Michael Lake - The Electrik Project, Vol. 1

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The Electrik Project, volume 1 is the first release of a collection of songs created over the past 18 months by trombonist and sound designer Michael Lake.

With the main melodic voice being the alto trombone - the smaller and more nimble version of the more common tenor trombone - the songs within this collection are contemporary musical environments crafted from rhythm, synthesis, natural sounds and voices all meticulously assembled by Michael.

With the exception of two covers - Moody's Mood for Love and Show Me - the rest of the songs tell a story born from Michael's observations of life to his thoughts of technology and science. His use of sampled singing and spoken voice as background textures provide an organic balance to the synthesized, rhythmic underpinnings of much of this music.

As possibly the only alto trombone player in the world within this contemporary genre, this is a truly unique collection of music that demonstrates the emotionally lyrical potential of the trombone within a modern EDM-style of music.

Track Time
1. Rattlesnake Funky - 4:19
2. Show Me - 2:39
3. Artificial Intelligence - 4:10
4. Tin Man - 4:22
5. Treasures of Your Life - 4:49
6. Moody's Mood for Love - 3:56
7. Metamorphosis - 5:01
8. Sound Dunes - 3:56

Instrument - Player - Pronunciation:
Michael Lake, alto trombone, keyboard, synthesis programming and sound design
Bill Lieski (Liskee), Tenor saxophone on Moody's Mood

At the age of 8, piano was Michael's first instrument. The egg timer was set by his mother for 30 minutes every day atop the small spinet piano in the living room. Regardless of other goings on tugging at Michael's interests, piano practicing always came first.

At age ten, Michael discovered the trombone. No longer did practicing need to be mandated. Playing trombone would become his favorite activity fueling a passion that would last a lifetime.

Michael attended Arizona State University where he studied with renowned jazz educator Dan Haerle. It was at ASU where he first saw an alto trombone, that under-appreciated brass instrument he would play for the rest of his career.

Professionally active and pursuing a jazz performance degree, abandoning the tenor trombone in favor of this beautiful instrument of clarity and efficiency was not a practical move. Nonetheless, Michael was determined to make it his musical voice. Selling his tenor trombone, the alto would become the instrument Michael would play professionally and exclusively.

Mid-way through ASU, Michael was awarded a National Endowment of the Arts grant to study for a summer with Frank Rosolino. In November prior to the summer of study with Frank, Michael learned of Frank's tragic death. Looking for an alternative that would be acceptable to the National Endowment board, Michael reached out to avant garde trombonist George Lewis. George would be teaching that summer at the Creative Music Studio in Woodstock NY and welcomed the opportunity to work with Michael. He was exposed that fascinating summer not only to George Lewis, but would also study with Anthony Braxton, Roscoe Mitchell, and other members of the Art Ensemble of Chicago.

After ASU, as Michael traveled and performed throughout the country, he settled for a while in Boston where he joined a four-trombone salsa band called Caribbean Express. A year after joining the band they signed with A&M Records and upon the release of their debut album were nominated for a Best Latin album Grammy.

Next, Michael moved to New York City where he played professionally for 10 years. Michael performed in a variety of settings playing mainly jazz and latin music with notables like Lalo Rodriguez, Frankie Ruiz and for several years was Ray Barretto's trombonist.

Michael eventually moved back to his beloved Phoenix Arizona where he regularly performs throughout the valley. Having spent the past 20 years collecting state-of-the-art and vintage audio gear, Michael has built an impressive recording and performance studio where he recorded his latest album, The Electrik Project, volume 1.

Michael Lives with his two young sons and enjoys hiking and biking in the nearby mountains of Cave Creek, Arizona.

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