Mikes Music Emporium

There was a lot of anticipation for this concert. Everyone in Cadiz that knows jazz and flamenco knows of Carmelo. He plays and makes his own instruments and has dedicated himself to the Bansuri flute. A beautiful sounding instrument, but  a difficult instrument  to play modern music on  . i wrote a repetoire of jazz classics , originals, and we even played the of Lorca and De Falla and Carmelo played it beautifully. We started with an uptempo  version of  It  Might As Well Be Spring and ended with a Boogaloo version of Comin Home Baby. With myself on piano , Bosco Prado bongos. and audience of 24 people  a good time was had by all followed with a wine tasting with wines provided by Embotellarte. Click here to here the first song of the evening.

The first concert of 2024 was in February , before Valentines Day and before the CARNAVAL DE CADIZ which IS  the big event and fiesta here. January was hectic and so once again at the last minute  I made phone calls and organized this event . I was so happy when Juan Sainz agreed to play here not only is he sort of a legend here and I love playing with him because he adds a bit of philosphy to anything he plays . Something extra!! But werarely get the chance to play and there isn't a lot of room here so armed with a cymbal and snare  I got to be part of a wonderful trio and perform my arrangements as well.   And I cant forget to mention the wonder electric bass of Javier Bermudez who has been helping me make this music come to life  over the years. The set was full of suprises and music came alive . The audience responded favorably and it was a great way to start the , year a bit late but great!!!! You can see a clip of our  first song Alice in Wonderland here: 

Well I want to write this down while it is still fresh in my mind. But first some background. Last December I had a performance event with images and in fact we did two concerts with it . I was so fascinated with the idea that I wanted to make it into a regular performing group called the Sound and Image Trio where we doing basic doing improvised cinema .

But for some reason or other , that didn't happen . What did happen is that instead of a VJ , I added bass ,and this year we have done 4 well attended house concerts and it has a really nice sound . But I am still fascinated with doing collaborations so for this concert I invited performance artist Caroline Klein from Argentina with us. She was invited to come to Cadiz and her exposition was in the ECCO (Cadiz Contempary Art Space) and during a dinner conversation I suggested to create music for her to skate and paint to , but then we took it to another level with her agreeing to it on top of the piano , both challenging (creating in a very limited space , satisfying and you can see our performance here      https://ln5.sync.com/dl/a16d68960/sbjrvn3z-5vruhak6-kuedmw3j-r7e9rhqn

Now back to the trio. We did a nice relaxed set which set the mood for all of this starting with Your Song by Elton John , Fool On the Hill, As Time Goes By, with the verse and in waltz time. My originals like Blue Tune , Canadian Skylight , and Morbid Desolation which we used for Carolina's performance which can be seen here:. And it woudn't have been possible with out a public to perform for. I thank the 24 who came and supported this event . Vey much appreciated. We ended with my gospel tinge theme Know Yourself . The aperitif featured 3 red wines from 3 different regions , cheese , dried fruits , olives and chips.

• It was a lovely Aug evening here in Cadiz at the height of the summer turist season , a lovely day for a concert. We began just as the sun was setting  and the air was cool. And I decided to have a Friday evening concert here . It was well attended with even more people than the Summer Soiree 2 concert with Carlos Villoslada and Piet Vierbest . Hard to believe .  Expectations were high and theconcert  was with my piano, bongo, bass trio  continuing with the Beatle repetoire   and  my original songs . It all went well untill a patrol car from the local police came at the very end of the concert. To be honest I am still baffled by the fact that we bothered anyone to the point that they would phone the police.  And even more so that it was a Friday evenening where we   played and finished  before most people even come back from the beac!!!!!, But so be it . The police were cordial and gave me a warning  and they even let me finish the concert and one was overheard saying “ Que arte tiene!” which i take as a complement . Even they liked what they heard. Hope to figure this mystery out contiinue creating  quality piano music in an artistic setting .

The idea of the Summer Soirees started last year as an alternative small format alternative to the Cadiz Jazz Festival . In no way competing  with , just presenting different original musc  that deserves  to be heard.  And also a concert that I don't play in .  So when I heard that the Piet Verbist the Belge Bassist was coming to Cadiz  and not playing in the Festival I did everything to get him to play a solo bass concert. He declined but offered to play in duet with Carlos Villoslada  one of pioneers of the Flamenco Jazz music scene  and a brillant composer and virtuoso saxophonist . What I didn't know was that Carlos had recently decided to not play the tenor sax in public favoring the alto sax , so everyone who came got to hear something totally new from the both of them . It was also the concert with the most attendence  How we got over 30 people seated comfortably in the space  was nothing short of a miracle.  The concert was slightly over an hour of original material and was quite hypnotic as well.  I hope to post a clip of one of their songs soon .  Summer Soiree was a total success. Iappreciate all the support this concert received .

It was great to play with Bosco and Javi again .  We started 2023 playing together and the interplay between us  has really deepened since then . Also very important.  We had a wonderful audience to listen and bring  out the best of us!! Originally a  small concert for  about 16 people, became a wonderful concert for 24 people . And we there were seats for everyone. So what did we play? An interesting mashup of songs where an African groove evolves into All Blues and ends with Proud Mary. + 8 original  arrangements of Beatle songs including A Day In The Life,  and Norwegian Wood as a Buleria !!!And 2 tunes of mine . A boogaloo Clement's Lament , and the gospel tinged Know Yourself. We finished with a version of Penny Lane. And for aperitivo we all checked out a wonderful ecological white wine called Ukelele provided by Embotellarte.  Looking forward to Summer Soiree #2 where I get to listen to invited artists Piet Verbist and Carlos Villoslada play in duo . Sax  & Bass concert . Something different . Something special!!!!

Happy to say that the once a year one off with composer keyboardist Manu Sanchez was a wonderful experience for everyone . Things got off to a great start with an uptempo version of “It Could Happen To You ” followed  by quiet a few of my compositions like Soul Scents , Life -Like , My New Song, and a debut of  my composition “ Times Lost Embers” Also was versions of Tonight  from West Side Story , a reharmonized version of “ I'm Leaving On a Jet Plane . We finished the evening with the Beatles Something  as well as a tribute to the great composer and saxophonist Wayne Shorter and to Tina Turner. two artists whose influence will always be felt and whose presence will be sorely missed.  For Wayne we did “Footprints” and for Tina we finished wiht a 4 hand version of ” We Don't Need Another Hero"  Once again a very big thank you to all who came and inspired us to play the way we did . You are Fabulous!!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDNlgp-8EAY

In April we had no concerts , but had a lovely time in Berlin where I got to sit in at 2 clubs the Bb Club and also at Orvilles had a great time and got to meet wonderful musicians . Was also invited to here the Berlin Philharmonic  general rehearsal which made a very deep impression on me . In May we had a Piano Potpourri featureing Antonio Ortiz who playued his own Mediterranean tinged compositions and improvisations. His Bulerias and Soleas made quite an impression and me has the host rounded out the eveing with my own compositions.It was good to quite a few new people here and the atmoshere was liudent fvely . The last song was a blues that everyone participated in and we even had  Alvaro ta jazz student from Cadiz 's UCA auxilerary Jazz program  sit in. A very nice evening indeed. Next concert is May 11 with composer /keyboardist  Manu Sanchez 

There is a type of musicians that defy catagory because they found their niche and developed there talent, their duende as they say here, to another level. And  flautist Carmen Muriel “resembles that remark” He is a flautist .But his flute of choice is the bansuri flute  and the instrument he plays was hand made by himself ,and continues perfect. He is well known in flamenco circles , he's an educator , and wrote the book on flamenco harmony , a book that can be found in conservatory libraries throughout the world .  Needless to say he is diverse.  And the themes we played together on this bamboo flute, ranged from uptempo standards like “It Might As Well be Spring ” to Nana El Caballo Grande of Camaron,  some selections from De Falla  and a beautiful original  theme in 3/4  ,El Hilo de Ariana. We ended with our version of David Bowie's Life On Mars. The turnout was great and for more than half the audience it was there first visit here to the Emporium . Also it was the inauguration of a painting by  the  Dominican artist Alejando Alsina  that hangs behind the piano. And a spontaneous poem composed and written by Eva  Cordoba Serrano.  It was a real happening and enjoyed by all who came .  I am very greatful that these house concerts are appreciated. 

Anyone who has heard jazz anywhere in Andulusia knows the name of tenor saxophonist Pedro Cortejosa ! He is an outstanding musician and one of the few here who has built a carrer with jazz as a performer and as an educator. Needless to say it was a pleasure playing with him in an intimate enviorment playing a set of songs about love, anti love, impossible love , the look of love , and love of the planet. Classics like My Romance , Naima , My One and Only Love , Lover Man , u Know What Love is, You Don'tShadow of your Smile, Love Note( my tune) and What A Wonderful World!!

 And what a wonderful experience that was . Thanls as always to all who came and contributed to a wonder evening of music!!!!!  Check out the Lover Man link below.

https://www.facebook.com/michael.grossman.587/videos/598722378257456