New Derrick Michaels Series for 2020: "Posture of Possibility"
Creating a Space for Creative Contribution -
An Inclusive Music Series Showcasing Young Improvisers
“In the measurement world, you set a goal and strive for it. In the universe of possibility, you set the context and let life unfold.” ? Benjamin Zander (Musical Director and Conductor - Boston Philharmonic Orchestra)
"The wholehearted expression of music has the potential to uplift the spirit and heal our hearts. These 12 concerts are representative of a creative continuum which is designed to challenge convention & elude classification. Accordingly, I have selected 12 young musical leaders under the age of 30 to lead adventurous performances, putting full trust in improvisation as a potent unifying force across musical boundaries. The mission is to deliver music of substance, embracing the community while affirming the exceptionally personal nature of creative process for the improvising musician." — Derrick Michaels...
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New Derrick Michaels Series for 2020: "Posture of Possibility"
Creating a Space for Creative Contribution -
An Inclusive Music Series Showcasing Young Improvisers
“In the measurement world, you set a goal and strive for it. In the universe of possibility, you set the context and let life unfold.” ? Benjamin Zander (Musical Director and Conductor - Boston Philharmonic Orchestra)
"The wholehearted expression of music has the potential to uplift the spirit and heal our hearts. These 12 concerts are representative of a creative continuum which is designed to challenge convention & elude classification. Accordingly, I have selected 12 young musical leaders under the age of 30 to lead adventurous performances, putting full trust in improvisation as a potent unifying force across musical boundaries. The mission is to deliver music of substance, embracing the community while affirming the exceptionally personal nature of creative process for the improvising musician." — Derrick Michaels
The first quarter dates of this monthly Sunday series are
Jan 19, Feb 16. Mar 8
6-9 pm
$10 admission
January 19th - featuring Liam Hurlbut
6:00-9:00 pm - $10 admission
Special format!
Short Solo improvisation from Featured Performer followed by:
Set 1: Ephemera Quartet
Liam Hurlbut, saxophone
Nick Saia, guitar
Derek Wiegmann, bass
Darrell Reddix, drums
*15 minute intermission *
Set 2: Derrick Michaels & Liam Hurlbut tenor saxophones
with special guest performers
Liam Hurlbut is a tenor saxophonist based in Baltimore. In his youth he was introduced by his father to the music of John Coltrane which made a lasting and permanent impact on his view of the saxophone as a powerful expressive medium. Over time, his love of music and the saxophone were shaped independently of one another. The tenor saxophone specifically spoke to him through the voices of those who contributed explorative timbres and unique technical approaches to the instrument including Jan Garbarek, Pharoah Sanders, Gato Barbieri and Albert Ayler. Beyond the saxophone however, Liam found a deep love for the traditions of many genres, of which jazz was just one. Elements of metal, punk, industrial, soul, pop and many others also inform his music in the context of improvisation and composition.
Liam's work primarily consists of writing and performing original music with his band Ephemera Quartet in addition to working as a freelance musician in a variety of idioms. Ephemera Quartet's music is an experiment for Liam in mixing together the various styles of music that inspire him. In this way, their music could be called a form jazz fusion. Ephemera Quartet recently released their first album entitled "Energy Music" in December of 2018.
Liam graduated from Towson University with a B.A. in Jazz/Commercial Music Performance in 2015.
Your Curator:
Derrick Michaels is a Baltimore-based tenor saxophonist, composer, concert presenter, educator, and an inexorable force in the creative music community. Boasting a rich, expressive tone and a propensity for dynamic performance, Michaels harnesses the primordial impulse to create - bringing a kaleidoscopic process of melodic architecture to a myriad of egalitarian improvisational ensembles. His 2019 concert series “Derrick Michaels Presents” showcased 28 brilliant improvisers from Baltimore and New York City, delivering 12 engaging improvised concerts full of depth, nuance, sensitivity, and imagination.
Michaels communicates with vitality, romanticism, and reckless abandon - enveloping listeners into the process of his music as it unfolds into the present moment. His deeply personal approach to performance & instruction favors expressive nuance over idiomatic reverence, invoking the rich expressive history of the tenor saxophone while refracting it through his own prism of creative purpose. Each performance both demonstrates & defies his strong roots in jazz by plunging unapologetically into the unknown.
Over the years, many important musical relationships have developed with the likes of Ellery Eskelin, Susan Alcorn, Michael Formanek, Dave Ballou, John Dierker, Eric Kennedy, Mike Kuhl, Jon Seligman, Zach Swanson, Theljon Allen, Alex Weber, Jeff Reed, Phil Cunneff, Ben Frock, Chris Pumphrey, & many more.
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