Mick Rossi

Pianist, drummer/percussionist, and composer Mick Rossi is known for his diverse, progressive work in the New York Downtown scene where he has collaborated with the likes of Steven Bernstein, Mark Dresser, Dave Douglas, Erik Friedlander, Gerry Hemingway, Ron Horton, Andy Laster, Michael Sarin and Cuong Vu. Despite the very busy and long-standing collaborations with Philip Glass and Paul Simon, he has established himself as one of the most courageous, gifted and charismatic musicians in the New York scene and beyond thanks to an eclectic range of projects which show his relentless creativity and many facets.

1. Lhasa de Sela: La Llorona (Audiogram / Atlantic, 1997)

Soulful and elegant singing. Beautiful, quirky orchestrations. So sad we lost her.

2. Jimmy Giuffre: Thesis (Verve, 1962)

Inspired and transcendent. Paul Bley and Steve Swallow are deft, spirited comrades.

3. Philip Glass: Music in Twelve Parts (Orange Mountain Music, 2008)

Having performed this piece (which we in the ensemble refer to simply as "sport"!) with Philip since 2006, I'm still hallucinating. This live recording from Italy was my first attempt at this relentless monster. Philip is a true master.

4. Keith Jarrett: Hymns / Spheres (ECM, 1976)

As if Messiaen.

5. Herbie Hancock: Head Hunters (Columbia, 1973)

Funk, funk, funk. I hadn't heard it in about thirty years, and popped the vinyl on recently. Timeless.

6. Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin (Atlantic, 1969)

Real time scrappy playing from this seminal band.

7. Shostakovich: Symphony No. 10, Andre Previn / London Symphony Orchestra (EMI, 1983)

Dark, ugly, unsettling, intense and, of course, exquisitely beautiful. Epic.

8. Shostakovich: Symphony No. 15, Bernard Haitink / London Philharmonic (Decca, 1979)

Subversive, whimsical, sublime and cosmic. The first time I heard it, it literally stopped me in my tracks. My dearest reading of this one. His last, and also my favorite, of his symphonies.

9. Bobo Stenson: War Orphans (ECM, 1998)

I have always loved Bobo. The openness of this music is virtually palpable. Superb trio with Anders Jormin and Jon Christensen.

10. Johnnie Valentino: Stingy Brim (OmniTone, 2006)

Great record by LA (via Philly) guitarist/composer Johnnie Valentino. Awesome craggy tunes.

Photo credit: Matt Dine