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A Secret Musical Code Revealed via JS Bach

Rob Michael — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 07:19:44 +0000

There is a secret built into Bach’s Little Fugue in G minor.

I issued a friendly challenge to listeners to spot the famous Jazz standard nestled among the busy polyphonic dialog in this Bach piece.

Even an offering of 2000 internet cool points has not unearthed the answer, so I’ll give it to you now:

Listen at 1:52

…now listen to the video below at 2:25.

Nerdy but cool.

I’ve been working in the studio so much these days that I’m beginning to see spots.

Rob Michael — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:44:42 +0000

Guess that comes with the territory when your navigating lines that Bach laid out in logical beautiful detail. I learned the Little Fugue in G minor years ago as a self-imposed study in how Bach ‘improvised’ through chord changes.

I always want to improvise melodies that possess that clear, eloquent almost story-telling manner about them like Bach.

When you play these pieces, you’re afforded an opportunity to almost enter Bach’s mind for a short time.

…and that’s where we’ve been hangin’ over here.

Sneak preview to another upcoming studio release: “Lembra de Mim”

Rob Michael — Thu, 06 May 2010 21:57:41 +0000

“Lembra de Mim” is a masterpiece-level composition by the great Ivan Lins. Our wonderful singer Cynthia Tarr wrote english lyrics to the piece and our version is “Think Well of Me.”

I play once a month with this group a the Olive and Vine in Glen Ellen, CA. If you’re fortunate enough to find yourself in the Sonoma Valley on a Friday night, come on by!

Think Well of Me Preview by AtmosTrio

What’s on “The Bench” this week in the Studio? Guitar stuff, of course!

Rob Michael — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 20:13:32 +0000

Here’s another quick preview peak into a project I’m wrapping-up. This an excerpt to a rough mix–just to show you what I’m up to.

“Reptile” is basically a funk tune. The instrumentation is a little different in so far as the rhythm guitar part is played on a steel-string acoustic guitar. The solo is my old work-hourse frankestein ’80′s-era Strat.

This track features my buds Joe Shotwell on drums and Jack Hines on bass.

Reptile by AtmosTrio

A little peak into some studio work I’m doing.

Rob Michael — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 21:33:06 +0000

Having just received my nylon-string guitar back the repair shop from my man Gary Brawer, I was excited to get back to work on some projects requiring this instrument.

I love playing this guitar, this excerpt from an upcoming album provides a glimpse into why.

Desire solo by AtmosTrio

This week’s “Forgotten” Atmos Trio tune: Bill Frisell’s “Is It Sweet?”

Rob Michael — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:44:38 +0000

From a July 2004 session, "Is It Sweet" is a classic Bill Frisell piece that features a really cool "drunken" feel in the groove and some folky- country-blues tones.

Again, I'm offering a tune we played out of the love of playing. There are no edits or overdubs here.

Is It Sweet? I think so…
Is It Sweet by AtmosTrio

Another “Forgotten” Atmos Trio track: Stephanie’s Soliloquey (2004)

Rob Michael — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:37:16 +0000

This offering is the sixth in an on-going series of “Forgotten Music“ that has been rediscovered after years of languishing on a hard drive. This music was never intended for release, but after sitting all this time, has been considered worthy, at least, to share. it may be that a “Forgotten Album” will emerge.

Recorded in July 2004. Atmos Trio wasn’t even recording an album–just sight-reading some charts.This is another beautiful Peter Sprague tune we used to play during our Monday morning jam sessions.

This song is something of a rarity in that it does not feature solos but instead, features the composition itself as the main character in this particular music tale.

Features Rob Michael on guitars, Joe Shotwell on bass and Jeff Obee on bass.

Stephanie’s Soliloquey by AtmosTrio

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Atmos Trio Monday morning sessions: Miles Davis’ Solar

Rob Michael — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:38:31 +0000

The Atmos Trio first started out as an excuse to play in a very conversational way. We were (and still are) seeking a musical discussion that required no words. We were out to explore group improvisation but hopefully present it in such a way that it almost sounded composed.

For a time, our method of operation was to converge on my studio each Monday morning, throw up some mics, hit RECORD and just play. Here is a result of one of those session from July 2004.

Never intended for release, this recording of Solar really was a happy accident which was captured to disk. We played it and moved-on. Only during a later review of the session did we realize the level of musical interactivity that had apparently occurred earlier that day.

Here is your invitation to eavesdrop on our conversation.

Solar by AtmosTrio

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Solo Jazz Guitar take on “Don’t Know Why”

Rob Michael — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:28:51 +0000

Continuing my efforts to liberate hard drive space is unearthing several forgotten little musical treasures.

My offering for today is this solo guitar version the tune Nora Jones made such a huge hit several years ago. Like everything I've shared via Soundcloud, this track was never intended for release, just something I rediscovered and thought may provide someone with temporary respite from the pressures of a Monday.

Please enjoy with my compliments and pass it along if you think someone else might dig it.

Don’t Know Why by AtmosTrio

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Clearing-out hard drive space and discovered these Forgotten Atmos Trio Tunes.

Rob Michael — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:32:09 +0000

These are live recordings that were never intended for release but that, upon reviewing years after the fact, seemed worthy of sharing with interested listeners.

These are from a time when the concept of The Atmos Trio was still crystalizing.

Hypothetical Premise-A live track that captured an early Atmos Trio as we tuned-up (2004). There is no preconceived composition– just a jam. We know what song sound like, so we made one up on the spot

Hypothical Premise by AtmosTrio

Kylie-Another nearly forgotten track from the Atmos Studio archives. This track was recorded live during the 1st year Atmos Trio started playing together.

This composition is by San Diego guitarist Peter Sprague. Peter was one of my favorite teachers from when I attended GIT in the late ’80′s. If he hears this–I hope he digs it.

Kylie by AtmosTrio

Lonely Woman-A beautiful masterpiece by the great Horace Silver. Recorded in 2005, this live performance features Rob Michael on steel-string acoustic guitar, Joe Shotwell on drums and Jeff Obee on six-string fret less electric bass.

Lonely Woman by AtmosTrio

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