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Jazz Articles about Michael Dease
Michael Dease: Give It All You Got
by Kyle Simpler
Jazz guitarist Kenny Burrell once discussed his views on playing music by making a point that, “you are unique, be yourself, put out that thing that is you, then use your work ethic and produce great music." Trombonist Michael Dease embodies the spirit of Burrell's statement. Dease is a dedicated musician who is rapidly making a name for himself as both a recording artist and an educator. He won the Downbeat Critics Poll for rising star trombonist along with winning ...
Continue ReadingThe Jazz All Stars: The Jazz All Stars Volume 1
by Jim Worsley
The gigless times of 2020--the year of the Covid-19 pandemic--could have brought musicians and the industry to their collective knees, gasping for air. Instead, it resulted in more new music than ever before. It filled our lungs with fresh air. It filled our hearts and souls, not to mention our ears. New businesses opening, defying the odds and pursuing their dreams, is a relevant factor. Le Coq Records, emerging in 2020, boldly presents an all-star ensemble—featuring many of ...
Continue ReadingSencalar/Glassman Quintet: Realization
by Hrayr Attarian
Altin Sencalar and Chris Glassman were classmates in graduate school at Michigan State University (MSU) where they were both trombonist MIchael Dease's proteges. When they decided to release their debut, the exciting Realization, their mentor produced the record, contributed a tune and made a guest appearance on the opening track. For this bop-based session Sencalar and Glassman recruited a band of both up-and-coming and established musicians. The result is a very cohesive quintet/sextet which effortlessly, and with supreme ...
Continue ReadingChristian McBride: The Movement Revisited
by Chris May
The spring 2020 release of The Movement Revisited: A Musical Portrait Of Four Icons is the latest chapter in Christian McBride's inspirational salute to the African American civil rights movement and to four of its heroes: Dr. Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali. Embracing big band jazz, small group jazz, gospel, funk and chorale musics, together with spoken word passages, the suite employs an eighteen-piece band, the ten-piece Voices Of The Flame gospel choir, two lead ...
Continue ReadingMichael Dease: Never More Here
by David A. Orthmann
Perhaps the most significant thing about Never More Here, trombonist Michael Dease's seventh outing for the Posi-Tone imprint, is the striking polarity of two of the disc's four outstanding tracks, “Mirror Image" and “Blue Jay." In a recording filled with compositions by J.J. Johnson, John Lewis, Jackie McLean and Jimmy Heath, pianist Renee Rosnes' “Mirror Image" commands respect equal to these distinguished predecessors. It doesn't readily fit any familiar jazz niche or template, possesses a somewhat stately air, ...
Continue ReadingNew releases and a special focus on albums from Dease and Giancola
by Bob Osborne
New music all the way with two featured albums from Michael Dease and Trevor Giancola... and some great new releases from the Caligola Records label. Playlist Michael Dease “Mirror Image" from Never More Here (Posi-tone) 00:00 Trevor Giancola “Report Card" from Sonnet 18 (TQM Recording Co) 07:41 Ben Wolfe “Blind Seven" from Fatherhood (Resident Arts) 15:58 Billy Mohler “Deconstruction" from Focus! (Make Records) 19:55 Claudio Cojaniz, Franco Feruglio “Insomnia" from Blue Question (Caligola Records) 24:50 Michael Dease “Blue ...
Continue ReadingMichael Dease: Never More Here
by Dan McClenaghan
Trombonist Michael Dease released Bonafide (Posi-Tone Records) in 2018. The disc was a testament to some of his influences—pianist Geri Allen, trumpeter Marcus Belgrave, trombonist J.J. Johnson. For his 2019 testament, Never No More Here, he tips his hat to saxophonist Charlie Parker. But he doesn't cover “Confirmation" “or “An Oscar For Treadwell" or “Segment," familiar Parker tunes; nor does he offer up ”Loverman" or ”Star Eyes," familiar Parker vehicles. Instead Never No More Here“ reflects on the artists that ...
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