About Flowtilla

Flowtilla is a San Francisco Bay Area based trio formed in 2000 by guitarist Len Paterson, and bassist Ellen Schoenwetter. Their driving sound is an eclectic mix of funk, rock, afro, jazz and world tinged grooves.

Flowtilla's music has been used on cable t.v shows as well as commercial cues. These include A&E Biography specials on Stevie Wonder, Billy Crystal and Kirstie Alley, HBO's Real Sex, Gene Simmons Family Jewels and Emeril Green's "Green Planet."

Flowtilla released their first cd. under the name "Len Paterson Trio", which they self produced on their own label, Acorn Sonata. Entitled "Sunny Cloudy", it was voted one of the top 10 records of 2001 on JamBase. Len Paterson also made the top 10 guitarist list. They have released three more self produced c.d.s on their Acorn Sonata label. In 2003, Flowtilla came out with "Out of the Inside"; in 2006, "Clariphonic", and "Waves and Particles" in 2011.

They have played many Bay Area clubs including Jupiter, The Boom Boom Room, Grant & Green, Cafe du Nord, Blake's, Starry Plough, Sweetwater, Paragon Bar, and the Claremont Hotel, and have performed at the High Sierra Music Festival as well as many Bay Area street fairs, festivals and private events. Flowtilla has opened for New Monsoon, Will Bernard, Merle Saunders and Living Daylights.

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In Flowtilla, Ellen and Len currently work with several drummers, although Jan Jackson (of Will Bernard) has recorded on all their c.d.'s and plays with them most often. Will Bernard sat in with Flowtilla on several occasions as well.

History

Len has played with many Bay Area groups such as afrobeat band Aphrodesia, Bitches Brew (the Miles Davis tribute band), Jackie Ivory (of Junior Walker Allstars), Malcolm Mooney (of Can), Henry Kaiser, Beth Custer and Splatter Trio. He even played a set of improvised rock music as a guest with the pop band Green Day . Len has also composed music for film and can be heard in collaboration with David Slusser on John Zorn's Tzadik label.

Len and Ellen have played together in the free improvisational group "Pluto" (including Amoeba Records owner Marc Weinstein), and were members of the Ralph Carney (of Tom Waits) band "Special Parrot", which played at venues such as The Elbo Room, Slim's and Bimbo's.

Ellen was a member of hardcore punk band Assasins of God, which played the first Lolapalooza and toured Europe often. She can be heard on their c.d., "Black Tongue Speaks." Ellen has played with Dewey Redman and Joe Bonamassa. She also was the bassist for 2 years with S.F. bebop legend Bishop Norman Williams and has played with many other Bay Area musicians including Morris Acevedo's Electric Trio.