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Upright bass virtuoso, improviser, composer, arranger, professor, recording artist. American jazzman Michael Formanek has been applauded for all his involvements and great creative contribution for the advanced music forms including great writing and great improvisation. Born and raised in the Bay Area, actually based in Portugal he lived in many places, New York and Baltimore where he has been teaching at The Peabody Institute (Johns Hopkins University). Since the 70’s he has been among those contemporary musicians with an insatiable curiosity and open mindedness. Highly respected by his peers and jazz connaisseurs, there are still many mélomanes who could embrace his music universe.
This is exactly why L’Off Jazz, now redesigned in seasonal smaller presentations for its 25th anniversary, presents this ambitious spotlight on Michael Formanek, mostly with Montreal musicians. At Gesù with Orchestre national de jazz (ONJ) on Thursday October 3rd, with Drome trio at Dièse Onze on Friday October 4th, including Montreal’s saxophonist Chet Doxas (now based in New York) and drummer Vinnie Sperrazza, and finally a duo at Patro Vys, on Saturday October 5th with Montreal’s excellent guitar player Steve Raegele. Alain Brunet reached Michael Formanek touring on the West Coast, a few days before his staying in MTL.
