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Bassist/Composer Michael Janisch Releases Debut Album "Purpose Built" on Whirlwind Recordings

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Bassist/Composer Michael Janisch calls his new album Purpose Built, and with one listen to this debut recording it leaves no doubt to the listener why he is one of the premier creative musicians of his generation. One of the most productive and innovative young bassists on the jazz scene today, Janisch--whose has shared the stage with such jazz luminaries as Shirley Horn, Quincy Jones, Gary Burton, Joe Lovano and Mark Turner among numerous others--is constantly redefining the possibilities of his instrument. The twelve tracks comprising Purpose Built (Whirlwind Recordings)--Janisch's first as a leader--are certain to elevate the profile of this groundbreaking bassist and composer. Aided and abetted by the all-star US/UK team of Aaron Goldberg (piano), Jim Hart (vibraphone), Jason Palmer (trumpet), Paul Booth (Tenor Saxophone), Mike Moreno (guitar), Patrick Cornelius (alto saxophone), Phil Robson (guitar), Walter Smith III (tenor saxophone), & Johnathan Blake (drums) - Janisch--authoritatively and enticingly--updates the role of the jazz bass by simultaneously honoring its history while propelling it strongly into the context of contemporary jazz.

What they are saying about Purpose Built

“Powerful, Charles Mingus-informed playing" --All About Jazz

“Purpose Built seamlessly marries the highest virtues of jazz - intricate yet purposeful rhythm, colorful harmonic language, compelling melody and high-level improvisation together with those often underused qualities of light and shade... a perfect blend of tradition and modernity" --Jazz Journal

“...Janisch seizes the instrument with a blend of speed and energy as if he wants to be melody, harmony and rhythm all at once." --The Telegraph (UK)

“one of the most inventive cross-border bandleaders to have recently arrived on the scene" --John Fordham, The Guardian

“Brilliantly imaginative player, a force of nature" --JazzWise

“Always hip, melodic, and bouncy" --The Times of London

“Seeing Michael Janisch play jazz bass is a tonic in itself. He doesn't tickle or stroke the instrument, like so many European players, he masters it, the notes always dead centre in pitch, round in tone, and prefaced with a 'thunk' that has the force of a drum-stroke." --The Telegraph

Purpose Built is a classy set of serious modern jazz with a dark edgy groove at its heart... [Janisch's] playing is full-bodied and warm sounding, much like a cross between Mingus and Dave Holland. “Bass Guitar Magazine" (UK)



Michael Janisch Bio:

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 has dubbed him “one of the UK's most exciting new improvisers."

Originally hailing from Wisconsin, Michael 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, Gary Burton, 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 The Blue Note, The Hollywood Bowl, The Royal Festival Hall, Barbican, The Monterey, Umbria, and North Sea Jazz Festivals.

Since his arrival in London in 2005 (where he now resides), Michael 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, Paul Booth 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. In 2007, Janisch was awarded “Young Jazz Musician of the Year" by the Worshipful Company of Musicians.

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 US and the UK. John Fordham, one of the UK's leading jazz critics, affirms that “the London-based American bassist Michael Janisch, whose virtuosity has put him in the UK's top jazz flight since his arrival in 2005, is having an impact beyond his hard-driving bass playing, with his high profile matching of American and British talent." (Jazz 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.



2009 shaped up to be Michael's most impressive year yet. In January, he recorded a full program of mainly original music with 9 world-class American and British musicians at the renowned 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. This project will be released January 26th in stores across the US as Janisch's debut album “Purpose Built" on his own newly minted “Whirlwind Recordings Ltd." label. In a pre-celebration of the record's launch, Janisch toured the UK in over 20 cities with an all-star quintet of international musicians in Aug/Sept. of '09 (Jason Palmer trumpet, Paul Booth tenor sax, Jim Hart vibes, and Clarence Penn drums) performing the music from this exciting new release. This entire project has already proven to be the bassist's most creative and ambitious musical adventure to date, showcasing music that cuts a wide swath from the broad stylistic continuum of jazz history, and in addition representing the diverse range of the bassist's musical influences outside the improvised realm. Highlight performances from the band's itinerary included a headline berth at the Scarborough International Jazz Festival and 2 nights at the venerable Pizza Express Jazz Room in Soho, where Janisch also kicked off a new monthly residency to showcase his musical projects.

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