Critics have called Attias a significant new voice on the alto saxophone" (Michael McCaw, AllAboutJazz.com) and an emphatically cosmopolitan saxophonist and composer" (Nate Chinen, New York Times). The All Music Guide's Scott Yanow adds, His playing is both lyrical and explorative. While technically avant-garde, Attias does not neglect melodic development, close interplay with his sidemen, and swinging in his own fashion. His originals contain their share of variety, particularly in setting moods, and his playing clearly inspires that of bassist John Hbert and drummer Satoshi Takeishi, and vice versa."
An Israeli-born son of Moroccan parents who was raised in Paris and the American Midwest, Attias has built a career as diverse as his background. Based in New York since 1994, he has led a variety of his own groups, worked as a sideman in many others and composed scores for theater, dance and silent film. A former student of jazz legends Lee Konitz and Anthony Braxton, he is currently a member of such diverse ensembles as Amanda Monaco's Deathblow, Paul Motian Trio 2000+2, The Pavones and Positive Catastrophe, and he will appear on Hbert's June release, Byzantine Monkey, on Firehouse 12 Records. The Michal Attias Quintet's debut recording, Twines of Colesion, will be released later this year on Clean Feed Records.
2009 Spring Jazz Series schedule:
03/20: Julian Lage Group
03/27: Jimmy Greene Quartet
04/03: Pete Robbins/Mario Pavone/Tyshawn Sorey
04/10: George Colligan Trio
04/17: Wadada Leo Smith's Organic Resonance
04/24: Noah Preminger Quartet
05/01: Michael Attias Quintet
05/08: Peter Brotzmann/Nasheet Waits
05/15: James Carney Group
05/22: Michael Musillami Trio + 3
05/29: Ben Allison & Man Size Safe
06/05: Carl Maguire's Floriculture
06/12: Trio BraamDeJoodeVatcher
For more information contact Improvised Communications.