Producing a Pop Album for His Sons Has “Liberating" Effect on Wolff, a Jazz Artist
The Naked Brothers Band Debut CD is a Billboard Chart Winner, and Michael Wolff Has a Surprising Response
Wolff Trio Dates to Include Stops in NYC, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Toledo, New Orleans, Kansas City, St. Louis, Half Moon Bay (CA,) San Francisco
With a #22 debut on Billboard Magazine's Top 200 Album Chart, The Naked Brothers Band CD has become a commercial success, matching the meteoric growth of the Nickelodeon TV show of the same name. The album, which has been praised by critics, also debuted at #1 on Billboard's Kids' Music Chart, and at #3 on Billboard's Soundtracks Chart.
What may come as a surprise, however, is that the Producer of this hit Pop record is none other than acclaimed jazz pianist Michael Wolff. Wolff, who happens to be the father of The Naked Brothers, has found the experience of working with his sons to have had a “liberating" effect on his approach to his own music.
Here's what Michael Wolff has to say:
“I'm so proud of having produced The Naked Brothers CD. My sons Nat and Alex are the artists. Nat wrote almost all of the songs. And his brother Alex wrote the other two. Concentrating so hard on this project, as well as acting in and executive producing the TV show 'The Naked Brothers Band', has had the surprising effect of making me feel totally free in my jazz piano playing. I feel no pressure to please anyone, or to cross over, or to have any concern about the commercial aspect of my own music. I'm free to play and compose whatever I feel like playing and performing. It's liberating. I now feel if you're not into this music, then don't buy it or come to the gigs. And if you are, let's enjoy it together." Michael Wolff, New York, 10/07
Wolff will kick off his 'jazz, JAZZ, jazz' Trio tour with a November 7th concert at New York's Iridium jazz club. The Trio tour, in support of Wolff's acclaimed standards CD, will continue into early 2008, with visits to Cleveland, Indianapolis, Toledo, New Orleans, Kansas City, St. Louis, Half Moon Bay (CA), San Francisco and more.
On Thanksgiving weekend, Wolff will return to his hometown of New Orleans for two nights at Snug Harbor. New Orleans' OffBeat Magazine will feature Wolff in advance of the shows, and as the tour gets underway, look for additional Michael Wolff coverage to run in Jazziz Magazine, All About Jazz, Cleveland Scene, Toledo Blade, Cleveland Plain Dealer and much more.
Key Jazz press continues to embrace 'jazz, JAZZ, jazz': Down Beat Magazine said the selections represent “Well-known material filtered through a post-bop prism. Wolff and his colleagues play with a breezy synchronicity."
All About Jazz: “...a percussive tour de force. The entire session has a calm, unhurried air that gives all three trio members plenty of room to stretch out. Together, Wolff and company show the kind of artistry that can result in a relaxed setting with no agenda, no pressure--just the goal of creating music."
JazzTimes Magazine, in their Summer Double issue, noted: “The band's goal was to have fun -- All of us do." “These tracks, finally now released, have the relaxed, nothing-to-lose attitude of the last set of a long gig..."
All About Jazz: “Pianist Michael Wolff has some of the most expansive vision of anyone working in jazz today."
JazzTimes Magazine recently featured Wolff in a two-page 'At Home' spread.
MICHAEL WOLFF TRIO DATES:
Nov 7 Iridium New York City
Nov 14 & 15 Nighttown Cleveland Heights, OH
(note - 11/14 show - MW Trio opens for Basie Band!) Nov 16 Jazz Kitchen Indianapolis, IN
Nov 17 Murphy's Place Toledo, OH
Nov 23 & 24 Snug Harbor New Orleans, LA
Jan 11 APAP Showcase NY Hilton, NY
Feb 22 Blue Room, American Jazz Museum Kansas City, KS
Feb 23 Sheldon Concert Hall St. Louis, MO
Feb 24 Bach, Dancing, Dynamite Society Half Moon Bay, CA
Feb 25 Yoshi's San Francisco, CA
Look for more Michael Wolff tour dates to be confirmed soon, in both '07 and '08.
The Naked Brothers Band Debut CD is a Billboard Chart Winner, and Michael Wolff Has a Surprising Response
Wolff Trio Dates to Include Stops in NYC, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Toledo, New Orleans, Kansas City, St. Louis, Half Moon Bay (CA,) San Francisco
With a #22 debut on Billboard Magazine's Top 200 Album Chart, The Naked Brothers Band CD has become a commercial success, matching the meteoric growth of the Nickelodeon TV show of the same name. The album, which has been praised by critics, also debuted at #1 on Billboard's Kids' Music Chart, and at #3 on Billboard's Soundtracks Chart.
What may come as a surprise, however, is that the Producer of this hit Pop record is none other than acclaimed jazz pianist Michael Wolff. Wolff, who happens to be the father of The Naked Brothers, has found the experience of working with his sons to have had a “liberating" effect on his approach to his own music.
Here's what Michael Wolff has to say:
“I'm so proud of having produced The Naked Brothers CD. My sons Nat and Alex are the artists. Nat wrote almost all of the songs. And his brother Alex wrote the other two. Concentrating so hard on this project, as well as acting in and executive producing the TV show 'The Naked Brothers Band', has had the surprising effect of making me feel totally free in my jazz piano playing. I feel no pressure to please anyone, or to cross over, or to have any concern about the commercial aspect of my own music. I'm free to play and compose whatever I feel like playing and performing. It's liberating. I now feel if you're not into this music, then don't buy it or come to the gigs. And if you are, let's enjoy it together." Michael Wolff, New York, 10/07
Wolff will kick off his 'jazz, JAZZ, jazz' Trio tour with a November 7th concert at New York's Iridium jazz club. The Trio tour, in support of Wolff's acclaimed standards CD, will continue into early 2008, with visits to Cleveland, Indianapolis, Toledo, New Orleans, Kansas City, St. Louis, Half Moon Bay (CA), San Francisco and more.
On Thanksgiving weekend, Wolff will return to his hometown of New Orleans for two nights at Snug Harbor. New Orleans' OffBeat Magazine will feature Wolff in advance of the shows, and as the tour gets underway, look for additional Michael Wolff coverage to run in Jazziz Magazine, All About Jazz, Cleveland Scene, Toledo Blade, Cleveland Plain Dealer and much more.
Key Jazz press continues to embrace 'jazz, JAZZ, jazz': Down Beat Magazine said the selections represent “Well-known material filtered through a post-bop prism. Wolff and his colleagues play with a breezy synchronicity."
All About Jazz: “...a percussive tour de force. The entire session has a calm, unhurried air that gives all three trio members plenty of room to stretch out. Together, Wolff and company show the kind of artistry that can result in a relaxed setting with no agenda, no pressure--just the goal of creating music."
JazzTimes Magazine, in their Summer Double issue, noted: “The band's goal was to have fun -- All of us do." “These tracks, finally now released, have the relaxed, nothing-to-lose attitude of the last set of a long gig..."
All About Jazz: “Pianist Michael Wolff has some of the most expansive vision of anyone working in jazz today."
JazzTimes Magazine recently featured Wolff in a two-page 'At Home' spread.
MICHAEL WOLFF TRIO DATES:
Nov 7 Iridium New York City
Nov 14 & 15 Nighttown Cleveland Heights, OH
(note - 11/14 show - MW Trio opens for Basie Band!) Nov 16 Jazz Kitchen Indianapolis, IN
Nov 17 Murphy's Place Toledo, OH
Nov 23 & 24 Snug Harbor New Orleans, LA
Jan 11 APAP Showcase NY Hilton, NY
Feb 22 Blue Room, American Jazz Museum Kansas City, KS
Feb 23 Sheldon Concert Hall St. Louis, MO
Feb 24 Bach, Dancing, Dynamite Society Half Moon Bay, CA
Feb 25 Yoshi's San Francisco, CA
Look for more Michael Wolff tour dates to be confirmed soon, in both '07 and '08.
For more information contact Seth Cohen PR.
