwriter, R. Scott. On Return, the band's first release and the 8th for Scott, is a collection of keyboard and organ driven music in the blues and jazz genre, but outside enough in some instances to be considered experimental. Good lyrics, good hooks and great arranging make each song from On Return unique enough to keep your interest while contributing to the greater scope of a great jazz and blues album. 365 was an especially interesting track; dark, cynical, poetry read over the top of a minor arrangement of It's a Long Way to Tiperrary gave me the feeling of watching a poetry slam from a David Lynch movie. Scott's effort with The Helmut Stein Experience has obviously attracted some good musicians generating good chemistry and a big sound. The result is On Return being a well-produced, multi-dimensional CD.

Location Lakewood, CA - USA

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