Songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Greg Kurstin has had his hand in an impressive array of projects in various corners of the music industry. A Los Angeles native, he was introduced to music by his grandmother's piano playing, took up the instrument himself at age five; and, as a member of Dweezil Zappa's band, got his first published writing credit (for co-writing "Crunchy Water," the B-side of Dweezil's debut single "My Mother Is a Space Cadet"), when he was only twelve. He moved to New York after high school to continue his piano studies at the New School with Charles Mingus alum Jaki Byard, immersing himself in the jazz scene -- playing with the likes of Bobby Hutcherson and George Coleman -- while also exploring hip-hop and Brazilian music (and learning to play the berimbau), styles that would factor largely into his career-defining eclecticism. After returning to L.A. in the early '90s he formed quirky alternative rock outfit Geggy Tah with singer/songwriter Tommy Jordan. The duo signed to David Byrne's Luaka Bop records and released their debut in 1994; the follow-up, Sacred Cow (1996), contained a Top 20 modern rock hit in "Whoever You Are," but there was a considerable delay before their third and final album, Into the Oh, appeared in 2001. In the meantime he built up his credentials as a sideman, playing for and collaborating with Beck, Matthew Sweet, Jane's Addiction, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Bob Moog, among others. Kurstin also masterminded the jazz-funk-rock fusion project Action Figure Party, whose eponymous 1999 debut included contributions from Flea, Sean Lennon, Miho Hatori, members of No Doubt, Buckcherry, Incubus, and Soul Coughing among other late-'90s luminaries, and his then-wife Pamelia Kurstin, who would later gain renown as a theremin player. In the 2000s, he played with Ben Harper, Jason Mraz, and Jenny Lewis, served as Gwen Stefani's musical director for live and television performances, and expanded his songwriting and production résumé considerably, working with British pop artists Kylie Minogue, Lily Allen, Natasha Bedingfield, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, and All Saints, as well as Peaches, Sia, Donna Summer and the Flaming Lips. In 2005 Kurstin met singer/songwriter Inara George (a fellow L.A. music-biz insider, and the daughter of Little Feat's Lowell George); the two bonded over a love of jazz and tropicalia and began collaborating as the Bird and the Bee, releasing their first album the following year. ~ K. Ross Hoffman, All Music Guide
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Kurstin was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. Kurstin's earliest musical came from his grandmother playing piano for him when he was a baby. He started playing piano when he was five years old. Kurstin would later inherit her piano and spend hours practicing the fundamentals of jazz and blues music.
During his teenage years, he continued his jazz studies but began to perform with local bands in the Los Angeles area. Through his collaborations, he was introduced to new wave, punk and african music. At age 12 he performed in Dweezil Zappa's band and co-wrote "Crunchy Water" [1], the b-side to Los Angeles' KROQ's staple "My Mother Is A Space Cadet". It was also in high school that Kurstin first gained interest in recording by working with a 4-track recorder.
After high school, Kurstin moved to New York City to study with Charles Mingus' piano player, Jaki Byard, at The New School, an institution well-known for its strong arts program[citation needed]. He continued to spend much time performing jazz but became immersed in New York's melting pot music scene. He was introduced to Brazilian music. He learned the fundamentals of Brazilian music and would learn to play the Berimbau. He would later play this instrument on sessions with Beck's album The Information.[2] New York's hip hop scene caught his ear and became interested in groups such as De La Soul, Public Enemy, and A Tribe Called Quest. His obsession with these groups had a great deal of influence on his songwriting.[3]
Upon his return to Los Angeles, Kurstin began writing and recording music with singer-songwriter Tommy Jordan. They formed the band Geggy Tah. Their eclectic musical sound caught the ear of David Byrne of Talking Heads. Byrne signed the band to his Luaka Bop label. [4] They released three records, which he co-produced with Tommy Jordan and Susan Rogers. Their first record, Grand Opening appeared in 1994. Their 1996 release, Sacred Cow, spawned the hit single, "Whoever You Are" which peaked at #16 on the Billboard Modern Rock chart. Kurstin continued to perform jazz and played with the likes of Bobby Hutcherson, George Coleman and Charles McPherson[3].
In 2005, Mike Andrews introduced Kurstin to Inara George. Kurstin and George found themselves spending hours in the studio together where they discovered their mutual interest in jazz and '60s Tropicalia[10]. They began to explore new sounds and textures while working in the studio. This resulted in their debut EP, Again and Again and Again, released in October 2006. The Bird and the Bee's self-titled LP was released the following year by Blue Note. It spawned a number one hit on the U.S. Hot Dance Club chart with a remix of "Fucking Boyfriend"[11]
The pair also released a five-song EP entitled Please Clap Your Hands which featured a cover of the Bee Gees' ‘How Deep Is Your Love’. Their songs “Again & Again” and “Please Clap Your Hands” were featured in the TV show, Grey’s Anatomy. In 2007, the song “La La La” was used for the iPod touch commercial, however it never aired on television. In honor of the holidays, The Bird and The Bee released Carol of The Bells on November 27, 2007 and iTunes featured it as the Free Single Of The Week. The same year they hit the road and joined indie pop act Rilo Kiley on their fall tour. Comedian Eric Wareheim, from Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! directed their video for “Polite Dance Song”.[12] On Valentine’s Day 2008, they released their EP, One Too Many Hearts as a gift to their fans[13].
The Bird and the Bee Discography
2009 January: Ray Guns Are Not Just the Future, Blue Note Records (LP)
2008 February: One Too Many Hearts, Blue Note Records (EP)
