Saxophonist | Composer | Educator
Baltimore-based tenor saxophonist whose approach is at once unapologetically lyrical and uncompromisingly dynamic.
Hannah Mayer, piano
Jett Lim, trombone
Charlie Reichert Powell, guitar
Aidan B. Taylor, bass
Koleby Royston, drums
Derrick Michaels (special guest)
Derrick Michaels Quartet:
DM-saxophone, Dave Ballou-trumpet, Will Yager-bass, Mike Kuhl-drums
Erin Connelly Quartet:
Erin Connelly Trumpet, Derrick Michaels-saxophone, Brian Brunsman-bass, Tony Martucci-drums
Jimmy Baseman plays an opening set on trumpet and electronics
MUSIC FROM 8-11pm
Derrick Michaels-tenor saxophone
Alex Weber-bass
Tony Martucci-drums
Swinging, playing tunes, drinking espressos. Join Us!!
It has been three long years since this band last played together. I am eager to make music again with this quartet, this time in the beautiful Sunday Room at 2640 Space in Baltimore.
Thanks very much to Bonnie Lander and the folks at 2640 for helping us put this together!
Derrick Michaels-tenor saxophone
Mike Kuhl-drums
Sam Weinberg-tenor Saxophone
Henry Fraser-bass
__________________
Born From Silence
Derrick Michaels-tenor saxophone
Zack Branch-cello
John Dierker-clarinets
Derek Wiegmann-bass
________________
Tyrone Page - solo saxophone
(MORE INFORMATION TO COME, I PROMISE!)
Astroturf Noise exists at the intersection of free improvisation, effects-heavy noise music, and American roots music.
The group’s sound marries the propulsive rhythmic drive of bluegrass with the snarl of Downtown agitators such as the Lounge Lizards, Arto Lindsay, and James Chance along with textural flavors touching on glitch music, dub, doom metal, and Ornette Coleman. A broad melange to be sure, but one anchored by the group’s energetic drive and idiosyncratic improvisational language. This is the synthetic counterpoint to Bill Monroe’s “Bluegrass Boys”.
Astroturf Noise was formed by Sam Day Harmet (mandolin/fx) and Sana Nagano (violin/fx) in 2016 after meeting at Karl Berger’s Creative Music Studio and discovering a shared affinity for high-energy free improv and American folk traditions. After a period of developing as a duo, they added versatile bassist Zach Swanson in 2018. Their debut self-titled album features guest contributions from genre-defying artists Billy Martin (percussion) and Sarah Bernstein (violin).
Very excited for The Great Unfolding’s first show in 2020 (Michaels, Dierker, Pumphrey, Kuhl) and my first time meeting and sharing the stage with Chicago trio Twin Talk, featuring Dustin Laurenzi-saxophone, Katie Ernst-bass/vocals, Andrew Green-drums.
Since forming in 2012 Chicago’s Twin Talk has steadily drifted from the conventions of the saxophone trio. While reedist Dustin Laurenzi, bassist-singer Katie Ernst, and drummer Andrew Green are deeply rooted in jazz tradition, they’ve spent their time on the band stage together making their music more elastic, spontaneous, and open, embracing new inspirations without stifling the improvisational heart of their work. All three musicians are active members in the city’s bustling jazz community, each playing in numerous working bands, but they’ve found a true collective voice as Twin Talk. They’ve used live performances as opportunities to stretch—expanding on composed material and ditching set lists in favor of calling tunes on the fly—but on their upcoming album Weaver they’ve pushed themselves further than ever, using the recording studio as a place for experimentation, letting a new batch of compositions develop and take new shapes. As critic Howard Reich wrote recently in the Chicago Tribune, “These musicians listen keenly to one another, and with a sensitivity that only comes from familiarity and trust.”
“…Twin Talk expresses both it’s melodic rigor and appetite for adventure.” - DownBeat Magazine
New Monthly Performance Series: "Posture of Possibility"
Creating a Space for Creative Contribution - An Inclusive Music Series Showcasing Young Improvisers
This new series is an opportunity for me to share the spotlight in my favorite listening room in Baltimore, allowing me to showcase a cross-section of young improvisers as they grow into strong musical leaders.
**Special format! **
Short Solo improvisation from Featured Performer followed by:
Set 1:
Erin Connelly-trumpet
Derrick Michaels-tenor saxophone
Brent Madsen-trumpet
John Dierker-bass clarinet
*15 minute intermission *
Set 2: Erin Connelly, Derrick Michaels, and special guests!
(All tickets are $10!!)
_______
The wholehearted expression of music has the potential to uplift the spirit and heal our hearts. These 12 concerts are representative of a creative continuum which is designed to challenge convention & elude classification. Accordingly, I have selected 12 young musical leaders under the age of 30 to lead adventurous performances, putting full trust in improvisation as a potent unifying force across musical boundaries. The mission is to deliver music of substance, embracing the community while affirming the exceptionally personal nature of creative process for the improvising musician.
“In the measurement world, you set a goal and strive for it. In the universe of possibility, you set the context and let life unfold.” ― Benjamin Zander (Musical Director and Conductor - Boston Philharmonic Orchestra)
March features trumpeter Erin Connelly
New Monthly Performance Series: "Posture of Possibility"
Creating a Space for Creative Contribution - An Inclusive Music Series Showcasing Young Improvisers
This new series is an opportunity for me to share the spotlight in my favorite listening room in Baltimore, allowing me to showcase a cross-section of young improvisers as they grow into strong musical leaders.
**Special format! **
Short Solo improvisation from Featured Performer followed by:
Set 1:
Asher Herzog, drums
Liam Hurlbut, saxophone
Derek Wiegmann, bass
*15 minute intermission *
Set 2: Asher Herzog, Derrick Michaels, and special guests!
(All tickets are $10!!)
_______
The wholehearted expression of music has the potential to uplift the spirit and heal our hearts. These 12 concerts are representative of a creative continuum which is designed to challenge convention & elude classification. Accordingly, I have selected 12 young musical leaders under the age of 30 to lead adventurous performances, putting full trust in improvisation as a potent unifying force across musical boundaries. The mission is to deliver music of substance, embracing the community while affirming the exceptionally personal nature of creative process for the improvising musician.
“In the measurement world, you set a goal and strive for it. In the universe of possibility, you set the context and let life unfold.” ― Benjamin Zander (Musical Director and Conductor - Boston Philharmonic Orchestra)
February features drummer Asher Herzog
Asher Herzog (b. 1995) is a Baltimore based drummer, composer and improviser whose primary interest lies at the intersection of composition and improvisation. An active leader and sideman, Herzog approaches every performance with the intent of creating powerful moments within the ensemble. His diverse musical output as a performer is pervaded by his grounding in technique and style, compositional approach to improvising, and his unrelenting search for new and exciting sonic territory. His compositional output primarily concerns breaking down the dichotomy between composition and improvisation. He has performed with Tim Berne, Dave Ballou, Drew Gress, Ellery Eskelin, John Dierker, Derrick Michaels, and Adam Hopkins, among many others.
The community continues to build with this excellent triple-bill at the favorite neighborhood listening room down the street from my house!!
New Monthly Performance Series: "Posture of Possibility"
Creating a Space for Creative Contribution - An Inclusive Music Series Showcasing Young Improvisers
This new series is an opportunity for me to share the spotlight in my favorite listening room in Baltimore, allowing me to showcase a cross-section of young improvisers as they grow into strong musical leaders.
**Special format! **
Short Solo improvisation from Featured Performer followed by:
Set 1: Ephemera Quartet
Liam Hurlbut, saxophone
Nick Saia, guitar
Derek Wiegmann, bass
Darrell Reddix, drums
*15 minute intermission *
Set 2: Derrick Michaels & Liam Hurlbut tenor saxophones
with John Dierker-bass clarinet, Zack Branch-cello, Derek Wiegmann-double bass
(All tickets are $10!!)
_______
The wholehearted expression of music has the potential to uplift the spirit and heal our hearts. These 12 concerts are representative of a creative continuum which is designed to challenge convention & elude classification. Accordingly, I have selected 12 young musical leaders under the age of 30 to lead adventurous performances, putting full trust in improvisation as a potent unifying force across musical boundaries. The mission is to deliver music of substance, embracing the community while affirming the exceptionally personal nature of creative process for the improvising musician.
“In the measurement world, you set a goal and strive for it. In the universe of possibility, you set the context and let life unfold.” ― Benjamin Zander (Musical Director and Conductor - Boston Philharmonic Orchestra)
January Features Liam Hurlbut-tenor saxophone
Liam Hurlbut is a tenor saxophonist based in Baltimore. In his youth he was introduced by his father to the music of John Coltrane which made a lasting and permanent impact on his view of the saxophone as a powerful expressive medium. Over time, his love of music and the saxophone were shaped independently of one another. The tenor saxophone specifically spoke to him through the voices of those who contributed explorative timbres and unique technical approaches to the instrument including Jan Garbarek, Pharoah Sanders, Gato Barbieri and Albert Ayler. Beyond the saxophone however, Liam found a deep love for the traditions of many genres, of which jazz was just one. Elements of metal, punk, industrial, soul, pop and many others also inform his music in the context of improvisation and composition.
Liam's work primarily consists of writing and performing original music with his band Ephemera Quartet in addition to working as a freelance musician in a variety of idioms. Ephemera Quartet's music is an experiment for Liam in mixing together the various styles of music that inspire him. In this way, their music could be called a form jazz fusion. Ephemera Quartet recently released their first album entitled "Energy Music" in December of 2018.
Liam graduated from Towson University with a B.A. in Jazz/Commercial Music Performance in 2015.
Derrick Michaels & Chris Young - tenors
Jeff Reed - bass
Brendan Brady - drums
8:30-11pm
Derrick Michaels-tenor saxophone
Lawrence Hutfles-contrabass
Andrew Young-drums
Derrick Michaels-tenor saxophone
Laura Banner-cello
John Dierker-bass clarinet
Derek Wiegmann-double bass
“The wholehearted expression of music has the potential to uplift the spirit and heal our hearts. These 12 concerts are representative of a creative continuum which is designed to challenge convention & elude classification. I’ve stationed my tenor saxophone at the axis of a distinctive array of ensembles, putting full trust in improvisation as a potent unifying force across musical boundaries. The mission is to deliver music of substance - embracing the community, while affirming the exceptionally personal nature of creative process for the improvising musician.”
"There’s an ideal quality of experience that is afforded to us when we gather folks together, with open minds and hearts, around this music that can only be made in the moment… This experience, internal in nature, can actually be accesses within many everyday activities: Walking in the woods, savoring a cup of coffee or tea in the morning while the sun rises, slurping that first spoonful of soup on a frigid evening in winter... meditation does it for for some, while vigorous exercise gets others to this space…
For some of us, though, it’s MUSIC that is the taproot to this depth of human experience. This isn’t entertainment or some sort of distraction - it’s absolutely vital to our survival and wellbeing.
What IS the nature of this experience? That unnameable, yet deeply palpable, life-affirming essence of who we are…
Perhaps it’s the magic that happens when we MERGE with our surroundings - our senses acting as a portal into the deepest part of ourselves? Maybe there’s a part of us that understands everything to be intrinsically connected…at times, we may even feel a painful yearning to RETURN to this sense of harmony…how do we get back there?
I believe the music we make, the essence of our performances, and the gatherings that we offer for the community are most powerful when they address this quality of human experience. Music of the moment expresses this very essence, in real time, drawing forth the energy in the room, the energy from the people therein -- channeling and celebrating that energy through the shaping of sound, together. This can only be expressed Here and Now.
Join us on December 4th for a celebration of this most vital of energetic experiences, as these three unique performing ensembles reflect, refract, and repurpose the vital creative impulses in the purest way they can - Right HERE, Right NOW.” - Derrick Michaels
8:30pm
Erin Connelly Quartet
Erin Connelly-trumpet
Laura Banner-cello
Tim Houston-guitar
Andrew Young-drums
9:15pm
Je Ne Se Qua-rtet
Derrick Michaels-tenor saxophone
Dave Ballou-trumpet
Zack Branch-cello
Zack Swanson-bass
10:00pm
Dominic Fragman SoloTrio
drums.guitar.vocals.
Duo with Erin Connelly on trumpet
With:
Ephemera Quartet
&
Tim Houston Ensemble
Derrick Michaels: Tenor Saxophone
Jamal Moore: Winds
Jeff Reed: Bass
Eric Kennedy: Drums
“The wholehearted expression of music has the potential to uplift the spirit and heal our hearts. These 12 concerts are representative of a creative continuum which is designed to challenge convention & elude classification. I’ve stationed my tenor saxophone at the axis of a distinctive array of ensembles, putting full trust in improvisation as a potent unifying force across musical boundaries. The mission is to deliver music of substance - embracing the community, while affirming the exceptionally personal nature of creative process for the improvising musician.”
Asher Herzog- drums & compositions
Derrick Michaels-tenor saxophone
Zachary McKinney-alto saxophone
Jake Fidler-trumpet
Walsh Kunkel-guitar
Derek Wiegmann-bass
Unapologetically lyrical, uncompromisingly dynamic interpretations of standards from the jazz tradition, presented in the longest running jazz club in Baltimore.
Derrick Michaels-tenor saxophone
Alex Weber-bass
Dominic Smith-drums
Derrick Michaels: Tenor Saxophone
Jacqueline Pollauf: Harp
Brent Madsen: Trumpet
Zach Swanson: Bass
Sets @ 8:00 & 9:30 pm
“The wholehearted expression of music has the potential to uplift the spirit and heal our hearts. These 12 concerts are representative of a creative continuum which is designed to challenge convention & elude classification. I’ve stationed my tenor saxophone at the axis of a distinctive array of ensembles, putting full trust in improvisation as a potent unifying force across musical boundaries. The mission is to deliver music of substance - embracing the community, while affirming the exceptionally personal nature of creative process for the improvising musician.”
I really love saxophones. So much so that I’m starting to go out of my way to surround myself with other saxophone players on lineups. This way, while I’m not playing the saxophone, I can still hear saxophonists making music!
Here’s the first of these lineups, a saxophone-themed bill featuring Anastasia Kupstas solo saxophone, David Diongue Trio, and my Fulcrum Quintet featuring 2 guitars with effects, two saxophones, and drumset.
“The wholehearted expression of music has the potential to uplift the spirit and heal our hearts. These 12 concerts are representative of a creative continuum which is designed to challenge convention & elude classification. I’ve stationed my tenor saxophone at the axis of a distinctive array of ensembles, putting full trust in improvisation as a potent unifying force across musical boundaries. The mission is to deliver music of substance - embracing the community, while affirming the exceptionally personal nature of creative process for the improvising musician.”
Doors at 7:30, music 8-11! Cmon out for a wild array of Baltimore sounds
$5-10 sliding scale
Dry venue
UHHM
Nick, Chris, Jack. A head bangin footstompin polyrhythmic groove monster. Dig it.
Ledah Finck
Solo violin and viola musings about life, love death, hills and bugs. Mostly bugs.
Born From Silence
Derrick Michaels: Saxophone
John Dierker: Bass Clarinet
Zack Branch: Cello
Derek Wiegmann: Bass
Jazz in the Basement is a monthly concert series featuring local jazz artists, organized by the DC Public Library and curated by Bertrand Uberall and John Cook. The concerts are intended to highlight young artists, new composers, or unique jazz sounds to broaden the listening landscape of our Washington, DC audiences. DC Public Library is a proud supporter of our local music community and looks forward to expanding valuable resources to assist musicians in their creative and professional endeavors.
This June, we are excited to present trombonist Nicole Connelly and her quartet featuring Derrick Michaels (tenor sax), Dominic Smith (drums), and Max Murray (bass). The program will include a number of compositions by German avant-garde trombonist Albert Mangelsdorff, as well as other pieces.
Admission for the concert is free; limited seating is available on a first come, first served basis.
Nicole Connelly (trombone)
Derrick Michaels (tenor sax)
Dominic Smith (drums)
Max Murray (bass)
“The wholehearted expression of music has the potential to uplift the spirit and heal our hearts. These 12 concerts are representative of a creative continuum which is designed to challenge convention & elude classification. I’ve stationed my tenor saxophone at the axis of a distinctive array of ensembles, putting full trust in improvisation as a potent unifying force across musical boundaries. The mission is to deliver music of substance - embracing the community, while affirming the exceptionally personal nature of creative process for the improvising musician.”
sets at 8:00 & 9:30
Jasmine Dreame Wagner, Derrick Michaels, Warren Ng, and Killian Venman will perform pictorial scores composed by Dreame Wagner as part of composer Bobby Previte's improvisation workshop. The scores for saxophone, synthesizer, guitar, and percussion create conduits for a synthesis of poetic, visual, and sonic forms. Taking shape as illustrations, poems, graphics and word clouds, Dreame Wagner’s scores are synaesthetic instruction manuals for and against domestic spaces.
The Portable Boog Reader 12: New York City Poetry & Music Festival
Sunday, August 11, 2019 @ 1-3pm
Unnameable Books
600 Vanderbilt Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11238
http://unnameablebooks.blogspot.com/
Join us for a night of playful new music and improvisation performed by a LOT of people.
Reedswarm
An ensemble of approximately 14 musicians on low reed instruments buzzing and rumbling and wailing on new compositions by James Young and Jessica Keyes.
Signal Towers
A large ensemble of directional instruments playing a new composition by Patrick McMinn.
Before, Beside, Within
An improvisational chamber quartet featuring Zack Branch (cello), Jamal Moore (bass clarinet), Derrick Michaels (tenor saxophone), and Derek Wiegmann (double bass). The music comes from exploring how the relationship we have with ourselves changes and evolves--whether we are aware of it or not.
Current Space
$5-$10, doors at 7:30pm
Theljon Allen-trumpet
Derrick Michaels-tenor saxophone
Savino Palumbo-piano
Blake Meister-bass
Tyler Leak-drums
Variousound Session Series in Bushwick!
Derrick Michaels-tenor
Zach Swanson-bass
Dalius Naujo-drums
