Butler School of Music
John Fremgen

John Fremgen

Associate Professor of Jazz, String Bass

Office (Primary):
512-232-2082
MRH 4.164

UT Address:
Butler School of Music

2406 Robert Dedman Dr., stop E3100
Austin, TX 78712-1555

Email:
jfremgen@austin.utexas.edu

Cadence Magazine calls John Fremgen "…an adroit craftsman on the strings slapping and popping away on electric or plucking resonant tones on acoustic." He can be seen performing in Austin with various artists including Tony Campise, Paul Glasse, Doug Hall, Mitch Watkins, Abra Moore, Gerry Gibbs, and Jeff Hellmer. He has performed with many jazz luminaries including Jamie Findlay, Shelly Berg, Rick Margitza, Gary Foster, Leni Stern, Ernie Watts and Larry Koonse. He is an assistant professor at The University of Texas where he teaches jazz improvisation, jazz theory, jazz history, jazz bass and directs the AIME ensemble. He has performed, taught and conducted across the US as well as Switzerland, Russia, and Holland. He has appeared on many jingles and national broadcasts including Morning Becomes Eclectic, Late Night With David Letterman and the Bravo documentary In My Life with George Martin. His bass playing can be heard on the TV shows Party Of Five, Dawson's Creek and the motion picture Down To You and commercials for Sonic, Starburst, Xeorox and Ford. He records for the Viewpoint record label with which he has released three solo CD's, Meanwhile, Pieces of String and If Not Now, featuring Peter Erskine, Shelly Berg and many others. John Fremgen endorses Acoustic Image amplifiers and MTD basses.

Selected Discography

As a leader:

Meanwhile with Peter Erskine and Mitch Watkins (Viewpoint)
Pieces Of String with Peter Erskine and Shelly Berg (Viewpoint)
If Not Now (Viewpoint)

As a sideman:

Words For Living PJ Olsson (Sony)
Beautifully Insane PJ Olsson (Sony)
PJ Olsson PJ Olsson (Red Ink)
Dust PJ Olsson (HitIt!)
Math And Science Math and Science (Brick Red)
The Songs of Dawson's Creek various (Sony)
In My Life George Martin (MCA)
Peak Moments Jeff Hellmer/Rick Margitza (Viewpoint)
Jazz, Bars and Battlescars Tony Campise (Viewpoint)
Faithful Sara Hickman
Goodnight Venus Libby Kirkpatrick (Heart Music)
Tucker Livingston Tucker Livingston (AMP)

Fremgen shows himself an adroit craftsman on the strings, slapping and popping away on electric or plucking resonant tones on acoustic.
-Cadence Magazine

John Fremgen is the best bass player on the scene today-at home in virtually any setting or lineup.
- The Austin Chronicle

Fremgen is consistently on his toes, strong and energetic, and the group swings hard and happy.
-All Music Guide

[Fremgen's] bowed, upright bass passages stir the soul.
-Southland Blues Magazine

This band was a very pleasant surprise…. "A Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square" gives scope for a fine solo from Fremgen.
- HiFi+ Magazine