Rich Perry- tenor saxophone Aaron Goldberg- piano Alan Ferber- trombone Rob Wilkerson- alto saxophone Bill Campbell- drums Michael Blanco- bass/compositions
The New Trio:
Jonathan Kreisberg- guitar Mark Ferber- drums Michael Blanco -bass/compositions
Also appearing on gigs in NYC:
John Ellis, Bob Reynolds- saxophones.
David Cook, Adam Birnbaum, Frank LoCrasto-piano.
Tommy Crane, Quincy Davis- drums.
Sounds Like
MICHAEL BLANCO: In The Morning
"This outstanding release certainly doesn’t sound like a debut album. Blanco, a repeat winner of the ASCAP Young Composer Award and a solid bassist to boot, has combined a dynamite sextet and 10 impressive modern-cool tunes for utterly winning results. The compositions share a dusky, imploring quality, with catchy, insistent hooks and compelling harmonies--several, such as the haunting "Point Of View" make the group sound like a miniature big band. It’s a remarkable introduction that leaves one eager to hear more." -- Jazz Times
"Michael Blanco is an imaginative bandleader, an emerging composer and a damn fine bassist." -- Fred Hersch
"Transplanted San Diego native Michael Blanco, now a
New York-based bassist, places himself among the top
jazz bassists and composers with his new album.
Polished, confident, imaginative, "In the Morning" is
a mature album of straight-ahead jazz...It's a
promising debut, and ought to put Blanco on most jazz
fans' listening lists." -- Jim Trageser, North County Times/The Californian
"Bassist/Composer, Michael Blanco is one of the new rising individuals who possesses an abundance of musical talent and savvy. "In The Morning", his new recording, is a perfect example of excellent world-class bass playing combined with a great program of sophisticated original compositions.
Bravo Michael!" -- Rufus Reid
"THE WINNER OF ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composer Award in 2005 and 2006, bassist Michael Blanco seems to be making all the right moves...He throws himself wholly into harmonic rich and sophisticated style of jazz on In The Morning that is proof that he's absorbed a fair amount of theory in his time, but, as those composition awards prove, he's got a good ear for melody." -- Tad Hendrickson, JazzWeek.com
"A composer of remarkable promise." -- Primetime A&E Magazine Michael Blanco is a bassist and composer living in New York City. He is a two-time recipient of the ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composer Award (2005, 2006) and presented those winning compositions on In The Morning, his debut release for the esteemed Fresh Sound/New Talent jazz label out of Barcelona, Spain.
Since moving to New York City in January 2000, Michael has frequently performed with saxophonists Rich Perry and John Ellis, guitarist Jonathan Kreisberg, pianists David Cook and Adam Birnbaum, and drummers Mark Ferber and Bill Campbell, among many others. He has been involved in a wide variety of musical projects, including bands led by Doug Wamble (Marsalis Music), Bob Reynolds (John Mayer), John Chin (Fresh Sound/New Talent), Alan Ferber (Brooklyn Jazz Underground), Frank LoCrasto (MAXJAZZ), Shayna Steele, Sarah Tolar, and Frank Basile (Village Vanguard Orchestra).
Michael has twice been selected by the U.S. Department of State to be an artistic representative for the United States abroad. First, in 2001, he toured South America, Central America, and the Caribbean as part of the Kennedy Center's Jazz Ambassador program. Then, in 2008, he toured the Middle East as part of the Jazz at Lincoln Center program The Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad.
Michael is also in high demand outside of the world of jazz. He is currently the bassist for the new Broadway musical Next to Normal and has performed in the orchestras of more than a dozen other Broadway shows, including Billy Elliot, Wicked, Spring Awakening, Grease, and Avenue Q. A frequent accompanist to singers, he has performed in concert with such notable artists as Carole King, Norah Jones, Idina Menzel, Kristen Chenoweth, and Maureen McGovern.
Michael currently leads a jazz trio dedicated to performing his original compositions and has performed at major New York City venues including Carnegie Hall, Town Hall, Birdland, Iridium and Blue Note and smaller important laboratories for jazz like Makor, Tonic, Smalls, Barbes and La Lanterna. Always seeking to expand his playing and develop new avenues of expression, Michael is currently studying classical bass with Timothy Cobb; principle bassist of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and chair of the Juilliard School double bass department.
Although he spends most of his time in New York City, Michael has also had the pleasure of performing in Bahrain, Bolivia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Kuwait, Nicaragua, Oman, Panama, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Yemen.
For more information, please visit: blancobass.com
Thanks for the comments Mike. It's great to hear from you again. It seems like it was a long time ago when we played in the UNT One O'Clock Lab Band together. You sound great as always! I never received your CD from you to play on the radio. I also have some close jazz radio DJ and music directors at radio stations around the country. I can send you their info and you can always use my name. Take care my friend.
Hey! Great seeing you tonight. Listening to your cd as I type. Loving it! Gotta hit the sack though so will have to finish listening later. See you soon. :)
Ciao Michael ,Thank you for the add and the friendship. you are very good, I like your stupendous music a lot, you are fantastic ..really. talk to you soon, and all of my best wishes to always listen to your good music. all the best.. from italy neal
Thank you for the add, Michael! We always hear good musicians like you, playing good music. Here in Brazil, my mother and I wish to you: Happiness and many Peace!
