My portfolio includes scoring, arrangement and composition work for video games, feature film and television. As a musician and producer I have released over forty albums of jazz, folk, electronic, punk and modern classical music. I am currently accepting new commissions.
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Why Chris Schlarb?
The world is full of musicians, composers and producers. The hard part is matching the right person with the project they are best suited for.

Here is a quick example: if you want to approximate an orchestra of instruments with a single keyboard, I am probably not the right one for the job. My best work utilizes any number of unique, real world instruments including tabla, euphonium, mandolin, marimba and upright double bass. I thoroughly enjoy working with real instruments, in real spaces, with real musicians.

If your film, video game or album requires texture and atmospheric depth, unique or unusual live instrumentation, and thoughtful arrangement, I would love to hear from you. For the last decade I have explored the ambient, jazz, folk, electronic and modern classical genres as a member of both the American Composers Forum and ASCAP.

I specialize in taking small and medium sized budgets and turning them into expensive sounding recordings. I operate my own mobile recording studio and engineer most sessions, saving time and cost.

My work can be heard on this site and read about in the New York Times, All About Jazz, Time Out New York, Chicago Reader and Pitchfork.

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Asthmatic Kitty


Sounds Are Active
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In Twos

A peculiar run of duos began last week as Tom Steck and I ventured out to Culver City’s Jazz Bakery to watch a fellow guitar/drum duo in Bill Frisell and Joey Baron. You can read my review of the event as published by L.A. Record here.

A few days later trumpeter Kris Tiner and I performed as a duo at L.A.’s Dangerous Curve. The audience was small but kind and, although fighting off a nasty cold, I truly enjoyed the experience. I think the next time Kris and I get together for a duo we’ll be walking on some interesting sonic territory. The performance was recorded and, pending my editing and Kris’ approval, will posted sometime soon.

On Wednesday, well written local paper The District Weekly published an interview with Orlando Greenhill and I in anticipation of tomorrow’s Create (!) performance at the Prospector in Long Beach. It was great to eat great Mexican food at Los Compadres and talk music with Orlando and Chris Ziegler for a few hours.

Last night I drove down to {open} for the inaugural 3rdthurs event and recorded both smgsap and guitarist Jeremy Drake cellist Jessica Catron performing as Missincinatti. Both duo sets were measured, considerate and appropriately timed. I always enjoy watching and listening to musicians who have respect for the attention and intelligence of their audience and both groups, while markedly different, have said respect.

To wrap up, there are a two Twilight & Ghost Stories related audio treats for the rabid or casual listener. Firstly, I put together a streaming playlist which contains one track from almost everyone on the album. This so-called Twilight Radio playlist is available for streaming at the Asthmatic Kitty site, just look for the “akradio” link in the top menu bar. Secondly, I have released a 13 minute excerpt of the recent Twilight performance in Athens, Georgia at the Next To Last Fest. Both are ready for your two ears now.

Chris Schlarb- Twilight Athens [mp3]
Featuring Daedelus, Lars Gotrich, Liz Janes, Aaron Jollay & Drew Smith
Recorded in Athens, Georgia
December 8th, 2007 // 192kps

Jan 18, 2008 | live performance, recordings