Jazz Articles about Michael McNeill

About Michael McNeill

Album Review

Michael McNeill Trio: Passageways

Read "Passageways" reviewed by Hrayr Attarian

by Hrayr Attarian
March 11, 2013

The rhythm trio is a well-established and ubiquitous format in jazz. Its fluidity and flexibility allow for a wide range of expression from traditional to advanced with the majority of recordings being solidly in the mainstream. Pianist Michael McNeill's exhilarating and innovative debut recording Passageways pushes the harmonic boundaries of the ensemble into unique and intriguing territories.The classically trained Buffalo native leads his intimate group through five of his own originals that allow ample room for spontaneous creativity. ...

Album Review

Michael McNeill Trio: Passageways

Read "Passageways" reviewed by Eyal Hareuveni

by Eyal Hareuveni
January 31, 2013

Michael McNeill's debut as a leader introduces a fresh perspective to the popular piano trio format. His compositions don't progress in a linear manner, nor do they strive to settle on time-tested harmonic or rhythmic structures; instead, they insistently explore the sonic possibilities within the immediate, fragile and equal interplay that the Buffalo, NY-based pianist-composer has with his improvisation-experienced trio mates, double bassist Ken Filiano and drummer Phil Haynes. McNeill has a mature, personal voice, developed through ...

Take Five With...

Take Five With Michael McNeill

by AAJ Staff
June 7, 2012

Meet Michael McNeill: Michael McNeill has become an integral part of Buffalo, NY's thriving jazz and improvised music scene, performing with bands led by Kelly Bucheger and Ravi Padmanabha, and co-leading a quartet with John Bacon. He's also collaborated with trumpet legend Paul Smoker on projects of standards and of original compositions. McNeill also performs with and composes for the New Buffalo Jazz Octet, which the Buffalo News has called “a veritable who's who list of killer regional ...