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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.

Have trouble making decisions? Behold, the Buy ‘EVERYTHING’ Button

Rob Michael — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 04:25:00 +0000

“When you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.” Neil Peart

Sometimes, you just need to things to be easy. To that end, I’m offering ALL of the music I’ve recorded thus far in one easy download. Press the red button and you can buy EVERYTHING for $20. Easy-peasy.

All of this music is available at a “Pay What You Like” price when purchased on a per song or per album basis. This release is primarily for listeners that want to support my production of MORE music and obtain what’s out there thus far in one shot.

Why in the world would I give my music away for FREE?

Rob Michael — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 06:48:09 +0000

A couple of weeks ago I conducted an experiment with the Atmos Trio bandcamp site.

It was toward the beginning of the holiday season and I was in a giving mood, so I priced all of Atmos Trio’s albums (which include sheet music along with music files.) at a “Pay what You Want (even nothing)” price. I’m accustomed and happy to giving music away for free. I’ve always offered individual song downloads for free and had a low minimum price set for albums. But I offered everything for free to anyone who was interested.

Over the course of the 3 Day Special, many more people than normal downloaded the 2 albums “Atmos Trio” and “Atmos Plays Waters.” They helped spread the word about the opportunity for “Free Atmos Trio tunes”on Twitter and Facebook. It was nice to get such a favorable response from people who seemed genuinely appreciative of the music.

But something else rather interesting occurred as well: More than 50% of those that downloaded opted to pay for the music. Some paid far more than any price I would consider setting. Was this merely the result of a period of actively promoting the music? Maybe. Should I price my music at the ”Pay what You Want (even nothing)” price all the time? Maybe.

Why in the world would I give my music away for FREE? I would much prefer people hear the music and form some opinion on it rather than have it be locked away behind a price tag somewhere.

That’s why.

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

Rob Michael — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:22:52 +0000

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.

Rob testifying the “Spam Blues” on Ustream

Rob Michael — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:57:05 +0000

via ustream.tv

Every Thursday, I play a solo jazz guitar show right out of my home studio. From my perspective, it’s The Hippest Thing Ever!

On this particular Thursday, I was being pummeled by spammers and well–it gave me the blues.

Posted via web from atmosmusic’s posterous

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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