“…large sound and free flowing style…”

Downbeat Magazine 2022

SAXOPHONE

Baltimore-native Derrick Michaels is a tenor saxophonist and improviser with a deep sound and a bold, imaginative presence in the creative music community.

With roots in both the lyrical and exploratory branches of the creative saxophone tradition, his wide expressive palette brings a soulful, melodic sincerity to a wide range of musical environments.

He has been described by Jazz Weekly as a “thick-toned tenorist”, and by Downbeat magazine as wielding a “large sound and free flowing style”. The Baltimore Jazz Alliance says: “Derrick Michaels' saxophone playing comes right out of his soul; the instrument sounds like a human voice.”

Over the years, many important musical relationships have developed with the likes of Ellery Eskelin, Susan Alcorn, Michael Formanek, Dave Ballou, John Dierker, Tony Martucci, Eric Kennedy, Zach Swanson, Mike Kuhl, Alex Weber, Savino Palumbo, Daniel A. Ryan, Jon Seligman, Theljon Allen, Jeff Reed, Phil Cunneff, Ben Frock, Chris Pumphrey, John Lee, and a growing list of respected names within the broader community.

CONTEXT

After some early years working across various music scenes, the rubber hit the road for Michaels upon joining the Out of Your Head Collective in Baltimore (2011). This led to a four-year stint in Phil Cunneff’s long-running band playing every Monday night at Cat’s Eye Pub (2012-2016), all while collaborating in numerous creative ensembles, playing original music with some of the finest improviser/composers in the Baltimore/DC area (Talking Points, Love Unit, Chris Pumphrey Sextet, and many more).

From 2017-2018 he presented freely improvised music with his own groups on a monthly basis at the famed Bertha’s Mussels in Fell’s Point, and then continued the tradition from November 2018-March 2020 at An Die Musik in historic Mt. Vernon. (See Concert Series Page)

When the pandemic struck in 2020, his focus drew inward and he channeled his energies into solo playing, releasing “Solo Saxophone Vol.1 Live at An Die Musik” in 2022. Trio Xolo with Zachary Swanson and Dalius Naujo released “In Flower in Song” in 2022 on 577 records after recording it in 2019, and Erin Connelly Quartet with Michaels, Swanson, and drum legend Tony Martucci released “Fruitful” in 2023 which was recorded in 2022.

Recent efforts from 2023-present have largely focused on the teaching arts, sharing creative mentorship at Baltimore School for the Arts, Peabody Jazz (unofficially), and adjunct at Towson University, along with intensive sessions offered near Hampden in Baltimore. Keep an ear to the ground for recently recorded forthcoming releases of Zachary Swanson Quartet, and John Lee Quartet along with a record-in-planning for a new quintet from Michaels featuring original compositions.