Michael Janisch presents Jason Palmer Quartet featuring...
Jeff Ballard & Julian Siegal
@ the PizzaExpress Jazz Club
16 March 2010

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Michael Janisch biography

Michael Janisch is a prominent newcomer on the international jazz scene, whose talents as both a freelance bassist and bandleader have been described as dynamic, driven, and enthusiastic. A native of the United States currently living in London, he is a relentless performer, whose musicianship and virtuosity on his instruments have made him one of the most in-demand young musicians in the UK and beyond. Described as “always hip,melodic, and bouncey” by The Times of London, Janisch is “a muscular, fluent player with an irresistible pulse and virtuosic soloing technique,” (JazzWise). The Guardian hasdubbed him “one of the UK’s most exciting new improvisers.”

Originally hailing from Wisconsin, Janisch has, at the age of 30, accumulated an
impressive and diverse resume. “A brilliantly imaginative player,” (JazzWise), he has
shared the stage with many of jazz’s legends and contemporary visionaries, such as
Shirley Horn, Quincy Jones, Dianne Reeves, Hal Crook, Kurt Rosenwinkel, George
Garzone, Mark Turner, Joe Lovano, Roy Hargrove, Donny McCaslin, Joel Frahm, Joe
Locke, Aaron Goldberg, Vincent Herring, Walter Smith III, Mike Moreno, Will Vinson, Darren Barrett, Kendrick Scott, Ambrose Akinmusire, Jochen Rueckert, Jason Palmer, Patrick Cornelius, Jaleel Shaw, Jeremy Pelt, Warren Wolf, etc. He has appeared at many of the world’s most prestigious venues and festivals, including Carnegie Hall, The Blue Note, The Hollywood Bowl, The Monterey Jazz Festival, Umbria Jazz, and The North Sea Jazz Festival.

Since his arrival in London in 2005 (where he now resides), Janisch has worked with
many of the UK’s leading internationally renown jazz artists, “adding a little muscle”
(JazzReview.com) to the bands of Jason Rebello, Gary Husband, Sir John Dankworth,
Jean Toussaint, Phil Robson, Tim Garland, Julian Joseph, Martin Taylor, Tommy Smith, Julian Arguellis, Christine Tobin, Dennis Rollins, Nigel Hitchcock, Martin France, and Gerard Presencer, as well as rising stars Soweto Kinch, Jim Hart, Paul Towndrow, Alex Garnett, Robert Mitchell, and Gwilym Simcock. In addition to his work in the jazz world, Janisch has performed with such diverse stars from Annie Lennox to Kevin Spacey to Cat Stevens, and has appeared on the Michael Parkinson Show, MTV Europe, The Brit Awards, Strictly Come Dancing, and various BBC programs and documentaries.

Moreover, he currently teaches at both the Royal Academy of Music and The Trinity
College, two of Europe’s finest institutions of music. But it is Michael’s rapidly blossoming career as a bandleader, however, that has garnered the young bassist the most international attention. He has established a strong reputation as a guiding light for creating world-class collaborations between musicians in the USand the UK. His groups have headlined to sell-out crowds up and down the country, from Ronnie Scott’s in the heart of Soho to the Blue Lamp in Aberdeen, Scotland. In 2008, his critically acclaimed TransAtlantic Collective embarked on an extensive UK tour, performing in over 30 venues across England, Scotland, and Wales, and headlining
London’s famous Southbank Centre Purcell Room as one of the London Jazz Festival’s featured acts. His groups perform regularly across Mainland Continental Europe and his native US as well.

In January 2009, Janisch recorded a full program of mainly original music with 9 world-class American and British musicians at the renown Systems Two recording studio in Brooklyn, New York. These musicians are some of the guiding lights of their generation, including tenor saxophonists Walter Smith III and Paul Booth, vibraphonist Jim Hart, guitarists Mike Moreno and Phil Robson, alto saxophonist Patrick Cornelius, trumpeter Jason Palmer, pianist Aaron Goldberg, and drummer Johnathan Blake. Janisch’s debut album“Purpose Built” was released worldwide in mid October followed by a UK tour with (Jason Palmer trumpet, Paul Booth tenor sax, Jim Hart vibes, and Clarence Penn drums).

Jason Palmer biography

Trumpeter Jason Palmer is slowly becoming one of the most in demand jazz musicians of his generation. He has shared the stage with icons such as Roy Haynes, Herbie Hancock, Jimmy Smith (the organist), Wynton Marsalis, Greg Osby (quintet member 2004-2006), Kurt Rosenwinkel (first trumpeter to ever be hired by this highly acclaimed guitarist), Ravi Coltrane, Geri Allen, Patrice Rushen, Clarence Penn, Common (hip-hop icon), Roy Hargrove, Billy Pierce, etc. The June 2007 issue of Downbeat Magazine cited Jason as one of the “Top 25 trumpeters of the Future”. His debut recording entitled “Songbook” (Ayva Musica) features nine original compositions and includes guest saxophonists Ravi Coltrane and Greg Osby. The record garnered rave reviews upon its’ release and appeared on several “Best of 2008” lists including All Music Guide’s list for best jazz album. Jason was a member of Greg Osby’s quintet from 2004-2006 which performed at major jazz festivals in Spain, Portugal, Italy, Switzerland, France, Malta, Netherlands, as well as two stints at the Village Vanguard in New York City. Jason is currently a member of Grace Kelly’s Quintet and Matana Robert’s Mississippi Moonchile, performing at major jazz festivals in Sicily, Germany, Finland, Croatia, Serbia, Bratislava, Canada, as well as the Freihofer Jazz Festival in Saratoga Springs, NY, clubs in NYC such as the Knitting Factory, Dizzy’s, Rose Hall at Lincoln Center, Blue Note, Jazz Bakery (L.A.), Sculler’s Jazz Club and Regattabar (MA), and the Clearwater Jazz Holiday (FL). In September of 2009 Jason completed a 4-week 24-date extensive tour of the UK in support of UK bassist Michael Janisch’s debut album entitled Purpose Built, which also features Jason Palmer’s trumpet work.

Palmer’s quintet has been serving as the house band at Boston’s historical Wally’s Jazz Café for the past nine years. He has also presented his band at the Tanglewood Jazz Fest, the Jazz Standard and the Jazz Gallery in NYC, the Studio in Hartford Ct, as well as other venues throughout New England. In 2007, Jason Palmer was commissioned by the Festival of New Trumpet Music in NYC to premier a new work for his quintet.

In addition to maintaining a heavy performing schedule, Jason Palmer continues to maintain a busy schedule as an educator/actor/board member at JazzBoston. At a time when many music educators in the Boston area are commuting from New York City, Palmer commuted from Boston to New York City to serve on the faculty at the New School of Jazz and Contemporary Music in the fall of 2008. Palmer has taught trumpet and directed ensembles in the Preparatory Division and the School for Continuing Education at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston for the past ten years and is teaching at the Mission Hill School for the past five years. He is also a faculty member at the Aquinas College Jazz Camp (Grand Rapids, MI, 2004-present) and has given masterclasses in Portugal, the UK, and Mexico. Jason was the leading actor in director Damien Chazelle’s Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench. The movie received great reviews after premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2009. Since then the film is screening at film festivals in Greece, Bratislava, Martha’s Vineyard (MA), Houston (TX), Denver (CO), Seattle (WA), Los Angeles (CA), Calgary (Canada), Minneapolis (MN), Mill Valley (CA).