CREATION DREAM BAND:
Michael Occhipinti - guitar
Kevin Turcotte - trumpet
Hugh Marsh - violin
Barry Romberg - drums
Andrew Downing - bass
or Roberto Occhipinti - bass
SICILIAN JAZZ PROJECT:
Michael Occhipinti - guitar
Louis Simao - accordion
Kevin Turcotte - trumpet
Ernie Tollar - saxophone and flute
Barry Romberg - drums
or Roberto Occhipinti - bass
Influences
GUITARISTS: Jim Hall, Marc Ribot, Bill Frisell, Jimi Hendrix, John Scofield, Ali Farka Toure, Jeff Beck, Adrian Belew, Wes Montgomery, Andy Summers, Bruce Cockburn, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Steve Cropper, Leo Nocentelli
MUSICIANS & COMPOSERS: Gil Evans, Miles Davis, The Meters, Kenny Wheeler, Henry Threadgill, Don Byron, JS Bach, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Sting, Lyle Lovett, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Duke Ellington
Sounds Like
All of the people listed above as influences, hopefully filtered through my brain in a way that doesn't make me sound too much like any one of them! On the guitar side, I'd say I sound like a modern guitarist who likes finding interesting guitar sounds and playing (tastefully most of the time) with effects.
Michael Occhipinti's newest recording THE SICILIAN JAZZ PROJECT was released worldwide in February 2009 on True North Records. Read a great review at http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=30435
The Sicilian Jazz Project is nominated for a JUNO Award, and Michael will perform in Vancouver as part of Junofest on March 28th. He will also perform in Roberts Creek BC on March 26th with Dominic Mancuso.
Visit the SJP's my space page at myspace.com/thesicilianjazzproject to learn more about the group or visit Michael's web site for the band at www.thesicilianjazzproject.com
Michael is very excited to be bringing his friend Jeff Coffin (Bela Fleck & The Flecktones, The Dave Matthews Band) back to Toronto March 11-14. Michael and Jeff will perform together at The Rex Jazz bar and at York University and Jeff will also do a number of clinics.
Michael is bringing clarinet great Don Byron back to Toronto on June 30th to perform at the Rex Jazz bar as part of the local jazz festival.
Michael's 2007 CD Chasing After Light was nominated for Best Contemporary Jazz Album (The JUNO is Canada's Grammy). A winner of the 2002 National Jazz Award for Guitarist of the Year, and recipient of seven JUNO nominations (five of those with NOJO (Neufeld-Occhipinti Jazz Orchestra), guitarist/composer Michael Occhipinti’s modern and eclectic approach to jazz and creative music of all kinds has earned him a broad array of listeners and the respect of critics and musicians alike. He earned great praise for his 2000 recording Creation Dream - The Songs of Bruce Cockburn (True North/Universal/Rounder), which featured Michael's ambitious arrangements of music by one of Canada's best-loved songwriters. Performers on the CD include renowned clarinetist Don Byron, and Michael’s quintet featuring trumpeter Kevin Turcotte, violinist Hugh Marsh, drummer Barry Romberg, bassist Andrew Downing. The disc also featured a guest appearance by Bruce Cockburn himself on guitar. National Public Radio recently listed the disc as one that Americans should know about if they are interested in the Canadian music scene.
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Chasing After Light, Michael’s JUNO nominated follow-up to Creation Dream was released on April 10, 2007, on True North/Universal. Featuring the same stellar quintet of musicians heard on Creation Dream, plus Michael’s brother Roberto as a guest on bass, this most recent recording showcases Michael’s melodic and memorable original compositions and broad palette of guitar sounds. Blending a variety of folk sounds (Cuban music, African blues, and a beautiful Bruce Cockburn inspired acoustic guitar composition) with a modern approach to jazz improvisation makes the new CD one that will connect with anyone who appreciates creative instrumental music.
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“Anyone who has seen me play live or heard my work with NOJO knows that I love to experiment with different guitar sounds and effects. There are a lot of different influences and moods on this recording, and I wanted to draw on the many guitar sounds I use to compliment that variety.”
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Formed in 1994 with pianist/composer Paul Neufeld, NOJO boldly draws on an array of influences, including African music, early blues, modern concert music, funk, reggae, and a century of jazz, yet the group’s recordings reveal an original and distinct sound. The Los Angeles Times calls NOJO “one of the most imaginative large ensembles on the current jazz scene,” and the band’s music has intrigued its many guest soloists including sax great Joe Lovano, trombonist Ray Anderson, trumpeter Kenny Wheeler, and most notably clarinetist Don Byron and saxophone giant Sam Rivers, both of whom have recorded and toured with the ensemble. NOJO and Don Byron have performed at the Umbria Jazz Winter Festival in Orvieto, Italy, at the Stranger Than Paranoia Festival in the Netherlands, and at the Festival International de Jazz de Montreal, and NOJO toured Canada with Sam Rivers in 2003.
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QUOTES:
“It’s ultimately Occhipinti’s keen sense of marrying the familiar with the unfamiliar that ultimately guides the songs into a new sonic space. Both with his own and with group NOJO, the guitarist’s greatest strength is striking a balance between the accessible and the adventurous, often embracing big band jazz or classic blues sounds in the same breath as catchy funk and/or sprawling avant-garde sounds.” Kieran Grant, The Toronto Sun
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“The record is, by any standard, an unmitigated success. Cockburn’s tunes, with their arcing melodies and wide-open chord structures , retain their airy clarity in Occhipinti’s hands; they’re strong enough to flourish in their new, jazzified environment. Occhipinti himself adopts some of his songwriting inspiration’s delicacy, especially when playing acoustic guitar on “Lovers in a Dangerous Time”, but also spins out some forceful and tricky electric work.” Alex Varty, Coast Vancouver
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“Occhipinti was also earcatching thanks to the arsenal of electronic effects that he put to smart use. He bent notes and distorted them with a rock musicians’ glee and a jazz musician’s love of the new.” Peter Hum, Ottawa Citizen
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“I didn’t have to worry about whether someone go the lyrics right or appeared not to understand them. One whole are of of concern, a big one for me, was removed. Then it was just wonderful to realize this guy made such incredibly beautiful music out of the bits and pieces that were left for him to work with.” Bruce Cockburn
Michael Occhipinti & Creation Dream's Friend Space (Top 12)
Michael Occhipinti & Creation Dream has 354 friends.
Hi Michael, thanks for the add. I enjoyed listeing to your music as I read through your page. Well put together indeed. As is your music. I am very into Jazz, and Blues. And what a nice combination of yourself youput into your Jazz. Great band and combination of all the great instruments. It's so nice to know all the genres are not going into mechanical music. your new friend Mona
Dear Michael, glad to be among your friends. I met you some years ago, while buying on line everything concerning Bruce Cockburn and his music: so I was able to listen to Creation Dream and to appreciate it. Now I can listen to more music of yours, thanks to myspace. Best regards.
Michael I just stopped by to let you know that the songs you recorded on are receiving a great response on my myspace page. Also visited the spaces of both of your brothers and wanted to let you know WOW what a musically gifted family.
