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Michael Eckroth

Michael Eckroth, pianist and keyboardist, is an active performer in New York and worldwide, having performed extensively with musicians such as jazzicons John Scofield, Ron McClure, Eliot Zigmund and Paul McCandless.

 Equally at home in jazz and latin- American music forms, Michael received a grammy nomination for his work on the 2018 Cuban music album Orquesta Akokan, which received rave reviews on outlets such as NPR and France’s FIP. He is also a recipient of a PhD from New York University,  former professor of music at Dartmouth College and a current full-time professor of music at FIU.

 Throughout a varied career which covers musical styles from jazz, R&B, pop, salsa, Cuban music, and American and world music in general, Michael has shared the stage with performers with as varied pedigrees as pop icon Sheena Easton and jazz legend Scofield. In an over 15 year stint as a New York-based musician, Michael has performed on local stages everywhere from major jazz clubs like Blue Note, Birdland, and Smalls to larger NYC venues such a Lincoln Center’s summer stage and Joe’s Pub. On the international stage, Michael has performed in venue and festival settings everywhere from theHamburg Elbphilharmonie, the North Sea Jazz Festival, Jazz al Parque and Salsa al Parque in Bogotá, SFJazz, WOMAD festivals in the UK, Australia, and
New Zealand- all over the United States, the Americas and Europe in concer halls, jazz clubs and outdoor events.

 

Michael is an avid recording artist, writer and arranger who continues to draw accolades for his work in various settings. With several solo albums to his name, he also is called upon as a collaborator who has worked on dozens of
original albums as pianist, keyboardist, or musical director. He currently records as a solo artist or collaboratively for Daptone and Truth Revolution records. “a modern renaissance musician with the kind of insights into the music that will surprise you.” Raul DaGama, Latin Jazz Network


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37
Album Review

Jennifer Wharton's Bonegasm: Grit & Grace

Read "Grit & Grace" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Asked to name the traits women most need to succeed in today's business world, Forbes magazine in a 2019 article underlined two of them as “grit and grace." One woman who took the advice to heart is bass trombonist Jennifer Wharton. She came late to jazz but has since made it her domain of choice, founding the trombone-centric septet Bonegasm and recording three albums under its name, the most recent of which, Grit & Grace, endorses Forbes' position by using ...

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Album Review

Jennifer Wharton's Bonegasm: Grit & Grace

Read "Grit & Grace" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


Blessed be the 'bone of invention and intention that is Jennifer Wharton. A mere six years ago, the noted bass trombonist had the idea to form a slide-centric septet and commission new music to bring her oft-neglected and ballasting instrument to the fore. Driven to act on that concept, Wharton thought things through, put a plan in motion and willed Bonegasm into existence. That aptly-titled band recorded its eponymous debut in 2018, released that revelation of a record in 2019, ...

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Liner Notes

Jennifer Wharton: Not a Novelty

Read "Jennifer Wharton: Not a Novelty" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


The eponymous debut from Jennifer Wharton's Bonegasm broke the mold. There are no two ways about it. And while some may look at a statement like that and cry hyperbole, history begs to differ. With rare exception, the bass trombone—a horn forever typecast as an anchor—has been marginalized. So the idea of an ensemble featuring that denizen of the depths—a band playing music specifically commissioned to hinge on it, highlight it, and showcase the playing of one of its foremost ...

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Album Review

Michael Eckroth Group: Plena

Read "Plena" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


Michael Eckroth had clear goals in mind for this project--"to create music that was lyrical, modern, true to its Afro-Latin roots, but never purist in its approach"--and he's accomplished his mission with gusto. Through Plena, this Grammy-nominated pianist/composer delivers a program of original music that, while acknowledging folkloric traditions, doesn't buy into their formal strictures and structures. Instead, Eckroth deals in forward-thinking offshoots and branch realities that beautifully extend on--and past--those points. Essentially working with two different ...

10
Album Review

Jennifer Wharton's Bonegasm: Not A Novelty

Read "Not A Novelty" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


The trombone came into its own as a lead and solo instrument in jazz on the shoulders of J.J. Johnson, in the early days of bebop. His Four Trombones: The Debut Recordings (Prestige, 1953) celebrated the big brass instrument with three fellow 'bone men--Kai Winding, Bennie Green and Willie Davis, all joining Johnson in a four man front line. Now Jennifer Wharton presents a four trombone summit of her own with Not A Novelty, the second outing of her group ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Grit & Grace

Sunnyside Records
2023

buy

Not A Novelty

Sunnyside Records
2021

buy

Plena

Truth Revolution Records
2021

buy

Be Normal

From: Grit & Grace
By Michael Eckroth

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