photo: Jamie Manser
Tucson denizen Jamie Laboz is a modern-day renaissance man in the truest sense of the phrase; an integral element in the combination of clatter, creativity and enigmatic energy that makes Tucson a unique artistic environment. Among his myriad of talents, Laboz is an exceptional guitarist and songwriter, a composer of reality television show soundtracks, as well as a pioneering electronic noise-making genius with his company, Chamber of Sounds.
This comes as no surprise as building and playing musical instruments literally runs in Laboz’s blood. His father, Charlie, along with his uncle, Maurice, started Telestar and Laboz Musical Instruments in New York City, where Laboz was born, during the height of the surf-guitar craze in the 1960s. The enterprising pair imported Japanese-made Kawai & Teisco Del Rey guitars, putting the Telestar and Laboz name on them.
According to Laboz, they were the first to use multi-ply guitar necks, which is now standard on most American guitars. In his early teens, Laboz cut his teeth fixing broken guitars in his family’s shop. The company was eventually sold to Fred Gretsch, a familiar name to guitar players the world over.
His interest in constructing analogue synth sound modules came about from that venerable rite of passage when a child’s curiosity led him to take things apart simply to see how they work. It came into full swing after his friend, Barry Conley, introduced Laboz to building modular synthesizers.
“Barry got me into making noise and sounds. He introduced me to circuit bending. He was going to these gigs where people were playing Furbees and baby dolls. I found all this stuff at the Chicago Music Store that I could experiment on.”
With Chamber of Sounds, Laboz hand-crafts unique noise makers with intriguing names such as the Theresynth, The Green Genie and his latest creation, the Jupiter III, an analogue percussion synthesizer.
Tucson-based Calexico used the Jupiter III recently on their score for next year’s feature film “The Guard,” starring Don Cheadle.
Of his experience working with Laboz, Calexico’s Joey Burns said, “We share a similar appreciation for old instruments and effects. We dove right in to making some great recordings and experimenting with a whole universe of strange sounds and textures from some of his pedals. Jamie has a real knack at finding old vintage effect pedals and making his own. I am constantly amazed at what he comes up with.”
Burns added, “I am planning on checking out more pedals he is working on, I would love to incorporate them into my guitar or vocal microphone for touring.”
Not content with just creating music-making machinery, Laboz also plays guitar and organ and sings in the psychedelic-garage-meets-space-rock outfit The Modeens. On his own, Laboz has created instrumental compositions for television shows, including Wildboyz, Jackass, Punk’d, Doggy Fizzle Televizzle, The Salt-n-Pepa Show, Run’s House, Fantasy Factory, Nitro Circus and Hogan Knows Best.
Laboz effuses when asked what he thinks of Tucson, saying, “I love it, it’s a great place, it’s really creative, everyone’s doing something. Everyone is really well-rounded and creative. Even if bands aren’t similar kinds of bands, they’ll still hang out and do shows together. There’s music everywhere you go.”
For info on Jamie Laboz’s latest creations, visit ChamberofSounds.com and check out JamiesBoombox.com to listen to his instrumental music. The Modeens play at Grill’s Red Room Sept. 18, find out more at TheModeens.com.
