Jazz Articles about Mike DiRubbo

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Mike DiRubbo: Chronos

by Dan Bilawsky
January 11, 2011

Piano has always been part of the package on saxophonist Mike DiRubbo's albums. Still, when DiRubbo made his Posi-Tone debut with Repercussion in 2009, he left the piano behind, relying instead on some harmonic underpinnings from vibraphonist Steve Nelson. Now, on his follow-up disc for the label, he moves into different piano-less territory with his first organ trio record. DiRubbo digs in on these nine original tracks, which shy away from organ group stereotypes. DiRubbo penned two-thirds ...

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Mike DiRubbo: Repercussion

by David A. Orthmann
October 4, 2009

Over the past several years Mike DiRubbo has made engaging discs for the Criss Cross and Cellar Live labels. On Keep Steppin' (2001), Human Spirit (2003), and New York Accent (2006), the young alto and soprano saxophonist distinguished himself in bands comprised of some of the cream of New York City's straight-ahead players--Jim Rotondi, Joe Farnsworth, Mike LeDonne, and Peter Washington. One of DiRubbo's strengths during two of these sides is navigating the strong, expressive accompaniment of pianists David Hazeltine ...

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Mike DiRubbo: Repercussion

by C. Michael Bailey
July 18, 2009

The immediate appeal of alto saxophonist Mike DiRubbo's Repercussion is the replacement of the piano by the vibraphone as the rhythm section's harmony instrument. Guitar-based and piano-less rhythm sections have made their way into the mainstream, leaving the vibraphone-based rhythm section still a novelty.

DiRubbo is certainly not the first to employ such a format. Trombonist Grachan Moncur III's Evolution (Blue Note, 1963) had Bobby Hutcherson on vibes with no piano and saxophonist Wayne Escoffery's Veneration: Live at Smoke (Savant ...

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Mike DiRubbo: The First Priority? Recording This Band

by Scott Douglas
June 21, 2007

For New York Accent: Live at the Kitano (Cellar Live, 2007), his fourth record as leader, alto saxophonist DiRubbo chose to forego the studio for the room at Manhattan's Kitano Hotel. DiRubbo picked the setting in part because, with paid studio dates becoming increasingly rare for independent jazz musicians, he realized he needed to take the reins of getting his next record out. So he assembled a killer band--piano legend Harold Mabern, long-time bassist-of-choice Dwayne Burno and ...

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Mike DiRubbo: New York Accent

by Russ Musto
June 8, 2007

Despite its ever increasing international character, a good deal of the greatest jazz--particularly that performed in Manhattan clubs--is still played with a decidedly New York accent. The sound of the city is an urgent one--its tone dark, its rhythm intense. Saxophonist Mike DiRubbo speaks this language articulately, with a voice that clearly hearkens to his heroes, but is easily recognizable as his own. On this live date, leading a quartet--with an incendiary rhythm section of veteran pianist Harold Mabern and ...

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Mike DiRubbo Quartet At Smoke

by David A. Orthmann
April 9, 2006

Mike DiRubbo Quartet Smoke New York, NY March 16, 2006

Alto and soprano saxophonist Mike DiRubbo returned recently to Smoke, an important Upper West Side venue that presents established and up-and-coming talent. A decade ago, Smoke (then named Augie's) was the place where the Hartt School of Music graduate began to stake his claim in New York City's fiercely competitive straight-ahead jazz scene.

Throughout the opening set, DiRubbo showed why he's earned a semi-regular ...

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Mike DiRubbo: Human Spirit

by Russ Musto
January 20, 2004

Alto saxophonist Mike DiRubbo's most recent outing for Criss Cross features the Jackie McLean protege in the fast company of trumpeter Jim Rotondi, pianist David Hazeltine, bassist Peter Washington and drummer Joe Farnsworth (two thirds of the sextet One For All) in a set that showcases his growing talent and expansive command of the jazz idiom.

Like his mentor, DiRubbo is no run-of-the-mill neo-bopper. He has his own unique sound on the saxophone, which while clearly primarily McLean-influenced, ...