Rob Michael: Guitarist

New album “LIVE STREAM JAZZ” w/ Steve Uccello

// March 8th, 2010 // Comments // Jazz, Rob Michael, twitter, ustream

On February 5th, 2010, Steve Uccello & I performed an impromptu concert to an internet audience on my ongoing Ustream Concert Series. This collection of tunes documents that performance. This album is available exclusively here, at AtmosMusic.com and at our Bandcamp store.

Album artwork by Linda Palmer (www.ponor.info)

Steve and I met on twitter last spring. We organized and performed together at the Atmos Trio “Twitter House Concert.” Once he expressed interest in playing on my Ustream show, I didn’t waste any time arranging to make it happen.

The Ustream gigs have been the surprise of the year for me. From my home studio, I performed several solo guitar shows, and played host to special guests Damian Erskine, Todd Johnson and even broadcast some gigs from my group, The Atmos Trio.

Due to the regularity of the show, an audience from all over the world routinely returned, show-after-show. Among them is artist extraordinaire Linda Palmer. I had seen here wonderful artwork and I was thrilled when she agreed to contribute the album cover. She actually contributed many pieces, all of which are great. Please take in some of her fine work while you listen.

Here is a brief song-by-song reflection for those who were not present during the broadcast.

Song for Stasia: Originally recorded by Anna Maria Jopek and Pat Metheny, this Marcin Kydryński composition served as a beautiful vehicle for our musical simpatico. I put this chart in front of Steve and he’s sight-reading here.

Minor Matter: A completely improvised tune based on a minor blues form.

Alright Right Now: One of Steve Uccello’s composition. This is what I sounded like sight-reading Steve’s tune on this day.

Travels: A classic country jazz ballad by Pat Metheny. We tried to make this sound like we’ve been playing together for a long time–even though this session marked only the second time Steve and I had played together.

Autumn Leaves: A “Jazz 101″ type tune. All jazzers know this song. We called a tune and counted it off…

Tenor Madness: Contemplating Sonny Rollins on his blues classic.

May I share some of my new LIVE STREAM JAZZ album with you?

// February 25th, 2010 // Comments // Jazz, Rob Michael, twitter, ustream, video

On Friday, February 5th, Steve Uccello played bass with me during an impromptu Ustream concert.

As always, the show was super fun. Steve and I met when we organized and performed together last spring at the Atmos Trio “Twitter House Concert.”

We got together in my studio to play some tunes. I employed my Ustream rig which consists of the iSight cam on my MacBook which receives a nice audio mix from studio’s mixing board. I had also just received  another HD camera as a gift so I had a 2nd video feed destined for YouTube. I also made a multi track recording of the show.

Upon reviewing what we had captured to disk, the music was deemed worthy to share. Just goes to show that a good sounding record doesn’t need to take a pile of cash and months to make. Just a couple of musos and healthy does of simpatico.

Please be sure to share this music with a friend.

If you would like to hear the rest of the album sooner rather than later, simply fill-out the mailing list form in the sidebar and you’ll be linked to an Exclusive Advanced Access Listener’s page.

Enjoy!

Album artwork by Linda Palmer.

Ustream Concert with Todd Johnson

// February 19th, 2010 // Comments // Jazz, Rob Michael, twitter, ustream, video

Yesterday marked the latest of what is becoming a series of great internet jazz performances. One of my most valued online connections is with world-class bassist Todd Johnson. He and his lovely wife Gay came to my studio to hang-out and play some music to an enthusiastic international audience on Ustream.

Here is a brief peak into what we played. There will be higher quality video on my YouTube channel in the next day or two.

Rob Michael & Steve Uccello: Travels (Pat Metheny)

// February 10th, 2010 // Comments // Jazz, Rob Michael, twitter, ustream

Here is another excerpt from my Ustream show from last Friday that featured bassist Steve Uccello.

This is 1980’s-era Pat Metheny tune that touches on the more country/ folk side of things. Hope you like it.

Posted via email from AtmosMusic

Christmas Collaboration on YouTube

// December 24th, 2009 // Comments // Jazz, Rob Michael, twitter, video

This really great Christmas surprise comes courtesy of my friend Rahsheen.

Posted via email from AtmosMusic

The Musician’s Tales: Stories from the Trenches #cheesegigthrowdown

// November 23rd, 2009 // Comments // Jazz, Rob Michael, twitter, widget

I was exchanging some gig stories this morning and the trend continues. This widget is following the Twitter hashtag #cheesegigthrowdown.

But you want to know something? From my experience, even the worst scenario from the #cheesegigthrowdown, while frustrating at the time, is better than non-musical endeavours.