Piedmont Piano Company presents
an intimate performance by internationally acclaimed jazz pianist
Michael Wolff

With Peter Barshay, bass and Michael Barsimanto, drums

Thursday, July 21 at 8PM
at Piedmont Piano Company's new store located at
18th & San Pablo, Oakland (1728 San Pablo Ave.)

$15 - please call 510-547-8188 to reserve tickets with your credit card

Michael Wolff, acclaimed pianist, composer, and bandleader, is best known for his melodically fresh and rhythmically compelling piano style. He made his recording debut in 1972 with Cal Tjader and went on to record and perform with Cannonball Adderley, the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra, Sonny Rollins, Tony Williams, Christian McBride, and many others. As pianist and musical director for jazz singer Nancy Wilson, Michael wrote orchestral arrangements and conducted more than 25 major symphony orchestras worldwide.

From 1989 to 1994, Michael served as the bandleader for the Arsenio Hall Show, which heightened his visibility and gave him the opportunity to perform with many established artists such as Ray Charles, Phil Collins, Whitney Houston, Patti LaBelle, Wanye Shorter, Herbie Hancock, and saxophonist/president Bill Clinton.

In the mid 90’s Michael released acclaimed jazz piano trio albums featuring Tony Williams on drums and Christian McBride on bass. During that time Michael performed at jazz clubs, jazz venues, and jazz festivals worldwide.

His band Impure Thoughts, which was launched in 2000, was an infectious, improvising ensemble, richly percussive thanks to Indian tabla player Badal Roy, drummer Mike Clark (of the Headhunters), and bassist John B. Williams. Michael released three albums with this group. The names of the albums are Impure Thoughts (2000), Intoxicate (2001), and Dangerous Vision (2004). During this time Wolff also composed the soundtrack for the movie The Tic Code, which was written by his wife, actress Polly Draper, and starred late actor Gregory Hines.

This was followed by Love and Destruction, which was released in 2006. Wolff shot his first music video for the song “Underwater”, shooting on location post-Katrina in New Orleans.

The year 2007 was a busy year for Wolff. He released his trio album, Jazz, Jazz, Jazz, and also became producer and music director of the Nickelodeon series The Naked Brothers Band, in which his sons Nat and Alex starred. Wolff played their father in the series.

In 2009, Wolff released his latest album, Joe’s Strut, in which he reunites with long time friends, bassist Chip Jackson and drummer Victor Jones. The album also featured Rich Goods on bass and Steve Wilson and Ian Young on Saxophone.

Overall, Michael Wolff has released 12 albums as a leader, Joe’s Strut being the most recent. He has been featured on NPR’s “Piano Jazz” with Marian McPartland, NPR’s “Jazzset”, and NPR’s “All Things Considered”. He was a winner of the BMI Music Award for television composition and was also the winner of the Gold Gift Award in Japan for piano.

Read more: http://www.myspace.com/michaelwolff#ixzz0tFXAC6bb