Podcast appearances and mentions of Michael Formanek

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We have pressed pause on our usual pursuit of the latest arrivals and instead revisited some of the sounds that made the first half of 2026 such a rewarding stretch for curious ears. The playlist features Seu Jorge; Ryan Blotnick; Michael Formanek; Ilaria Capalbo; Rosa Brunello; The Messthetics, James Brandon Lewis; Ben Wendel [pictured]. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/22622439/Mondo-Jazz [up to "Lonely One"]. Happy listening!

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Here is music born in a remote cottage in the Outer Hebrides, or rethinking how the Hammond organ fits within a large, adventurous ensemble; music that celebrates Corsica, or brings long-standing collaborations to new heights. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/22245088/Mondo-Jazz [from "Ford the River" onwards]. Happy listening! Photo: Tore Sætre.

'Palo seco', décimo disco como líder del saxofonista bilbaíno Gorka Benítez, publicado al igual que los anteriores por el sello Fresh Sound de Jordi Pujol Baulenas, se grabó en Barcelona el 13 de marzo de 2024 con el pianista Moisés P. Sánchez, el bajista Michael Formanek y el baterista Jeff Ballard. Lo escuchamos al completo: 'Tientos', 'Stansted', 'Bass interlude', 'Dantza', 'Little green triangle', 'Fast and largo', 'Palo seco', 'Me llamaban Txori', 'Piano interlude', 'Itxoin', 'Empieza el final', 'Extraño lugar' y 'Before we leave'. Para completar, 'Silent duck', del disco del pianista catalán Tomás Fosch 'Maso'. Escuchar audio

Myra Melford is an American avant-garde pianist, composer, educator, and improvisor. Her music is unique, exciting, and brave, evolving from an approach to the piano that is percussive, athletic, and uber-dynamic, and compositions that are exploratory, poetic, visual, and thought-provoking. Melford is an interdisciplinary artist of the highest order. Awarded the Alpert Award in the Arts for Music in 2012, plus the Guggenheim Fellowship and the Doris Duke Performing Artist Award in 2013, she has released over 30 albums in various configurations (solo, duo, trio, quartet, quintet), and has collaborated with some of the greatest talents in contemporary music. Her most recent release is entitled Splash (with bassist Michael Formanek and drummer/vibraphonist Ches Smith), and is inspired by the work of the post-abstract expressionist painter Cy Twombly. This interview was recorded in June, 2025 in Hamilton, ON, during the Something Else Festival. Thank you to Festival Director Cem Zafir (Our guest for Episode 60), plus Donna Akrey and the rest of the staff and volunteers. More about Myra Melford at myramelford.comMusic in this episode:Myra Melford - “Park Mechanics”, live at the Something Else! Festival (June, 2025)  (Find that song on Melford's solo album Life Carries Me This Way, 2013)"Frank Lloyd Wright Goes West to Rest" - Myra Melford Trio (Jump, 1990)"Chalk" - Myra Melford (Splash, 2025)"Ekoneni" - Myra Melford and Trio M (The Guest House, 2012)"Red Beach" - Myra Melford Solo Piano (Life Carries Me This Way, 2013)Support the showMUSIC BUDDY IS:Jane Gowan (host, producer, editor) ; Tim Vesely (co-producer)The show's theme song, "Human Stuff," is written by Jane Gowan and Tim Vesely, and performed by Jane and Tim, with additional vocals by Steve Wright and Connie Kostiuk STAY IN TOUCH Email: jane@musicbuddy.caInstagram: @musicbuddypodcastFacebook: @musicbuddypodcastBluesky: @musicbuddy.bsky.socialTikTok: @musicbuddypodThis podcast is brought to you by Morning Run Productions.

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Esta semana, dedicamos una nueva sesión de Rebelión Sónica, a la destacada e inclasificable guitarrista y compositora estadounidense, Mary Halvorson con material de dos de sus discos: el nuevo “About Ghosts” con su ensamble Amaryllis y “Artlessly Falling” de 2020, junto a su banda Code Girl y el invitado especial Robert Wyatt. “About Ghosts” fue editado el 13 de junio por el sello Nonesuch y fue producido y mezclado por John Dieterich de Deerhoof. El disco presenta ocho nuevas composiciones de la instrumentista, interpretadas con su sexteto Amaryllis, la banda de improvisación que también participó en sus anteriores álbumes “Amaryllis”, “Belladonna” y “Cloudward”. El ensamble liderado por Halvorson, lo completan Patricia Brennan en vibráfono, Nick Dunston en bajo, Tomas Fujiwara en batería, Jacob Garchik en trombón y Adam O'Farrill en trompeta, a quienes se le suman en cinco de los temas los saxofonistas Immanuel Wilkins y Brian Settles. “Empecé a escribir este disco en otoño de 2023 para Amaryllis y pensé: '¿Sabes qué? Quiero añadir saxofones'. Y así fue”, dice Halvorson. “Lo sentí como un experimento. Simplemente sentía una armonía más densa, que requería más instrumentos de viento. Pero quería seguir con Amaryllis, así que me pareció natural añadir un par de saxofones en lugar de hacer algo completamente nuevo; ya había estado tocando mucho con Amaryllis en ese momento y estábamos en un muy buen momento”. En tanto, “Artlessly Falling” fue editado el 16 de octubre de 2020 por el sello Firehouse 12 e incluye como invitado especial al legendario músico inglés Robert Wyatt (Soft Machine, Matching Mole), quien canta tres de sus canciones. Halvorson comentó que lo convenció de participar, pese a su anunciado retiro de la vida musical en 2014. La guitarrista ha sido una admiradora del cantante, multiinstrumentista, letrista y compositor británico desde largos años e, incluso, en 2018 comenzó su playlist para la célebre revista Wire con el tema ‘Sea Song' de Wyatt. En esa ocasión, señaló que: “Estoy comenzando con Robert Wyatt porque su influencia probablemente sea más profunda. Es un verdadero individuo e innovador y he pasado años escuchando muchos de sus álbumes”. “Robert es uno de mis héroes”, agregó Halvorson. “Es algo tan importante para mí que estuviera dispuesto a cantar en este disco, porque su música ha sido una enorme influencia en Code Girl y en casi todo lo demás que he hecho. Escribí las tres pistas que canta específicamente para él, y me sorprendió la gracia y la brillantez con la que se acercó a esta música. Fue un sueño hecho realidad”. “Artlessly Falling” es el segundo disco del proyecto de Halvorson, Code Girl, el que incluye en sus filas a la cantante Amirtha Kidambi, el bajista Michael Formanek y el baterista Tomas Fujiwara, a quienes se les unen el tromeptista Adam O'Farrill y la saxofonista María Grand. Mary Halvorson es una valorada guitarrista y compositora de Brooklyn, NY, que ha creado una obra muy personal y única dentro del avant-garde y la experimentación, trabajando con una gran cantidad de músicos, entre los que se cuentan Tim Berne, Anthony Braxton, Trevor Dunn, Bill Frisell, Ingrid Laubrock, Jason Moran, Tomeka Reid, Marc Ribot, John Zorn y David Breskin, además de ser parte de la banda, Thumbscrew. No se pierdan Rebelión Sónica por radio Rockaxis los jueves a las 10 y 22 horas, con la conducción de Héctor Aravena.

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La guitarrista estadounidense Mary Halvorson firma con la pianista suiza Sylvie Courvoisier 'Bone bells', su tercer disco como dúo, del que escuchamos la pieza que le da título y 'Esmeralda', 'Folded secret', 'Nags head valse', 'Beclouded', 'Float queens' y 'Cristellina e lontano'. Y de 'Wingbeats', nuevo disco de Thumscrew, el trío que Halvorson forma con el baterista Tomas Fujiwara y el contrabajista Michael Formanek, los instrumentales 'Wingbeats', 'Greenish tents'' y 'How may I inconvenience you today?'. Escuchar audio

VIJAY IYER / WADADA LEO SMITH – “DEFIANT LIFE” Lugano, Switzerland, July, 2024Floating river requiem (for Patrice Lumumba), Elegy: The pilgrimage Wadada Leo Smith (tp) Vijay Iyer (p,el-p,electronics) MYRA MELFORD – “SPLASH” Winterthur, Switzerland, July 29 & 30, 2024Drift, Interlude I (To dribble, to smear, to splash), Free wheelerMyra Melford (p,comp) Michael Formanek (b) Ches Smith (d,vib) CHARLES BRACKEEN – RHYTHM X” Englewood, NJ, January 26, 1968Rhythm X, C.B. Continue reading Puro Jazz 02 de mayo, 2025 at PuroJazz.

VIJAY IYER / WADADA LEO SMITH – “DEFIANT LIFE” Lugano, Switzerland, July, 2024Floating river requiem (for Patrice Lumumba), Elegy: The pilgrimage Wadada Leo Smith (tp) Vijay Iyer (p,el-p,electronics) MYRA MELFORD – “SPLASH” Winterthur, Switzerland, July 29 & 30, 2024Drift, Interlude I (To dribble, to smear, to splash), Free wheelerMyra Melford (p,comp) Michael Formanek (b) Ches Smith (d,vib) CHARLES BRACKEEN – RHYTHM X” Englewood, NJ, January 26, 1968Rhythm X, C.B. Continue reading Puro Jazz 02 de mayo, 2025 at PuroJazz.

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AI-labor saving tool or existential threat? On his new recording Server Farm, saxophonist and composer Jon Irabagon contemplates the potential threat and promise of this omni-present technology. For this recording Irabagon augments his regular quartet consisting of keyboardist Matt Mitchell, bassist Chris Lightcap, and percussionist Dan Weiss with violinist and vocalist Mazz Smith, trumpeter Peter Evans, guitarists Miles Okazaki and Wendy Eisenberg, bassist Michael Formanek, and percussionist and electronic musician Levy Lorenzo. Imitating AI, Jon spent several years doing a deep dive into the musical output of his collaborators, mining their entire catalogues for ideas that create the foundation of the music on this exciting recording.   

MAL WALDRON & STEVE LACY “THE MIGHTY WARRIORS” Live In Antwerp, September 30, 1995Epistrophy, Monk's DreamSteve Lacy (ss) Mal Waldron (p) Reggie Workman (b) Andrew Cyrille (dr) VANISHA GOULD “SHE'S NOT SHINY, SHE'S NOT SMOOTH” Vancouver, BC, Canada, February 19, 2024Demure, Now that you're here, DonovanVanisha Gould (voice,comp) Chris McCarthy (p) John Sims (b) Jongkuk Kim (d) ANGÉLICA SÁNCHEZ TRÍO “SPARKLE BEINGS” Englewood Cliffs, NJ, December 10, 2021A fungus amungus, With (Exit), Phantasmic friend, Preludio a un preludioAngelica Sanchez (p) Michael Formanek (b) Billy Hart (d) Continue reading Puro Jazz 17 de enero, 2025 at PuroJazz.

MAL WALDRON & STEVE LACY “THE MIGHTY WARRIORS” Live In Antwerp, September 30, 1995Epistrophy, Monk's DreamSteve Lacy (ss) Mal Waldron (p) Reggie Workman (b) Andrew Cyrille (dr) VANISHA GOULD “SHE'S NOT SHINY, SHE'S NOT SMOOTH” Vancouver, BC, Canada, February 19, 2024Demure, Now that you're here, DonovanVanisha Gould (voice,comp) Chris McCarthy (p) John Sims (b) Jongkuk Kim (d) ANGÉLICA SÁNCHEZ TRÍO “SPARKLE BEINGS” Englewood Cliffs, NJ, December 10, 2021A fungus amungus, With (Exit), Phantasmic friend, Preludio a un preludioAngelica Sanchez (p) Michael Formanek (b) Billy Hart (d) Continue reading Puro Jazz 17 de enero, 2025 at PuroJazz.

MELISSA ALDANA “ECHOES OF THE INNER PROPHET” New York, c. 2023Unconscious whispers, A story, I know you knowMelissa Aldana (ts,comp) Fabian Almazan (p) Lage Lund (g) Pablo Menares (b) Kush Abadey (d) CARMEN STAAF “WOODLAND” New York, April 29 & 30, 2019Caterpillars, Pannonica, The hunt, EvergreenCarmen Staaf (p) Michael Formanek (b) Jeff Williams (d) JAMES MOODY “SWEET AND LOVELY” New York, March 11, 12 & 13, 1989Sweet and lovely, Con alma (1), Skippin'Dizzy Gillespie (tp-1,vcl-1) James Moody (as,ts,fl,vcl) Marc Cohen (AKA Copland (p,synt) Todd Coolman (b) Akira Tana (d) Continue reading Puro Jazz 19 de diciembre, 2024 at PuroJazz.

MELISSA ALDANA “ECHOES OF THE INNER PROPHET” New York, c. 2023Unconscious whispers, A story, I know you knowMelissa Aldana (ts,comp) Fabian Almazan (p) Lage Lund (g) Pablo Menares (b) Kush Abadey (d) CARMEN STAAF “WOODLAND” New York, April 29 & 30, 2019Caterpillars, Pannonica, The hunt, EvergreenCarmen Staaf (p) Michael Formanek (b) Jeff Williams (d) JAMES MOODY “SWEET AND LOVELY” New York, March 11, 12 & 13, 1989Sweet and lovely, Con alma (1), Skippin'Dizzy Gillespie (tp-1,vcl-1) James Moody (as,ts,fl,vcl) Marc Cohen (AKA Copland (p,synt) Todd Coolman (b) Akira Tana (d) Continue reading Puro Jazz 19 de diciembre, 2024 at PuroJazz.

A typically up-to-the minute set from Def Jim, premiering new releases from David Murray, Kris Davis and Dave Douglas, and re-visiting notable recent offerings from Geri Allen, Jeff Parker, Michael Formanek, Ambrose Akinmusire and Thumbscrew before reaching back all the way to 1964 to end the Show with a classic Archie Shepp take on vintage 'Trane. 

BAIKIDA CARROLL “MARIONETTES ON A HIGH WIRE” Brooklyn, NY, September 14 & 15, 2000Ebullient secrets, Griot's last dance, Marionettes on a high wireBaikida Carroll (tp) Erica Lindsay (ts) Adegoke Steve Colson (p) Michael Formanek (b) Pheeroan ak Laff (d) DAN WEISS “EVEN ODDS” Mt. Vernon, NY ?, c. 2023The children of Uvalde, Bu, Vertical lifestyle, Five to nine, Conversing with stillnessMiguel Zenon (as) Matt Mitchell (p) Dan Weiss (d,comp) OPEN QUESTION “LIVE AT SCHOLES STREET STUDIO” New York December, 2022Improvisation #1, Improvisation #3Daniel Carter (saxos/fl) Ayumi Ishito (st) Eric Plaks (p) Zach Swanson (b) Jon Panikkar (dr) Continue reading Puro Jazz 26 de julio, 2024 at PuroJazz.

BAIKIDA CARROLL “MARIONETTES ON A HIGH WIRE” Brooklyn, NY, September 14 & 15, 2000Ebullient secrets, Griot's last dance, Marionettes on a high wireBaikida Carroll (tp) Erica Lindsay (ts) Adegoke Steve Colson (p) Michael Formanek (b) Pheeroan ak Laff (d) DAN WEISS “EVEN ODDS” Mt. Vernon, NY ?, c. 2023The children of Uvalde, Bu, Vertical lifestyle, Five to nine, Conversing with stillnessMiguel Zenon (as) Matt Mitchell (p) Dan Weiss (d,comp) OPEN QUESTION “LIVE AT SCHOLES STREET STUDIO” New York December, 2022Improvisation #1, Improvisation #3Daniel Carter (saxos/fl) Ayumi Ishito (st) Eric Plaks (p) Zach Swanson (b) Jon Panikkar (dr) Continue reading Puro Jazz 26 de julio, 2024 at PuroJazz.

STEVE SWALLOW PLAYING IN TRAFFIC Madeira, September 5, 2008 Days of old, Up too late New Paltz, NY, April 9, 2009 Quiet insideOhad Talmor (ts) Steve Swallow (el-b) Adam Nussbaum (d) NEW YORK JAZZ COLLECTIVE DON'T KNOW THIS WORLD WITHOUT DON CHERRY Stamford, CT, April 11 & 12, 1996I don't know this world without Don Cherry, Nock down under, El nino (1)Baikida Carroll (tp,flhrn) Frank “Ku-umba” Lacy (tb) Marty Ehrlich (cl,b-cl,fl,as) Mike Nock (p) Michael Formanek (b) Pheeroan ak Laff (d) Steve Johns (d-1) LENA BLOCH HEART KNOWS Hampton, NJ, July 27, 2017Lateef suite, Three treasuresLena Bloch (ts) Russ Lossing (p) Cameron Brown (b) Billy Mintz (d) Continue reading Puro Jazz 05 de Julio 2024 at PuroJazz.

STEVE SWALLOW PLAYING IN TRAFFIC Madeira, September 5, 2008 Days of old, Up too late New Paltz, NY, April 9, 2009 Quiet insideOhad Talmor (ts) Steve Swallow (el-b) Adam Nussbaum (d) NEW YORK JAZZ COLLECTIVE DON'T KNOW THIS WORLD WITHOUT DON CHERRY Stamford, CT, April 11 & 12, 1996I don't know this world without Don Cherry, Nock down under, El nino (1)Baikida Carroll (tp,flhrn) Frank “Ku-umba” Lacy (tb) Marty Ehrlich (cl,b-cl,fl,as) Mike Nock (p) Michael Formanek (b) Pheeroan ak Laff (d) Steve Johns (d-1) LENA BLOCH HEART KNOWS Hampton, NJ, July 27, 2017Lateef suite, Three treasuresLena Bloch (ts) Russ Lossing (p) Cameron Brown (b) Billy Mintz (d) Continue reading Puro Jazz 05 de Julio 2024 at PuroJazz.

For today's Show Def Jim features one track each from three musicians primarily thought of as rock guitarists but who were also known to have serious jazz chops, plus new/recent releases from drummer Ches Smith and bassist Michael Formanek, plus sundry other choice cuts from various contemporary improvisers of note.

ROBERTA PIKET UNBROKEN LINE New York, April 8 & 9, 1996Brookland, You'll never walk alone – Some enchanted evening, Unbroken lineScott Wendholt (tp) Javon Jackson (ts) Donny McCaslin (ts,sop) Roberta Piket (p) Michael Formanek (b) Jeff Williams (d) MICAH THOMAS REVEAL ca. 2023Troubled Mind, DenardirnMicah Thomas (p) Dean Torrey (b) Kayvon Gordon (dr) CHUCK & GAP MANGIONE SPRING FEVER New York, November 28, 1961Spring fever, Brook's brothers, Not too seriousChuck Mangione (tp) Sal Nistico (ts) Gap Mangione (p) Frank Pullara (b) Vinnie Ruggiero (d) Continue reading Puro Jazz 28 febrero 2024 at PuroJazz.

Dit Paradijs is bij de Barneveldse Beek, en niet tussen Eufraat en Tigris. En dat andere paradijs, is dat bovenmaans, louter geestelijk, aangestoken door het Ignee Spiritus? Of is het paradijs ondermaans, aards, moederaards, natuurlijk, beplant met bomen niet van goed & kwaad maar van geboorte en sterven?  23.04 CD Divine Secrets (eigen uitgave z.nr.) Hildegard von Bingen: O ignee spiritus Riley Lee 1'30”  23.07 CD Hildegard von Bingen 900 years (Sony Music) Hildegard von Bingen: O ignee spiritus Sequentia 2'01”  O Ignee Spiritus (Budapest Music Center Records BMC CD 336) Hildegard von Bingen, arr. Gábor Gado: O ignee Spiritus Chemin Neuf 5'25”  23.15 CD dataplex (eigen uitgave 2005) Ryoji Ikeda: data.flex Ryoji Ikeda 2'28”  23.17 CD Opus (Touch TO:60) Ryoji Ikeda: Op. 1 - III - IV Ryoji Ikeda 8'03”  23.26 CD C (Acacia Records/Ambitus) Annelie: Love Annelie 3'05” CD C (Acacia Records/Ambitus) Annelie: Stimulus Annelie 4'30” 23.34 CD Originals (7 Mountain Records 7MNTN-048) José Mora-Jiménez: Interlude no. 5 - Fragments  [uan]duo 5'14”  23.41  CD Jaara Nyilamum (eigen uitgave z.nr.) Lou Bennett: Jaara Nyilamum Lou Bennett; Australian String Quartet 7'15”  23.50 CD Nomad (Zefir ZEF 9703) Reza Vali: Nine Persian Folk Songs - IV - VI Lilian Farahani; Maurice Lammerts van Bueren 3'17” CD The Music of Hildegard von Bingen Part One (Puremagnetik) Hildegard von Bingen, arr. David Torn: O ignee Spiritus Mary Lattimore; David Torn; Michael Formanek; Jason Nazary; Chet Doxas; Mica Frank 7'00” 

Vinnie Sperrazza is a Brooklyn-based jazz drummer, composer, bandleader, author, and educator noted for his versatility and commitment to new music. Born in Utica, NY, Sperrazza moved to Brooklyn after completing his studies at William Paterson University, where he was mentored by pianist James Williams. He leads the groups Vinnie Sperrazza Trio, featuring Ethan Iverson and Michael Formanek, whose first album was released in March 2023, and Vinnie Sperrazza Apocryphal, with a new album coming later in 2023, featuring Loren Stillman, Brandon Seabrook, and Eivind Opsvik. He is part of several collectives, including Ember, with Caleb Curtis and Noah Garabedian with a new album out August 2023, the Choir Invisible, with Chris Tordini and Charlotte Greve, and Landline, featuring Chet Doxas, Jacob Sacks, and Zack Lober. Additionally, he is a member of Matt Bauder's Hearing Things, the Hank Roberts Sextet, Michael Formanek's Drome Trio, and many other NYC-based groups. He tours regularly with the Mark Morris Music Ensemble, led by Ethan Iverson, playing Iverson's scores and arrangements. Also a committed writer, Sperrazza's Substack entitled Chronicles has been active since October 2022 and features over 40 in-depth articles focused on the history of jazz and jazz drumming, with deep dives on well-known and lesser-known figures including Pete LaRoca, Ralph Peterson, and Phillip Wilson, among many others. An experienced clinician, Sperrazza's teaching emphasizes fundamentals and awareness, principles upon which he's built his musical life.

Composer, pianist, educator Angelica Sanchez in commentary alongside excerpts from performances with bassist Michael Formanek, drummers Billy Hart and Hamid Drake, composer/percussionist Susie Ibarra with violinist Jennifer Choi, and a solo at the tribute to jaimie branch. Sanchez returns to Roulette in a new trio with guitarist Brandon Ross and drummer Chad Taylor on 16 January 2024. https://roulette.org/ 

Composer, pianist, educator Angelica Sanchez in commentary alongside excerpts from performances with bassist Michael Formanek, drummers Billy Hart and Hamid Drake, composer/percussionist Susie Ibarra with violinist Jennifer Choi, and a solo at the tribute to jaimie branch. Sanchez returns to Roulette in a new trio with guitarist Brandon Ross and drummer Chad Taylor on 16 January 2024.

James Brandon Lewis' homage to Mahalia Jackson, the ongoing Eastern and microtonal adventures of Lucian Ban, Mat Maneri, Fabio Delvò's fellowship and an exciting posse of emerging artists in their twenties make this hour of Mondo Jazz a treasure trove of sonic delights. The playlist also features Léon Phal; Logan Kane; Emma Rawicz; Shuteen Erdenebaatar [pictured]; Location Location Location feat. Michael Formanek, Anthony Pirog, Mike Pride; and Wasted Generation. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17904177/Mondo-Jazz [up to "Flow"]. Happy listening! Photo credit: Ralf Dombrowski

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Pianist-composer Kris Davis was named 2017 Rising Star Pianist/2018 Rising Star Artist in Downbeat magazine and dubbed one of the music's top up-and-comers in a 2012 New York Times article titled “New Pilots at the Keyboard,” with the newspaper saying: “One method for deciding where to hear jazz on a given night has been to track down the pianist Kris Davis.” To date, Davis has released twelve recordings as a leader. Her 2016 release, Duopoly, made The New York Times, Pop Matters, NPR, LA Times, and Jazz Times best albums of 2016. Davis works as a collaborator and side person with artists such as John Zorn, Terri Lyne Carrington, Craig Taborn, Tyshawn Sorey, Eric Revis, Michael Formanek, Tony Malaby, Ingrid Laubrock, Julian Lage, Mary Halvorson and Tom Rainey. Davis received a Doris Duke Impact award in 2015 and multiple commissions to compose new works from The Shifting Foundation, The Jazz Gallery/Jerome Foundation and the Canada Council for the Arts. She is the Associate Program Director of Creative Development for the Insitute Jazz and Gender Justice at Berklee College of Music. If you enjoyed this episode please make sure to subscribe, follow, rate, and/or review this podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, ect. Connect with us on all social media platforms and at www.improvexchange.com

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/gemini--6#/An artist interested in multiple musical directions and one who strives for quality and sincerity in his work. His exciting energy has compelled him towards many different musical directions and projects. Considered by his contemporaries as cutting edge, Gray shows promise as an artist that will not only move the music forward, but one who will share his unique musical vision with the world of music.Devin Gray's fresh approach to modern drumming has enabled him to play with many of the worlds great jazz musicians. He has performed and recorded with innovative musicians of contrasting styles and backgrounds such as: David Liebman, Tony Malaby, Gary Thomas, Ingrid Jensen, Dave Burrell, Dave Ballou, Michael Formanek, Nate Wooley, Stephan Crump, George Garzone, Chris Speed, Drew Gress, Sam Rivers, Ralph Alessi, John O'Gallagher, Ellery Eskelin, Kris Davis, Ted Rosenthal, Matt Mitchell, Satoko Fujii, Uri Caine, Andrew D'Angelo, Vardan Ovsepian, Angelica Sanchez, as well as many others.Support the show

Last week we focused our playlist on some of our favorite tracks from the first six months of the year. Evidently two hours were not enough and we could not play them all… so here we are going through the rest of the best. The playlist features Vicente Archer; Enzo Carniel, Hermon Mehari, Damien Varaillon, Stéphane Adsuar; John Hadfield [pictured], Kinan Azmeh; Vinnie Sperrazza, Ethan Iverson, Michael Formanek; Rachel Eckroth; Darren Johnston; Ralph Alessi; Jacob Young, Mats Eilertsen, Audun Kleive; and Asher Gamedze. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17612249/Mondo-Jazz (up to "Out Stepped Zim").  Happy listening!

Este episodio de Libertad Jazzera de Junio guarda algunas sorpresas, daros por avisados :). Empezamos con Sana Nagano and Leonor Falcón y su Peach and Tomato, que será publicado este 2023. Después escucharemos al saxofonista Paul Flaherty, en Wednesday Weld, álbum que también verá la luz este 2023 de la mano de 577 Records. Michael Formanek y su Elusion Quartet será nuestra siguiente recomendación, de los que escuchamos As Things Do, publicado recientemente por Intakt Records. Seguir leyendo Libertad Jazzera 06.2023. Edición de Junio. en La Montaña Rusa Radio Jazz.

This week we focus on three fascinating releases which celebrate the genius and legacy of Don Cherry, after starting with a tribute to Led Zeppelin, Emma Rawicz's new project, one of the best piano trios I've heard in a long time, lead by a drummer, and new music by Michael Formanek. The playlist features Francesco Bearzatti; Emma Rawicz; Vinnie Sperrazza, Ethan Iverson, Michael Formanek; Peter Broetzmann, Majid Bekkas, Hamid Drake [pictured]; Kahil El'Zabar, Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, Dwight Trible, David Ornette Cherry; Jamie Breiwick; and Ken Vandermark. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17298446/Mondo-Jazz (up to "Guinea"). Happy listening! Photo credit: Luciano Rossetti.

All music used with permission by Michael Formanek Drome Trio.       Tattarrattat - Formanek Little PeaDrome  - Formanek New Drome - Formanek With Chach - Formanek   Michael Formanek has been described as “a bold and unclassifiable bassist and composer,” and his trio graced our stage for the first time in three years in support of their latest release Were We Where We Were. The music from that album, and this performance, is based on a set of musical palindromes that started out as graphic scores and were then reinterpreted into conventional music notation. Two time JUNO nominee and Hagood Hardy Award Winner Chet Doxas joins the trio on saxophone and wind instruments, and drummer Vinnie Sperrazza joins on drums. From a March 29th, 2022 performance, it's Michael Formanek's Drome Trio – Live at the Bop Stop. Live at the Bop Stop is made possible by the Music Settlement – serving Northeast Ohio by offering music instruction – music therapy and early childhood education since 1912. The Music Settlement's mission is to welcome all to our music and arts community to learn – create – inspire – and heal.   This program is recorded at the Robert Conrad Studios at the Bop Stop in Cleveland, Ohio and the studios of KUNV in Las Vegas, Nevada. Additional production at the Bop Stop is provided by Graham Rosen. Editing for WOBC,WNPA and the Public Radio Exchange is provided by Dr. Pete Naegele - and for our podcast and other radio affiliates by Shawn Gilbert at Gilazar Media.     The executive producer is Daniel Peck – with additional consulting production by Bryan Kennard and Gabe Pollack.   For extended versions of all of our shows –our Live at the Bop Stop podcast can be found on your favorite podcast app or visit our website at www.themusicsettlement.org and click the Bop Stop link.   Want to Support The Bop Stop?  Donate here!   Contact us here  

Tomas Fujiwara is a Brooklyn-based drummer and composer. Described as “a ubiquitous presence in the New York scene…an artist whose urbane writing is equal to his impressively nuanced drumming” (Troy Collins, Point of Departure), Tomas is an active player in some of the most exciting music of the current generation, with his bands Triple Double (with Gerald Cleaver, Mary Halvorson, Brandon Seabrook, Ralph Alessi, and Taylor Ho Bynum), Tomas Fujiwara & The Hook Up (with Jonathan Finlayson, Brian Settles, Halvorson, and Michael Formanek) and The Tomas Fujiwara Trio (with Alessi and Seabrook); his collaborative duo with cornetist Taylor Ho Bynum; the collective trio Thumbscrew (with Halvorson and Formanek); and a diversity of creative sideman work with forward thinking peers like Tomeka Reid and Matana Roberts. In The New York Times, Nate Chinen writes, “Drummer Tomas Fujiwara works with rhythm as a pliable substance, solid but ever shifting. His style is forward-driving but rarely blunt or aggressive, and never random. He has a way of spreading out the center of a pulse while setting up a rigorous scaffolding of restraint...A conception of the drum set as a full-canvas instrument, almost orchestral in its scope.” Support the show

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Terri Lyne Carrington, Billy Drummond, Micah Thomas, Dayna Stephens, Steve Cardenas / Ben Allison / Ted Nash, Chet Doxas, Michael Formanek, Angelica Sanchez, Gentiane MG, Mike Bruzzese, Caity Gyorgy, Mike Bono, Miles Okazaki and John ScofieldPlaylist: Terri Lyne Carrington , featuring Ravi Coltrane and Samara Joy - Two Hearts (Lawns)Billy Drummond and Freedom of Ideas, featuring Micah Thomas, Dezron Douglas, Dayna Stephens - Valse SinistreMicah Thomas - Ruby, My DearDayna Stephens, featuring Ben Street and Eric Harland - TarifaSteve Cardenas, Ben Allison, Ted Nash - Ida LupinoChet Doxas - Snow CloudsMichael Formanek Drome Trio, featuring Chet Doxas and Vinnie Sperrazza - Is It What It IsAngelica Sanchez, featuring Michael Formanek and Billy Hart - A Fungus AmungusGentiane MG - Flowers Laugh Without Uttering a SoundMike Bruzzese, featuring Caity Gyorgy, Gentiane MG, Ira Coleman and Michel Lambert - Even When I'm DreamingCaity Gyorgy, featuring Pat LaBarbera - 'Tis AutumnMike Bono - Other WorldsMiles Okazaki - Years in SpaceJohn Scofield - It Could Happen to You

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“Corinthian Leather" Tony Malaby's Sabino: The Cave of Winds (Pyroclastic Records, 2022) Tony Malaby, Ben Monder, Michael Formanek, Tom Rainey. La composición es obra de Tony Malaby. Tomajazz: © Pachi Tapiz, 2022 ¿Sabías que? Y siguen faltando cinco... Tony Malaby's Sabino es un grupo con cuatro músicos de muchos quilates. Habitualmente, el saxofonista Tony Malaby suele ser un buen indicador de que el grupo o la grabación en la que participa, van a ser, como mínimo, interesantes: es el caso de The Cave of Winds. En anteriores episodios de JazzX5/HDO/LODLMA/Maltidos Jazztardos/Tomajazz Remembers… https://www.tomajazz.com/web/?p=25759 Más información sobre Tony Malaby https://www.tomajazz.com/web/?s=tony+malaby&submit=Search https://www.facebook.com/tonymalabymusic Más información sobre JazzX5 JazzX5 es un minipodcast de HDO de la Factoría Tomajazz presentado, editado y producido por Pachi Tapiz. JazzX5 comenzó su andadura el 24 de junio de 2019. Todas las entregas de JazzX5 están disponibles en https://www.tomajazz.com/web/?cat=23120 / https://www.ivoox.com/jazzx5_bk_list_642835_1.html. JazzX5 y los podcast de Tomajazz en Telegram En Tomajazz hemos abierto un canal de Telegram para que estés al tanto, al instante, de los nuevos podcast. Puedes suscribirte en https://t.me/TomajazzPodcast. Pachi Tapiz en Tomajazz https://www.tomajazz.com/web/?cat=17847

The composer/guitarist and MacArthur “genius” awardee discusses everything from guitar tech to string quartets, illustrated with musical excerpts from Roulette Archive concerts including the projects Code Girl, Thumbscrew, a duo with Deerhhoof's John Dietrich, and collaborators Ches Smith, Jonathan Finlayson, Amirtha Kidambi, John Hébert, Michael Formanek, Tomas Fujiwara, Adam O'Farrill, and Jon Irabagon. Halvorson's latest projects debut at Roulette Sept. 8-9, 2021.

Guru dell'"Associazione per la promozione dei musicisti creativi" di Chicago, l'ambito da cui sono emerse figure ancora oggi di punta come Anthony Braxton, Roscoe Mitchell, Henry Threadgill e Wadada Leo Smith, il pianista Muhal Richard Abrams, mancato nel 2017, è stato a partire dagli anni sessanta uno dei protagonisti cruciali dell'avanguardia. Su commissione di Bobby Zankel, leader di una formazione di Philadelphia, The Warriors of the Wonderful Sound, Muhal scrisse una composizione, Soundpath, che con la sua direzione fu presentato con successo appunto a Philadelphia nel 2012. Qualche mese prima di morire Muhal incoraggiò Zankel a riprendere il lavoro e a continuare a interpretarlo. Nel 2018 effettivamente Soundpath è stato riproposto a Philadelphia, con la direzione di Marty Ehrlich, forte di una lunga confidenza con la musica di Abrams, e con una formazione comprendente alcuni dei Warriors, e musicisti che avevano lavorato con Muhal a New York. Il giorno dopo la presentazione dal vivo Soundpath è stato inciso in studio, ed è adesso un album pubblicato dall'etichetta portoghese Clean Feed, che ci fa il regalo di una creazione prima inedita su disco di un musicista tanto importante, amato e rispettato. Fra i musicisti dell'orchestra, oltre a Ehrlich e Zankel, diversi nomi di tutto rilievo come Graham Haynes, Steve Swell, Michael Formanek e Chad Taylor.

The drummer discusses origins, influences, and compositions with excerpts from his always collaborative projects: 7 Poets Trio (with Patricia Brennan, vibraphone and Tomeka Reid, cello), Thumbscrew (with Michael Formanek, bass and guitarist Mary Halvorson), a duo with bassist Meshell Ndegeocello, and Triple Double for Fujiwara and Gerald Cleaver, drums; Halvorson and Brandon Seabrook, guitars; and Ralph Alessi, Adam O'Farrill, trumpets.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebestmusicpodcast Blog: https://bestmusiccoach.blogspot.com Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/thebestmusicpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebestmusicpodcast The Best Music Podcast #2 | Rez Abbasi - Guitar | Creating New Music and Maintaining a Calm Mind Voted #1 Rising-Star Guitarist in the 2013 DownBeat Critics Poll and subsequently placed in the “Top-Ten Guitarists” alongside luminaries Bill Frisell and Pat Metheny, guitarist and composer Rez Abbasi is one of the most original voices on the current scene. Making New York home for the past 25 years, Abbasi is considered by many to be one of the foremost modern jazz guitar players the world over. He has performed and recorded with many jazz greats including, Grammy winner Ruth Brown, Peter Erskine, Kenny Werner, Barre Phillips, Tim Berne, Michael Formanek, Billy Hart, Gary Thomas, Dave Douglas, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Mike Clark, Tim Hagans, John Beasly, Ronu Majumdar, Kadri Gopalnath, Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Vijay Iyer, Marilyn Crispell, Greg Osby, Howard Levy and a host of others. The renowned jazz critic, Bill Milkowski says “Abbasi's unpredictable phrasing and accomplished writing are what sets him apart from hordes of other technically adept guitarists”. www.reztone.com Check out his CD store on reztone.com facebook: facebook.com/rezabbasi Twitter: @RezAbbasi Instagram: reztone   0:00 Intro 3:03 Creating New Music, Projects, and Ideas 10:12 Drop Tunings 11:45 Sitar Guitar 12:30 Bazaar (2007) 14:17 Soloing with Rhythm, Polyrhythms, and Syncopation 18:57 Metric Modulations in Compositions 22:03 How Rez Uses Power Chords in Jazz 25:04 Django Shift (2020) 33:48 How to Record a Jazz Record in the Modern Age 38:05 Oasis (2020) 43:56 How to Play Music over a Silent Film 48:52 What is Next for Rez? 52:00 Guitar Sound Shaping Play 53:55 Lifestyle, Practice, Performance, and Creativity 54:06 Lifestyle: Sleep 56:06 Lifestyle: Mindfulness and Meditation 1:00:04 Letting Go vs. Ego 1:02:11 Lifestyle: Finding the Right Partner for Musicians 1:06:51 Practice: What Comes Easy for You? 1:09:44 Practice: What was Hard for You? 1:14:13 Practice: What Time of Day is Best? 1:18:48 Practice: How Many Hours a Day? 1:23:06 Practice: How to Deal with and Mitigate Burn Out: Forced Rest Days 1:28:04 "I Don't Want to Think of Myself as a Professional Musician" 1:31:18 How Rez Deals with Performance Anxiety Logo, Intro Video, and Branding: Arron Leishman Audio and Video: Zach Ramey zacherylramey@gmail.com Video Thumbnail: Jean Tomasulo https://www.behance.net/jeantomasulo

Episode SummaryExperimental musician Mary Halvorson shares her story of how a practical person made the impractical leap to pursue a music career when she met a truly inspiring teacher in college. Mary discusses creating music that is out of the mainstream, finding acceptance by going her own way, and how receiving the prestigious MacArthur Grant has impacted her life. Syd and Mary talk leadership, women in music, quarantine, and more, in this episode of The Sydcast.Syd FinkelsteinSyd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. He holds a Master's degree from the London School of Economics and a Ph.D. from Columbia University. Professor Finkelstein has published 25 books and 90 articles, including the bestsellers Why Smart Executives Fail and Superbosses: How Exceptional Leaders Master the Flow of Talent, which LinkedIn Chairman Reid Hoffman calls the “leadership guide for the Networked Age.” He is also a Fellow of the Academy of Management, a consultant and speaker to leading companies around the world, and a top 25 on the global Thinkers 50 list of top management gurus. Professor Finkelstein's research and consulting work often relies on in-depth and personal interviews with hundreds of people, an experience that led him to create and host his own podcast, The Sydcast, to uncover and share the stories of all sorts of fascinating people in business, sports, entertainment, politics, academia, and everyday life. Mary HalvorsonGuitarist and composer Mary Halvorson has been described as “a singular talent” (Lloyd Sachs, JazzTimes), ”NYC's least-predictable improviser” (Howard Mandel, City Arts), “one of the most exciting and original guitarists in jazz—or otherwise” (Steve Dollar, Wall Street Journal), and “one of today's most formidable bandleaders” (Francis Davis, Village Voice). In recent Downbeat Critics Polls, Halvorson has been celebrated as a guitarist, rising star jazz artist, and rising star composer of the year, and in 2019 she was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship.Halvorson has released a series of critically acclaimed albums on the Firehouse 12 label, from Dragon's Head (2008), her trio debut featuring bassist John Hébert and drummer Ches Smith, expanding to a quintet with trumpeter Jonathan Finlayson and alto saxophonist Jon Irabagon on Saturn Sings (2010) and Bending Bridges (2012), a septet with tenor saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock and trombonist Jacob Garchik on Illusionary Sea (2014), and finally an octet with pedal steel guitarist Susan Alcorn on Away With You (2016). She also released the solo recording Meltframe (2015) and most recently debuted Code Girl (2018), a new ensemble featuring vocalist Amirtha Kidambi (singing Halvorson's own lyrics), trumpeter Adam O'Farrill, saxophonist/ vocalist Maria Grand, bassist Michael Formanek, and drummer Tomas Fujiwara. One of New York City's most in-demand guitarists, over the past decade Halvorson has worked with such diverse musicians as Tim Berne, Anthony Braxton, Taylor Ho Bynum, John Dieterich, Trevor Dunn, Bill Frisell, Ingrid Laubrock, Jason Moran, Joe Morris, Tom Rainey, Jessica Pavone, Tomeka Reid, Marc Ribot, and John Zorn. She is also part of several collaborative projects, most notably the longstanding trio Thumbscrew with Michael Formanek on bass and Tomas Fujiwara on drums.Insights from this episode:The benefits of studying musical traditions to build your own strong musical foundation.Reasons why you should play different types and styles of music to enhance and further your career.Differences between listening to music through a streaming service versus on a CD or vinyl album and the impact of listening to only one song versus an entire album.How to find a balance between instinct and editing when creating music.Benefits of performing music live that can not be achieved through streaming concerts. How to be a good bandleader and how to deal with the pressure that comes with being a leader in any situation.Quotes from the show:“I realized music was much more than I had initially thought, it was much bigger. There were so many more possibilities.” – Mary Halvorson“I think there's a misconception that people who play experimental music only like experimental music or can't play other types of music and vice versa. I've found that that's often not the case.” – Mary Halvorson“I think of an academic career as an entrepreneurial career where you can always try something new if you want to try something new.” – Syd Finkelstein“We know, in so many walks of life, narrative flow and storytelling is everything.” – Syd Finkelstein“I've always found it un-intuitive to have music and then put lyrics in later.” – Mary Halvorson“I'm just writing music that I find exciting or that I think is beautiful or that I like and I think that tends to be a little bit left of center.” – Mary Halvorson“I'm very lucky to do music that I believe in.” – Mary Halvorson“What I've realized during this [quarantine] period is there's no substitute for live music. Doing live-stream performances is not a substitute for live music.” – Mary HalvorsonOn what advice Mary would give to her younger self: “Take your time with things and make sure to do things thoroughly … get really deep into something.” – Mary Halvorson“I think focusing on the process and not the end result is also a good thing to think about.” – Mary HalvorsonStay Connected: Syd FinkelsteinWebsite: http://thesydcast.comLinkedIn: Sydney FinkelsteinTwitter: @sydfinkelsteinFacebook: The SydcastInstagram: The SydcastMary HalvorsonWebsite: www.maryhalvorson.comSpotify: Mary HalvorsonYouTube Music: Mary HalvorsonFacebook: Mary HalvorsonSubscribe to our podcast + download each episode on Stitcher, iTunes, and Spotify.This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)