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| Guitarist Michael Kalinsky Schutz to release his third album "WHOAMI" GUITARIST MICHAEL KALISKY SCHUTZ IS MELODIC AND INTROSPECTIVE ON HIS ENGAGING THIRD ALBUM "WHOAMI" Tom Maor - Drums Yaniv Bar - Bass Ilay Shachal - Alto Saxophone Yuval Dagan - Tenor Saxophone Maayan Gladstone - Trumpet Yonatan Voltzok - Trombone Ronen Shmueli - Piano Yael Elany -Vocals on 'Winter Song' and 'Rejected' Michael Kalisky Schutz - Guitar and Backing vocals on "Rejected" Album Cover Photo: Rupert Truman Art Direction: Michael Kalisky Schutz Album Mastering: Paul Blakemore Release Date: July 12th, 2024 Following up his first two releases The Voice of Peace and BACKWISE, Boston-based guitarist and composer Michael Kalisky Schutz is proud to present WHOAMI, an album he poignantly describes as "my journal with myself." On the cover is a striking image by noted photographer Rupert Truman, inspired by the innovative album cover work of the late Storm Thorgerson: we see a person in what seems to be a spacesuit and helmet, no face visible, standing in a sparse forest, gently grasping a folded handwritten lead sheet, a guitar slung over their back. Are they heading to a gig, pondering their place in the universe? "They are far from humanity, " muses Kalisky, "trying to reach the audience, to make it easier for them to connect to the music.", The cover corresponds to the era of classic vinyl albums, where artwork held an iconic and central status in music, sometimes conveying a philosophical meaning. If connection is what Kalisky is seeking, he's found it on WHOAMI, a set of original music that reflects this guitarist's wide-ranging taste and authoritative touch and tone. His style falls predominantly within the realm of jazz fusion, with influences drawn from classical, rock, electronic and other idioms. Recorded in his home city of Tel Aviv, the album features two tracks created in collaboration with vocalist Yael Elany, the advance single "Rejected" as well as the lilting, laid-back "Winter Song." Alto saxophonist Ilay Shachal, tenor saxophonist Yuval Dagan, trumpeter Maayan Gladstone, trombonist Yonatan Voltzok, pianist Ronen Shmueli, bassist Yaniv Bar and drummer Tom Maor round out the talented lineup. There are two different versions of the title track "WHOAMI": the first in a modern, groove-oriented style with a horn-centric orchestration and strong solos from the trombone and piano; the second a quartet arrangement with Kalisky's guitar out in front, blending with electric piano, bass and drums in something like a '70s electric jazz vein. Kalisky lays bare the bop-like intricacy of the theme with a solo guitar introduction and another unaccompanied turn just before the final melody. "Bluez" finds the leader kicking on distortion in a spirited midtempo band workout. "Remember, " arranged for the two saxes, reveals Kalisky's clean-toned precision, dexterity and lyricism as an improviser, as does the horn-less "Song for Everyone." "Fly, " perhaps the most complex tune on the album, is also the shortest, with no improvisation, the highly active melody line voiced by synth and guitar in octaves. Kalisky's harmonic thinking comes from the jazz tradition and beyond: he names Hank Mobley, Horace Silver, Wayne Shorter and Miles Davis as well as Stevie Wonder and Corey Henry as touchstones. In terms of voice-leading, he cites the importance of Bach. The two lyric songs, "Winter Song" and "Rejected, " he reveals, are the first two songs he ever wrote, and while much of his output has been instrumental, he values singers for their ability to establish that visceral connection to listeners. Expect more from Kalisky on that score. About Michael Kalisky Schutz Michael Kalisky Schutz, born on August 15, 2001, embarked on his musical journey in 2012, choosing the guitar as his instrument of choice. Demonstrating an extraordinary aptitude for the electric guitar, he swiftly mastered the instrument while maintaining proficiency in classical and acoustic guitars. His formal music education at 'Metro-West' High School in Ra'anana, Israel, immersed him in diverse courses, allowing him to excel in jazz history, music history, arrangements, hearing, and harmony. Michael's dedication to music culminated in his debut instrumental album, "The Voice of Peace, " released in the summer of 2020. His subsequent achievements include recording his second album, "BACKWISE, " in July 2022 with the "Michael Kalisky Schutz Quartet" and producing his third album, "WHOAMI, " in June 2023, showcasing his talents as a composer and arranger with a lineup of accomplished musicians. His forthcoming release of "WHOAMI" promises to be another milestone in Michael's evolving musical journey. His primary choice of guitar is electric, though he is proficient in classic and acoustic guitars as well. Michael received formal music education at 'Metro-West' High School in Ra'anana, Israel, where he immersed himself in courses such as Jazz History, Music History, Arrangements, Hearing, and Harmony. He joined the local Big Band, led by Yuval Tabechnik, as the lead guitarist, and the Jazz ensemble under the guidance of Yair Laron. In the summer of 2018, he had the opportunity to take the 'Five Week' course at Berklee College of Music in Boston, USA, graduating with exceptional grades in all his courses. He continued to hone his skills on the electric guitar with Raz Cogman and the classical guitar with the esteemed guitar master, Yaron Hasson. He achieved excellence in music during his youth, graduating with distinction in 2016 and 2017, and in 2018, he received a special excellence music award from the city mayor. Throughout the years, Michael dedicated himself to composing, arranging, and recording music. In the summer of 2020, he released his debut instrumental album, "The Voice of Peace, " where he showcased his talents on multiple instruments. The album's title pays homage to Abie Nathan. In November 2021, he joined "Rimon's Jazz Institute, " for exceptional jazz musicians led by Ronen Shmueli. In parallel to his RIMON studies, he concurrently became a lead guitarist with Guri Agmon's Herzelia Big-Band. In Dec 2022 Following the completion of 'RIMON, ' Michael was chosen to attend Berklee College with a complete tuition scholarship, where he is presently pursuing studies in Jazz. On July 2022, he recorded his second album, "BACKWISE, " live with the "Michael Kalisky Schutz Quartet, " featuring Koren Berkovich on drums, Roy Zilbershere on bass, and Ilay Shachal on alto saxophone. The Quartet showcased their talents in a live performance at the 'Guitar Loft' in Tel Aviv. His third album titled "WHOAMI" (Who am I?), which he both composed and arranged, was recorded in Tel-Aviv. The album features a lineup of musicians, including Tom Maor on drums, Yaniv Bar on bass, Ilay Shachal on alto saxophone, and others. Notably, two tracks on the album were collaboratively recorded with vocalist Yael Elany. The recording process took place in the 'MITZLOL' studio in TLV, by Jonathan Barak. The album's mixing was handled by Nirel Sharon, while the mastering was made by Paul Blakemore, a 22 Grammys winner. The album's visual design was art directed by Michael Kalisky Schutz, accompanied by a photograph produced and captured by Rupert Truman from the UK. write your comments about the article :: © 2024 Jazz News :: home page |