BIOGRAPHY
Liza Carbe and Jean-Pierre (JP) Durand have been a production and composing team since 1995. They have produced about 30 records, written music for countless TV shows, have performed around the world, have had their music played on TV and radio around the world. All this, and JP still cannot pick up after himself, or properly make scrambled eggs (they come out dry and, oddly, a dark blue).
Liza Carbe was born into a musical family. Her father, Nino Carbe, was an early member of Walt Disney’s animation team, working on such classics as “Fantasia” (where he airbrushed the Sugar Plum Fairy) and “Snow White” (http://www.ninocarbe.com). He and Liza’s mom Betty both sang in choir; Nino also played violin. Thus, Liza was surrounded by music at an early age, and started playing guitar at the age of nine. Eventually, after studying music at the College of the Redwoods in Eureka, she earned a degree in classical guitar from Cal State Northridge, where she also studied composition, orchestration, and voice. Amongst thousands of sessions and live gigs, she has played guitar and bass with Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac, Vixen, Sara Hickman and ex-Santana singer Leon Patillo. Little known fact: Liza also apprenticed in kinetic sculpture under Stan Bennett in Ferndale. She has also been known to spontaneously burst into flames at the mention of the words “egg salad”.
Jean-Pierre Durand was allegedly taken by his mom Rocio to see the “Sound of Music” at the age of 1, and came out of the theater singing the songs, causing his mother extreme distress. Though neither his mother or late father, Abel, showed any aptitude in music, there was still a lot of Peruvian and Argentinean music in the house (both JP’s parents are Peruvian). That, and a seemingly innocent early exposure to Tom Jones (“Live at the Flamingo” kicks major ass) set the stage for Kiss, and then Jimi Hendrix in the seventh grade – then it was all over. JP is a self-taught guitarist, but actually had several years of piano training as well as choral singing with the world-famous Paulist Choristers in West Los Angeles (who have been featured in many film scores as well as international concert dates). However, it was only after meeting Liza that JP performed professionally on a regular basis, so it’s her fault.
Their company, Strangetree Productions, was started by Liza Carbé and JP Durand in 1996. Their goal was to use their skills and production "voice" to render their own music and the music of others. Strangetree was given its first opportunity to do this on a large scale in 1996 when Chase/Rucker Music asked them to co-compose cues for Paramount's "Entertainment Tonight". Selections from this large collection of cues (administrated by Famous Music), were subsequently placed in such shows as "JAG", "Oprah Winfrey", "Sister Sister", "The Tiger Woods Story", "Star Trek: Voyager" and many others. Since then, other TV work has included the four-part History Channel series "The History of Mexico", several cues for the ABC mini-series "Creature", and co-composition of the main theme for the A&E series, "The Competition", among others.
In 1997, on the strength of their compositions and production style, they made the first of five CD's for the Sonoton Music Library, part of the APM Music Library family. "Banda/Tex-Mex" was soon followed by 1998's "Afro-Cuban Salsa Fiesta", then "Latin Trance Fusion" and "Latin Pop Charts". Subsequently, Strangetree was hired to produce two CD's for the new Five Alarm Music Library, "Off the Charts Nü Metal" and "Off the Charts Latin Techno". All the above titles have been licensed extensively for use around the world.
In 1998, Liza started playing bass with the Jim Stubblefield Group, which eventually evolved into the latin guitar world fusion group INCENDIO. That strange and extraordinary saga continues – you can see the bio there at http://www.incendioband.com . But Liza and JP continue to produce bands and mix CD’s. Their recent clients have included Jesse Carrion, with whom Liza and JP co-wrote and produced the songs “Closer” and “Long Road Home”, which can be heard at (www.myspace.com/jessecarrion). The duo also mixed our friend Carmen Lundy’s “Live at the Madrid Theater” (www.carmenlundy.com) and percussionist extraordinaire Mayra Casales debut CD “Woman on Fire” (www.mayracasales.com). As of the writing of this bio (December 2007), Liza and JP had just mixed Jim Stubblefield’s first solo CD in 10 years, “Guitarra Exotica”, and are headed into the studio after Christmas to record Incendio’s 7th CD.
And finally, Liza still eventually wants to own a pony. And once JP’s ears fail him, which should be sometime soon, JP would like to go to chef’s school at the Culinary Institute. Or, become a minister presiding exclusively over the weddings of tall midgets.
CREDITS/RESUME
PRODUCTION & WRITING CREDITS
• “THE SECRET” MOVIE – licensed “Spanish Fantasy” by Carbe-Durand for use in this movie.
•“RENO 911:MIAMI” MOVIE – licensed “Bumblebee Salsa” by Carbe-Durand for use in this movie.
• "FROM JUSTIN TO KELLY" MOVIE – licensed “Transana” by Carbe-Durand for use in this movie.
• “ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT", "LAW AND ORDER", "SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH", "THE LEEZA GIBBONS SHOW", "JAG”, "OPRAH WINFREY SHOW", "THE TIGER WOODS STORY", "STAR TREK VOYAGER" - Wrote and produced over 200 minutes of music for Paramount Studios Music Library which is currently being used in heavy rotation on the above shows.
• "EXTREME MAKEOVER" - Wrote and produced 30 music cues for this 2004 ABC reality series
• PEPSI'S "BILLIONAIRE" SPECIAL - Wrote and produced 6 music cues for this 2003 WB special
• "RESURRECTION BOULEVARD" HBO series (2001) - licensed our song "Espiritu" from Incendio's "Misterioso" CD
• "HORROR 101" 2001 Theatrical release licensed our song "City of Souls" from Book of Storms "City of Souls" CD
• "ROBOKIDS" 2002 Theatrical release licensed our song "Following the Sun" from Book of Storms "City of Souls" CD
• “NÜ METAL/PUNK” and "LATIN TRENDS AND TRADITIONS" - Wrote and produced music for these 2002 Disc Marketing/Five Alarm Music Library Releases
• “HISTORY OF MEXICO" - Scored and produced music for this four-hour History Channel documentary.
• "ELLEN" on ABC - Wrote and produced music for episode "Reversal of Misfortune" as heard on
"TONIGHT:BANDA AND TEX-MEX!" (see below)
• TRILOGY ENTERTAINMENT - "CREATURE" Miniseries for ABC - Wrote and produced music for this ABC Miniseries.
• NEW LINE CINEMA - THE WEDDING SINGER DVD menu music - Wrote and produced music for DVD menu underscore.
• NEW LINE CINEMA - LAWNMOWER MAN Compilation for DVD - Wrote and produced new score for re-edited 5 minute animation compilation for DVD release in 5.1-channel surround sound.
• “LATIN TRANCE FUSION” - Wrote and produced music and Spanish lyrics for this Sonoton International Music Library CD for 2001.
• “LATIN POP CHARTS" - Wrote and produced music and Spanish lyrics for this Sonoton International Music Library CD for 2000.
• “SALSA FIESTA” - Wrote and produced music and Spanish lyrics for this Sonoton International Music Library CD for 1998.
• “TONIGHT: BANDA AND TEX-MEX!” - Wrote and produced music and Spanish lyrics for this Sonoton International Music Library CD for 1996.
• TELEMUNDO - "PADRISIMO" - Wrote and produced theme music and bumpers for this Spanish-language
network show.
• “TELEMUNDO NEWS” - KVEA Channel 52 Los Angeles - Wrote and produced main TV news theme, intros, and bumpers for their daily newscasts.
BAND & SOLO ARTIST PRODUCTION
• INCENDIO - SEDUCTION - Co-wrote, produced, and performed this new New World Aug. 2006 release
• INCENDIO – DIA Y NOCHE CD AND DVD
Co-wrote, produced, and performed this Incendio Music Jan. 2006
• INCENDIO - INCENDIO Co-wrote, produced, and performed this New World Sept. 2003 release
• INCENDIO - INTIMO Co-wrote, produced, and performed this live-in-the studio 2003 release
• INCENDIO - ILLUMINATION - Co-wrote, produced, and performed this 2002 PARAS Recordings/Rykodisc release - Billboard New Age chart, New Age Voice chart, airplay on 400+ stations
• INCENDIO - MISTERIOSO - Co-wrote, produced, and performed this 2000 PARAS Recordings/Rykodisc release
• MAYA MARIN – WAITING HERE - Produced and performed on this April 2002 independent release
• BOOK OF STORMS - CITY OF SOULS - Wrote, produced, and performed this April 2001 Orange Peal Music release
• BOOK OF STORMS - LITTLE MEAGAN'S DIARY - Wrote, produced, and performed this 1997 Screaming Monkey Music release.
• STEVE MARSH GROUP - SWINGIN' THE DEAD - Engineered and co-produced this CMJ Records release.
• ANNE ENGEL - ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES - Engineered and co-produced this 2000 Ride Records release.
• WILL POSTELL - NO FORWARDING ADDRESS - Produced, and performed this independent release
• JASON DEAN - JOY IN MUDVILLE - Produced, and performed this Sound Pile Records release
• DANNA ALIANO - RIPE - Produced and performed on this 1997 Screaming Monkey Music release.
• RED VAN GO - RED VAN GO - Wrote, co-produced, and performed this 1992 Vital Voice Records release.
OTHER RECORDING CREDITS
• Lindsey Buckingham
Warner Bros. Records. Guitar and vocals.
• Sara Hickman
Shortstop. Elektra Records. Bass.
• Vixen
Vixen. World Records (subsidiary of Warner Bros. Records). Bass & Vocals.
LIVE EXPERIENCE
• Lindsey Buckingham - 1993 & 1994 U.S. and Canadian Tour - Vocals & Guitar - 1994 tour supported Tina Turner. Appeared on VH-1 special and "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno".
• Incendio - 1999 - present - various US tours
Bass & Guitar - latin guitar world fusion group.
• Red Van Go - 1990 & 1991 Japanese and U.S. Tours
Bass & Vocals. Acoustic rock/jazz trio.
• Leon Patillo - 1985 “Love Around the World” World Tour - Vocals & Bass. Former Santana singer turned successful Christian artist.
• Vixen - 1983-1984 US Tours
Vocals & Bass. Popular female metal band.
TELEVISION/MOVIE SESSION CREDITS
• “Remax “television and radio spots
• “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Movie” from 20th Century Fox
Bass and Guitar on “Cross My Line” underscore and soundtrack song.
• “Pet Sementary 2” from New Line Cinema Bass & Vocals.
• “Masque of the Red Death” from Concorde New Horizons - Guitar
ENDORSEMENTS
• Audio Technica Microphones
• ARIA Pro Instruments
• EAW Loudspeakers
• Hanewinckel Basses
• Godin Guitars
• M-Audio
• Mackie Sound Products
• Rotosound Strings
• SWR Amplifiers
• TC Electronics