Home » Jazz Musicians » Mike Kaplan
Mike Kaplan
Mike Kaplan (arranger/tenor saxophone) envisioned the Nonet as a unit combining the strength, cohesion and varied tonal colors of a big band with the spontaneity and flexibility of a small group. Among the groups and performers Kaplan has played or recorded with are Slide Hampton, the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Chico Mendoza’s Latin Jazz Dream Band, Steve Turre, Russell Malone and Rob McConnell.
In addition to freelancing in the NJ/NY area, Kaplan has had his arrangements performed by the Diane Moser’s Composers Big Band and recorded by Orquesta Royal and la Progressiva.
In 2008, Mike was the recipient of a Middlesex County Cultural and Heritage Commission Bits and Pieces grant to write an original composition for 9 piece ensemble for a performance at the Barron Performing Arts Center (Woodbridge, NJ) , the first such musical grant awarded in over 10 years.
Mike studied saxophone with Charles McPherson, Warne Marsh, Bob Mover and Joe Lovano and graduated from William Paterson University with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance.
Tags
The Mike Kaplan Nonet: How's That?
by Jack Bowers
Saxophonist Mike Kaplan and his New York City-based nonet play contemporary jazz; that is to say, jazz that is emphatically modern but neither purposely bland nor maddeningly incomprehensible.Kaplan’s debut album contains a number of tasty musical surprises, and it's one of only a handful to leave me wishing the leader had soloed more often (Kaplan does so at length only on his entrancing “Melody for My Mom”). Even so, his fingerprints are conspicuous throughout, as Kaplan wrote five ...
Continue ReadingThe Mike Kaplan Nonet Salutes Cedar Walton, Sun 12/29 4-7pm, Trumpets Jazz Club
Source:
Mike Kaplan
The Mike Kaplan Nonet will celebrate Cedar Walton's musical legacy by performing new large group arrangements (for six horns & rhythm section) of some of his unique and memorable compositions. Many will be familiar to jazz connoisseurs.... and some are not as well known, but certainly deserving of wider recognition. The legendary pianist/composer (who also played with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, JJ Johnson, the Jazztet and many other greats) passed on earlier this year at the age of 79. There ...
read more
Mike Kaplan Nonet at Luna Rossa Fri 4-15, Clifton, NJ
Source:
All About Jazz
Mike Kaplan - tenor saxophone/arranger Rob Henke and Bill Mobley - trumpet and flugelhorn Pete McGuinness - trombone Anton Denner - alto sax, flute and clarinet Ed Xiques - baritone sax, soprano sax and flute Matt King - piano Doug Weiss - bass Pete MacDonald - drums Tenor saxophonist Mike Kaplan’s Nonet will return to Clifton’s Luna Rossa on Friday April 15th from 7pm-10pm ($5 cover charge). The Nonet features a six-man strong horn section and supple rhythm section. At ...
read more
Mike Kaplan Nonet live at Dancing Goat Cafe, South Orange, NJ Thursday 4-8
Source:
All About Jazz
Mike Kaplan Nonet Releases "How's That?" on Semi-Sweet Records
Source:
All About Jazz
How's That?, the debut CD recording of the Mike Kaplan Nonet, bridges the gap between modern big-band and small-group jazz and will delight fans of both. Long a favorite of audiences in the New York City metro area, the band spotlights the highly inventive and exciting compositions and arrangements of Kaplan, performed with fire, precision, spunk and sensitivity by an ensemble of top NYC area improvisers. The Nonet features 6 horns out front and a flexible, intuitive rhythm section. The ...
read more
Music
Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson
