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Michael Sarian
"Sarian's trumpet literally speaks"Karl Ackermann, All About Jazz
Trumpeter and composer Michael Sarian has been praised for his "unique compositional and instrumental voice" (Friedrich Kunzmann, All About Jazz) and his "endlessly renewable strain of lyric improvisation regardless of context or material." (Peter Margasak, Downbeat Magazine).
Born in Toronto and raised in Buenos Aires, Michael relocated to New York City in 2012. Michael has performed at some of the most iconic international stages, including the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, Getxo Blues Festival in Spain, Teatro Colón in Argentina, and at some of New York City's most beloved venues such as the Blue Note Jazz Club, Jazz at Lincoln Center, BRIC JazzFest, The Beacon Theater, and Central Park SummerStage. He has appeared on WNYC's Soundcheck with John Schaefer, NPR's World Cafe, and many more.
Michael's artistic output is as diverse as his background: he has released two albums with his quartet on ears&eyes Records which "create alternatively forceful and haunting sounds that dwell outside of the jazz mainstream in their own realm of beauty” (Jerome Wilson, AllAboutJazz), has released several duet recordings with pianist Matthew Putman on 577Records, electronic avant-garde music with Barcelona based pianist Olec Mün on piano and coffee records, and several albums with his septet Michael Sarian & The Chabones.
Michael is currently joining the Jonas Brothers on The Tour as they play at stadiums and arenas across the globe, including Yankee Stadium, Wrigley Field, Dodgers Stadium, the 02 Arena in London, and more. He also performs regularly with his big band, Michael Sarian & The Big Chabones, is a stable member of The NYChillharmonic, the Bette Smith band, among other collaborations and projects. Michael was a semifinalist at the prestigious DCJazzPrix in 2020 and 2023, a 2020 Performer-Composer in Residence at Westben Centre for Connection & Creativity, and artist in residence at Culture Lab LIC for the winter/spring 2022 season.
Michael is a DelQuadro Trumpets Artist, currently playing the 'Grizzly' model. He also performs on his signature 'SARIAN' custom line of mouthpieces made in France by Atelier Donat, and is endorsed by Applied Microphone Technology (AMT), performing and recording with their AMT Q7-P800BM microphone.
Gear
DelQuadro Trumpets - Grizzly Model
'SARIAN' custom line of mouthpieces made in France by Atelier Donat
Applied Microphone Technology (AMT) AMT Q7-P800BM microphone
Tags
Several Stunning Cover Versions Including Coltrane's "Alabama"
by Andy Crowther
A show as part of the International Jazz Day Celebrations, featuring several covers including “Maiden Voyage" from the stunning new album by the young pianist Hakan Basar, an astonishing version of “The Creator Has A Master Plan" with Tomoki Sanders on sax, a stirring take on Coltrane's “Alabama" from the “Live on Death Row" project, and a cumbia version of the Fela Kuti classic “Water No Get Enemy." Playlist Hakan Ba?ar “Maiden Voyage" from Maiden Voyage (Red Records) ...
Continue ReadingMichael Sarian: Live at Cliff Bell's
by Richard J Salvucci
This is music for the adventurous, especially those with the ears to deal with unusual harmonies. Michael Sarian is a now-Canadian trumpet player in the mold of Enrico Rava. His gift is his sound: dark, burnished, probing, even tentative at times. He is fond of half-valve expeditions into the upper register, which, if executed properly, can smear a tone between a squeal and a shriek. It is more than appropriate for the sort of music he plays, insinuating and beguiling, ...
Continue ReadingMichael Sarian: Live at Cliff Bell's
by Dan Bilawsky
On March 30, 2023, Michael Sarian rolled into Detroit landmark Cliff Bell's with horn in hand. In the midst of a spring tour, that particular venue and evening provided an opportunity for the trumpeter and his bandmates--pianist Santiago Leibson, bassist Marty Kenney and drummer Nathan Ellman-Bell--to do what they do best. Working through new material and strong selections from previous studio albums, this outfit delivered the goods with coiled intensity, some sturm-und-drang sophistication, open ears, sensitivity and melodic mindset. And ...
Continue ReadingMichael Sarian, Matias Formica, Pandelis Karayorgis & Bill Cole
by Maurice Hogue
All hail the pure improvisers! This episode of OMJ features several great ones all at the top of their game: trumpeter Michael Sarian, Argentinean saxophonist Matias Formica, Matt Mitchell & Tim Berne, Kaja Draksler & Susana Santos Silva, Zoh Amba with a powerhouse group of friends, Boston pianist Pandelis Karayorgis, Chicago's Rooms Trio, Southeast Asia's River People, plus the always intriguing sounds of Bill Cole's Untempered Ensemble. Buckle up! Playlist The Thing with Joe McPhee “The Thing" from ...
Continue ReadingMichael Sarian: New Aurora
by Angelo Leonardi
Giunto al quarto album da leader, Michael Sarian esplora una direzione espressiva diversa da quanto evidenziato col settetto Michel Sarian & the Chabones e con la big band The Big Chabones. Ispirandosi allo stile di trombettisti come Kenny Wheeler, Tomasz Stanko ed Enrico Rava, il trombettista—di famiglia armena, canadese di nascita, argentino di formazione e newyorchese da una decina d'anni—accentua l'estetica impressionista già evidente in Leon con brani lenti ed evocativi, talvolta legati alla tradizione musicale armena. ...
Continue ReadingMichael Sarian: New Aurora
by Jerome Wilson
Trumpeter Michael Sarian leads two large-sized groups, The Chabones and The Big Chabones, that utilize multiple horns and electronic sounds in high energy arrangements. This quartet recording is a different story. Sarian is the lone horn here, playing trumpet on the first track and flugelhorn on the rest, while the music itself is strictly acoustic. Much of it has a gentle, folkish presence, although the leader's wilder impulses also make their presence known. The music's quiet side emerges ...
Continue ReadingMichael Sarian: New Aurora
by Friedrich Kunzmann
With New Aurora, Canadian trumpeter Michael Sarian takes a few steps down a different path to his past projects, leaving bigger ensembles and electric instrumentations behind to focus on ten arrangements carried out in an acoustic quartet setting. In this more dynamic light, the trumpeter is given space to unfold and spread his melodic voice and personal language. Sarian takes advantage of this in a minimal way. A heightened sense of sophistication can be heard as a result, leaving the ...
Continue ReadingNew Album "Subtitles" From Trumpeter Michael Sarian Juggles Various Jazz Styles
Source:
Eric Taylor
My number-one favorite jazz piece remains to be “Feels So Good” (1977) by Chuck Mangione. Surprisingly, the second position has been occupied, that quickly, by the track called “El Poeta” from a newly released album, Subtitles (2014), by the now U.S.-based Canadian-Argentinian trumpeter/artist Michael Sarian. Not only for jazz aficionados but also for anyone who is curious enough to sample a platter of various jazz styles, Sarian’s début album covers an assortment of flavors, from the subtle, short, and simple ...
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Interview: Trumpeter/Composer Michael Sarian
Source:
Eric Taylor
Q: What are your goals as an artist? A: Right now my goal is to keep busy: keep playing, keep composing, keep working. Working on new projects, teaching, working behind the scenes at a non-profit - everything affects the music, and the more I do, the more I’ll have to say musically. Long-term, my goal as an artist is something I think most artists share: to stay relevant. I feel like I have something to say musically, whether it's composing ...
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"Sarian's trumpet literally speaks" Karl Ackermann, All About Jazz
"Michael Sarian... reveals an endlessly renewable strain of lyric improvisation regardless of context or material. He achieves a luxurious sprawl that summons the classic spaciousness of vintage ECM albums" (Peter Margasak, Downbeat Magazine)
"a must-listen for fans of innovative and captivating jazz” (Matt Micucci, JAZZIZ Magazine)
Primary Instrument
Trumpet
Location
New York City
Willing to teach
Beginner to advanced
Wadada Leo Smith
trumpet
Tomasz Stańko
trumpet
Paul Motian
drums
Enrico Rava
trumpet
Kenny Wheeler
flugelhorn
Guillermo Klein
pianoConcerts
Michael Sarian Quartet - Argentinean Jazz Series
Blues AlleyWashington, DC
Tickets
Michael Sarian Quartet - Argentinean Jazz Series
Blues AlleyWashington, DC
Tickets
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