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.

Private Lesson: Inside the mind of Pat Metheny. “Inori” transcribed.

// July 15th, 2009 // Comments // Guitar lesson, Jazz, Rob Michael

One of the best ways to improve your understanding of the musical language is by closely listening and analyzing the works of the masters.

Case in point, I have, for my own self study, transcribed this beautiful tune by the Pat Metheny Trio. ”Inori” is from the “Tokyo Day Trip (Live)” release featuring Christian McBride and Antonio Sanchez.

This is the melody and self-accompaniment (of which Pat is a master) played on guitar. Notice how infrequently Pat play’s a chord’s root. Notice too, how few notes are used. Everything here falls easily under the fingers. This piece is an amazing testimony to Metheny’s taste, touch, mastery of the guitar and intelligent note-choice.

Hope you dig it.

Next up is the solo. A1, B1, C1 are played finger-style. D1 is played with a pick which leads into a modulation up a whole step (from the key of GMaj to AMaj) and a restatement of the head.