I met Michael when I was very young and working to become a musician. He was the star teacher at The Brandbjerg High School Summer Jazz camp and I was overwhelmed by this outstanding musician. After a few days Michael came over and asked me if I wanted to play a tour in Denmark with him.
Welcome to my first posting as blogger.
Right now as the snow is melting away and spring shows it happy face I am at a crosroad with my musical projects. Three wonderful bands up and going and two CD's to be mastered and released. Now comes the time when I have to take on my manager hat and tell everybody about my awesome music and the outstanding musicians I am working with. So here we go!
One of New Yorks finest guitar wizard, improviser per excellency and a loving, sensetive artist, Michael Gregory and I has formed a trio, cLarity <3 with another great musician and messenger of love and true art, Kresten Osgood.
Michael visited me in my house in southern Denmark for a week last fall and we rehearsed a string of Michaels beautiful songs.
After a concert tour in Denmark we went to bassist Thomas Vangs "On Location Studio" in Copenhagen and recorded "Guitar Bass Drums" We did Michaels songs and some stunning free impros. Certainly an inspiring and giving afternoon with two of the greatest musicians I know of.
Two days later we went to the studio back in Sonderborg and recorded with my stepson Matias Andreasen on drums. He had played our first gig on the tour as Kresten couldn't make it and Michael liked his playing a lot. Another great experience that lasted all night. Michael is working incredible hard when he first gets started. Matias did a very good job and the album is going to be his debut. Not bad for a 16 year old musician.
I met Michael when I was very young and working to become a musician. He was the star teacher at The Brandbjerg High School Summer Jazz camp and I was overwhelmed by this outstanding musician. After a few days Michael came over and asked me if I wanted to play a tour in Denmark with him. I was 19 and had just started playing jazz a few years earlier and Michael was 25 and on one of the most exciting and creative musicians in New York at the time!....!!
Rolling Stone magazine raved, "By the time he (Gregory) was twenty-one he was already one of the most original jazz guitarists to emerge since the sixties." Michael's unique style and innovations have changed the face of creative guitar playing and influenced many other very well known guitarists and musicians in many genres of music.
Right now we are waiting for the record labels to come back with some intelligent ideas about what to do with our recordings. In the mean time I am planning to bring Michael over for the Copenhagen Jazz Festival and some more great music. I am looking forward!!
Next week: The Gyroscope String Trio. The composer speaks.
