Norman Orenstein
Encyclopedia
Norman Orenstein is a Canadian composer
, record producer
, and musician.
He is the cofounder of the rock / soul band Infidels
, and Alta Moda
, and was previously associated with the bands Michaele Jordana
and the Poles, among others.
As of 1996
, Orenstein split his ties with IRS/Capitol Records
, and is now an independent, unsigned artist. Orenstein began creating music early in his life, and cites his mother’s blues and jazz record collection and Jimi Hendrix as inspirations. After being involved with a number of rock and R&B bands in the 70s, Orenstein collaborated with singer Molly Johnson
in Toronto
and they began creating their own music under the moniker Alta Moda. Alta Moda's first album release was on the Epic
label for CBS Records
, and had some commercial success. In 1990 Orenstein and Johnson signed with Miles Copeland’s IRS Records and recorded and released the first album as “Infidels”, which saw worldwide release and again some commercial success as well as a Juno Award
in 1991. While still keeping a hand in song writing and record production, Orenstein began composing for film in 1994, scoring “Steve Di Marco’s Spike of Love”. Orenstein continued to provide musical scores to film a television productions and in 1999 formed the company Norman Orenstein Music Inc. which is based in Toronto, Canada. Orenstein's musical score is featured in the 2008 release of "George A. Romero
's Diary of the Dead
".
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, and musician.
He is the cofounder of the rock / soul band Infidels
Infidels (band)
Infidels were a Canadian funk-rock band in the 1990s.The band formed in 1990 when Molly Johnson reunited with Norman Orenstein, her partner in the short-lived 1980s band Alta Moda. They added Washington Savage, Jeff Jones and Owen Tennyson to the lineup, and released a self-titled album in 1991 on...
, and Alta Moda
Alta Moda
Alta Moda were a Canadian funk-rock band in the 1980s.Formed in 1979 in Toronto, Ontario, the band originally consisted of singer Molly Johnson and guitarist Norman Orenstein. Drummer Steven Gelineau and bassist Etric Lyons were added in 1982 and 1983 respectively.The band eventually signed to CBS...
, and was previously associated with the bands Michaele Jordana
Michaele Jordana
Michaele Jordana, also known as Michaele Berman, is a Canadian pioneer in art and music.Starting her career in the 1970s as a fine artist and super realist painter, her life-size airbrush paintings of slaughtered whales in Northern Canada are featured in the collections of the National Gallery of...
and the Poles, among others.
As of 1996
1996 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1996.-January:* January – At the trial of two American teenagers, Nicholaus McDonald and Brian Bassett, for the murder of Bassett's parents and young brother, defense lawyers attempt to lay the blame for the murders on the fact...
, Orenstein split his ties with IRS/Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
, and is now an independent, unsigned artist. Orenstein began creating music early in his life, and cites his mother’s blues and jazz record collection and Jimi Hendrix as inspirations. After being involved with a number of rock and R&B bands in the 70s, Orenstein collaborated with singer Molly Johnson
Molly Johnson
Molly Johnson, OC is a Canadian Juno Award-winning singer-songwriter of pop and jazz.-Biography:Johnson began as a child performer, receiving formal training from the National Ballet School and the Banff School of Fine Arts...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
and they began creating their own music under the moniker Alta Moda. Alta Moda's first album release was on the Epic
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
label for CBS Records
CBS Records
CBS Records is a record label founded by CBS Corporation in 2006 to take advantage of music from its entertainment properties owned by CBS Television Studios. The initial label roster consisted of only three artists; rock band Señor Happy and singer/songwriters Will Dailey and P.J...
, and had some commercial success. In 1990 Orenstein and Johnson signed with Miles Copeland’s IRS Records and recorded and released the first album as “Infidels”, which saw worldwide release and again some commercial success as well as a Juno Award
Juno Award
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
in 1991. While still keeping a hand in song writing and record production, Orenstein began composing for film in 1994, scoring “Steve Di Marco’s Spike of Love”. Orenstein continued to provide musical scores to film a television productions and in 1999 formed the company Norman Orenstein Music Inc. which is based in Toronto, Canada. Orenstein's musical score is featured in the 2008 release of "George A. Romero
George A. Romero
George Andrew Romero is a Canadian-American film director, screenwriter and editor, best known for his gruesome and satirical horror films about a hypothetical zombie apocalypse. He is nicknamed "Godfather of all Zombies." -Life and career:...
's Diary of the Dead
Diary of the Dead
Diary of the Dead is a 2007 American/Canadian horror film by George A. Romero...
".
Notable work
- Prisoners of GravityPrisoners of GravityPrisoners of Gravity was a Canadian public broadcasting television news magazine program that explored speculative fiction — science fiction, fantasy, horror, comic books — and its relation to various thematic and social issues...
- American Psycho 2American Psycho 2American Psycho 2 is a stand-alone 2002 direct-to-video sequel/spin-off of Mary Harron's 2000 film adaptation of American Psycho. It is directed by Morgan J. Freeman and stars Mila Kunis as Rachael Newman, a driven criminology student who is drawn to murder. The film also features William Shatner...
- Alta ModaAlta ModaAlta Moda were a Canadian funk-rock band in the 1980s.Formed in 1979 in Toronto, Ontario, the band originally consisted of singer Molly Johnson and guitarist Norman Orenstein. Drummer Steven Gelineau and bassist Etric Lyons were added in 1982 and 1983 respectively.The band eventually signed to CBS...
- InfidelsInfidelsInfidels is singer-songwriter Bob Dylan's 22nd studio album, released by Columbia Records in October 1983.Produced by Mark Knopfler and Dylan himself, Infidels is seen as his return to secular music, following a conversion to Christianity and three evangelical, gospel records...
- Cube ZeroCube ZeroCube Zero is a 2004 Canadian psychological thriller/horror film, written and directed by Ernie Barbarash. It is the third film in the Cube film series, but is a prequel to the first film...
- Cube² : Hypercube
- Stir of Echoes: The Homecoming
- The White RavenThe White RavenThe White Raven is a 1998 action crime thriller starring Ron Silver, Joanna Pacuła and Roy Scheider. Directed by Jakub Z. Rucinski and Andrew Stevens, the film is based on the novel of the same name by Michael Blodgett....
- Ancients Behaving BadlyAncients Behaving BadlyAncients Behaving Badly is an American documentary series that aired from November to December 2009 on The History Channel. The show focuses on the misdeeds of famous historical figures using forensic investigation, cartoon sequences, and historian interviews.- Format :Narrated by Tom McCamus, each...