About Me
Legendary Jazz Violinist Michael White with masterful band members, bring truly innovative music to the world of Jazz. Michael White Quintet transports " Timeless, Ageless, Borderless Sound with Kozmic Groove, takes audience into Another Dimension"
Michael White is a jazz violinist /composer/educator. He has been fortunate to have played with many legendary jazz giants, such as John Coltrane, Sun Ra, Pharoah Sanders, John Handy, Joe Henderson, McCoy Tyner, Stevie Wonder, Sonny Simmons and many others, throughout his music career. Also in the early 70's, He was a major recording artist as a leader with Impulse and Elektra/Asylum. Thereafter for about three decades, his musical endeavors have lead into recording as a guest player with artists of many different genres.
With newly released CD "Voices", "Michael White Quintet" was born. The recording brought together a union of great musicians, a grammy winning bassist Cecil McBee and Kenneth Nash-percussion, along with Tim Young-guitar and Leisei Chen-voice. The artistic expressions are extended to it's concept of color, design, liner notes
We discovered that our musical philosophy had a mutual spiritual dynamic. The four corner stones of our music are " Love, Healing, Inspiration & Hope". Our sound is intended to touch one's heart and fill one's body with a kozmic groove.
Our band is available for international engagements, festivals, concerts, workshops and multimedia recording projects. The band's instrumentation consists of Violin, Vocals/Voice, Guitar, Bass and Percussion. Our repertoire covers original compositions, jazz classics, bossa nova, latin, and sponteneous sound improvisation.
Current Reissues
09/27/05 - The Land Of Spirit And Light - Impluse! : UMG - USA & Europe
10/12/05 - Pneuma - Impulse! : UMG - Japan
06/13/06 - Pneuma - Impulse! : UMG - USA
CD Voices Press Reviews
"Renowned jazz violinist Michael White derives inspiration from love, healing, inspiration and hope to consummate these rather striking sequence of musical events. With percussionist Kenneth Nash’ mystical cymbal shadings and guitarist Timothy Young’s intricate chord voicings, the music iterated here is founded upon a spiritually uplifting vibe. Here, White explores microtonal based mysticisms counterbalancing his soaring lines often accompanied by Leisei Chen’s wordless vocals. In addition, the ensemble pursues ostinato motifs, mid-tempo swing vamps and other hybrid, jazz-based forays.
The violinist’s mode of attack also includes a warm-hearted calypso groove on “Fiesta Dominical,†and a soul-stirring, inward-looking spin on the standard “My One And Only Love.†Bass great Cecil McBee closely contrasts White’s sweet-toned phrasings via his impeccable timing and harmonically attractive voicings. This endeavor is seemingly steeped within a plight to uncover a hidden beauty of sorts as White’s artistic mastery radiates in multifarious colors here!"
by Glenn Astarita, eJazz News
" . . . Voices may come from a variety of places, but at its core is White, whose own vulnerable voice remains one of the more distinctive in jazz violin."
by John Kelman, All About Jazz
"On his latest release, a too-much overlooked artist revisits a too-much overlooked masterpiece from over thirty years ago . . . With the release of Voices and the re-release of The Land of Spirit and Light on Verve, lets hope Michael White ceases to be one of the great overlooked artists in jazz, and gets the audience he deserves."
by Rob Johnson, Jazz Review
"I savored the rasping moans and chanting clangs of this adventurous violinist's new CD, Voices (Izniz Recordings). White's burgundy tone, funky pizzicati, and easygoing arrangements smartly blend jazz and folk music from around the world . . . . "
by Stranger Magazine
"There's much radiant warmth and intelligence on display on this cd, with outstanding playing, particularly from Michael White and Tim Young, throughout. Some of my favorite things (so far) - 'Circumambulation'; the parts of 'Serenade' with the violin uncannily doubling Leisei Chen's voice, 'Mechanical Man'... Unlike many recordings, the louder you turn it up, the better and clearer it sounds! Very enjoyable, I'm glad I found out about Michael White, and 'Voices'.
by Steve Wilson
" loved all of it particularly voices,serenade and fiesta. i hope there is more coming from mr white." by K.Davis, NYC
" Inspirational! Organic! "
by Doung Hare, Jack Straw's Sonarchy Radio, Seattle WA
" Voices has found a permanent place in my CD player!"
by R. Dawson, D.C.
" More I listen to "Voices", I feel good and my mind is transformed "
by Taneo, Japan
Awards
The Song "Mechanical Man" from CD "Voices", As The Winner in the Best Song-Jazz Category Of 2007 The 6TH Annual Independent Music Awards (IMAs)
The Song "Mechanical Man" from CD "Voices", As The Second Place Winner in the Jazz Category Of 2006 International Songwriting Competition (ISC). It was judged through 15,000 entries from 88 countries.
The Song "Fiesta Dominical" from CD "Voices" As The Honorable Mention in The World Music Category of 2006 The John Lennon Songwriting Contest (JLSC).
Film & TVs
The Song "Fiesta Dominical" from CD "Voices" placed in the PBS primetime documentary TV series "Roadtrip Nation 2007". To be aired on TV in the Fall Season 2007. Also available on the Official Website, MSN, DVD, Soundtrack.
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MICHAEL WHITE - Violinist / Composer / Educator
Michael White is a truly original and groundbreaking violinist in the realm of jazz. In the 1960s, he introduced the violin into the free jazz scenes of the Bay Area and New York, playing with luminaries such as Sun Ra and Pharoah Sanders. In the early 1970s, he was a founding member of the first fusion group, the "Fourth Way". He released five albums with the Michael White Quartet on Impulse records, and toured throughout the United States and Europe. He has performed in Lagos, Nigeria with Stevie Wonder and Sun Ra. He continues to play with Pharoah Sanders, appearing on Sanders' 1996 album Message From Home. In 1998 he released an album of duets with Bill Frisell entitled Motion Pictures. His latest recording "Voices", features a reunion with his original Impulse! Records rhythm section of Cecil McBee, bass; Kenneth Nash, percussion; along with guitarist Timothy Young and vocalist Leisei Chen.
In addition to the newly released album "Voices", his impulse albums "The Land of Spirit and Light" and "Pnuema" have recently been reissued by Impulse and "The Blessing Song" has compiled among the world's renowned DJs - Kyoto Jazz Massive "Succession Of Spirit" (Japan), "Pure Fire! A Gilles Peterson Impulse! Collection"(UK) and others. Highly acclaimed as a Spiritual Jazz Master, his music is resonating through generations globally.
Michael White was a former Capitol, Impulse and Elektra/Asylum recording artist.
Performed with the Other Artists And Bands:
Michael White has appeared in San Francisco, as a special guest with The John Coltrane Quartet, McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Gallison, Elvin Jones, along with Wes Mongomery and Eric Dolphy.
Joe Bonner, Richard Davis,Henry Grimes, Tootie Heath, Philly Joe Jones (band), Rasaan Roland Kirk (band), Herbie Lewis, Buddy Montgomery, Eddie Moore, Phineas Newborn Jr., Odean Pope, George Szabo, Lonnie Liston Smith, McCoy Tyner, Alice Coltrane, Joe Henderson, John Handy, Sonny Simmons and others.
Appearances at the festivals:
Montreux Jazz Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, Berkeley Jazz Festival, Pacific Coast Jazz Festival, FESTAC Multi-Arts Festival (Lagos, Nigeria), Newport Jazz Festival Violin Summit (with Ray Nance and Jean Luc-Ponty), Eddie Moore Jazz Festival (San Francisco, California), San Francisco Jazz Festival (Fourthway Reunion)
National Awards:
* 2007 Winner in The 6th Annual Independent Music Awards (IMAs)
* 2006 Second Place Winner in The International Songwriting Competition (ISC)
* 2006 Honorable Mentions-Session 1 in The John Lennon Songwriting Contest.(JLSC)
* Voice of America Radio New Star Awards
* Down Beat Magazine Award for Talent Deserving Wider Recognition
* Faculty member of the Cornish College of The Arts
