alchemy records bio.pdf · alongside durant’s records, alchemy has released albums by artists...

AlchemyRecords

Alchemy Records, Ltd • 61 Surrey Drive • Cohasset, MA 02025Tel: (781) 718-0067 • www.alchemyrecords.com

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Jon Durant :: guitarist | composer | producer

Cohasset, MA—Guitarist Jon Durant brings a unique sense of texture and melody to his instrument. His distinctive “cloudguitar” soundscapes and engaging lead work have graced numerous CD recordings and film soundtracks. As executiveproducer of Alchemy Records, he produces recordings for internationally acclaimed artists in his small home studio.Alongside Durant’s records, Alchemy has released albums by artists Michael Manring, Gary Willis, Leni Stern/WayneKrantz and others.

berklee and beyondJon attended Berklee College of Music in the early 80s,after having studied privately with fusion guitar legend andEmmy Award-winning composer Randy Roos. Jon boltedbefore long (too much jazz for his independent, prog-rockspirit), but has kept playing and recording with Roos tothis day.

Post-Berklee, Jon earned a marketing degree fromEmerson College and worked in HiFi for Nantucket Sound,NAD (electronics) and Atlantic Technologies (speakers).Later, as Marketing Manager at digital-audio innovatorsLexicon, he handled artist relations and got his daily guitar-freak fix as the primary demo guy for the JamMan andVortex looping/morphing effects products.

After seven years his independent spirit kicked in onceagain. Jon dropped out of the corporate world to immersehimself in his own music. He started Alchemy Records in1996 and has never looked back. In addition to longtimecollaborators Tony Levin (bassist with King Crimson andPeter Gabriel), drummer/percussionist Vinny Sabatino,pianist Michael Whalen, and guitar/synth master RandyRoos, Jon has worked extensively with bassist Colin Edwinof Porcupine Tree, including Jon’s solo album Dance of theShadow Planets and their group Burnt Belief. Jon was also brought in to enhance the UK/Ukranian project Astarta/Edwinfor both studio recording as well as live work in Kiev and London. Jon has also recorded with electric violinist Caryn Lyn,percussionist Jerry Leake, New York singer/songwriter Porter Smith, soul singer Ray Greene (Tower of Power) and manyothers.

on the home frontJon also spent a considerable amount of time playing music with his two sons. With Matt on bass and Harrison on guitarand keys, they did their own thing and cover lots of Porcupine Tree, Sigur Ros, Foals (and some Zappa, naturally). Withboth boys now in college in the Pacific Northwest (Reed College and Whitman College), Jon also spends a considerableamount of time in Portland, OR. In fact, much of the new Burnt Belief album, Etymology, was composed there,

Alchemy Records, Ltd • 61 Surrey Drive • Cohasset, MA 02025Tel: (781) 718-0067 • www.alchemyrecords.com

Jon has also collaborated on recordings with his brother, Lexington, KY–based Kingston Durant. The two briefly had aquartet in New Hampshire playing their own original jazz compositions, which featured drummer José Duque who alsoappears on Etymology.

on a desert islandIf forced to answer the question, “If stuck on a desert island and you could only bring three records, what would theybe?” Jon would answer as follows:

Only three? OK: • Eberhard Weber, “The Following Morning”• Peter Gabriel, "III (melt)”• David Sylvian, “Alchemy: An Index of Possibilities” (yeah, that's where the label got it's name...)

Can I bring a DVD?• Porcupine Tree, “Anesthetize”

Press Inquiries:Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158

glassonyonpr@gmail.com