MICHAEL WHITE - Violinist / Composer / Educator

Michael White is a truly original and groundbreaking violinist in the realm of jazz. In the 1960s, he introduced the violin into the free jazz scenes of the Bay Area and New York, playing with luminaries such as Sun Ra and Pharoah Sanders. In the early 1970s, he was a founding member of the first fusion group, the "Fourth Way". He released five albums with the Michael White Quartet on Impulse records, and toured throughout the United States and Europe. He has performed in Lagos, Nigeria with Stevie Wonder and Sun Ra. He continues to play with Pharoah Sanders, appearing on Sanders' 1996 album Message From Home. In 1998 he released an album of duets with Bill Frisell entitled Motion Pictures. His latest recording "Voices", features a reunion with his original Impulse! Records rhythm section of Cecil McBee, bass; Kenneth Nash, percussion; along with guitarist Timothy Young and vocalist Leisei Chen. ** Michael White was a former Capitol, Impulse and Elektra/Asylum recording artist.

Performed with the Other Artists And Bands:
Michael White has appeared in San Francisco, as a special guest with The John Coltrane Quartet, McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Gallison, Elvin Jones, along with Wes Mongomery and Eric Dolphy. Joe Bonner, Richard Davis,Henry Grimes, Tootie Heath, Philly Joe Jones (band), Rasaan Roland Kirk (band), Herbie Lewis, Buddy Montgomery, Eddie Moore, Phineas Newborn Jr., Odean Pope, George Szabo, Lonnie Liston Smith, McCoy Tyner, Alice Coltrane, Joe Henderson, John Handy, Sonny Simmons and others.

Appearances at the festivals:
Montreux Jazz Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, Berkeley Jazz Festival, Pacific Coast Jazz Festival, FESTAC Multi-Arts Festival (Lagos, Nigeria), Newport Jazz Festival Violin Summit (with Ray Nance and Jean Luc-Ponty), Eddie Moore Jazz Festival (San Francisco, California), San Francisco Jazz Festival (Fourthway Reunion)

National Awards:
* Voice of America Radio New Star Award
* Down Beat Magazine Award for Talent Deserving Wider Recognition
* Faculty member of the Cornish College of The Arts

Michael White Discography & Credits:

Michael White:
1971 Spirit Dance - Impulse!
1972 Pneuma - Impulse!
1973 The Land of Spirit and Light - Impulse!
1974 Father Music, Mother Dance - Impulse!
1974 Go With the Flow - Impulse!
1978 The X Factor - Elektra
1979 White Night - Elektra
1997 Motion Picture - Intuition
2004 Voices - Izniz

The Fourth Way:
1969 The Fourth Way - Capitol
1970 Werewolf - Capitol
1970 The Sun and Moon Together - Capitol

Reissue:
2005 The Land of Spirit and Light - Impulse - Verve Music Group - USA & Europe
2005 Pnuema - Impulse - Universal Music International - Japan
2006 Pnema - Impulse - Verve Music Group - USA

Credits
1967 Milestone Years - Joe Henderson, as Violin
1968 Projections - John Handy, as Violin
1969 Fourth Way - The Fourth Way, as Violin
1969 Smiley, Etc - Smiley Winters, as Violin

1970 Burning Spirits - Sonny Simmons, as Violin
1970 Thembi - Pharoah Sanders, as Percussion & Violin
1972 Never Get Out of the Blues Alive - John Lee Hooker, as Violin
1972 Song for My Lady - McCoy Tyner, as Violin
1972 Impulsively! - Various Artists, as Violin
1973 Elements - Joe Henderson, as Violin

1988 Impulse! Collection: The Best of Impulse!, Vol. 1

1992 Blue Saxophone - Teddy Edwards, as Violin
1995 Here's to Good People - Rickey Kelly, as Violin
1995 Universal Sounds of America - Various Artists, as Violin
1996 Live at the Monterey Jazz Festival - John Handy, as Violin
1996 Message from Home - Pharoah Sanders, as Violin
1997 Priceless Jazz Sampler - Various Artists, as Violin
1997 Priceless Jazz Pharoah Sanders, as Violin
1998 Jerry Hahn & His Quintet Jerry Hahn/Michael White/Noel Jewkes/Jac, as Violin
1999 Transcendence: Impulse in the Spiritual Groove - Various Artists, as Violin

2003 History of an Apology - Paul Rucker, as Violin
2003 Submariner - The Dead Science, as Violin
2003 Virginal Co Ordinates - Eyvind Kang, as Violin

With newly released CD "Voices", "Michael White Quintet" was born. The recording brought together a union of great musicians, a grammy winning bassist Cecil McBee and Kenneth Nash-percussion, along with Tim Young-guitar and Leisei Chen-voice. The artistic expressions are extended to it's concept of color, design, liner notes

We discovered that our musical philosophy had a mutual spiritual dynamic
The four corner stones of our music are " Love, Healing, Inspiration & Hope"
Our sound is intended to touch one's heart and fill one's body with a kozmic groove (**)

Our band is available for international engagements, festivals, concerts, workshops and multimedia recording projects. The band's instrumentation consists of Violin, Vocals/Voice, Guitar, Bass and Percussion. Our repertoire covers original compositions, jazz classics, bossa nova, latin, and sponteneous sound improvisation.

(**) Kozmigroov is a transgressive improvisational music which combines elements of psychedelia, spirituality, jazz, rock, soul, funk, and African, Latin, Brazillian, Indian and Asian influences culminating into an all encompassing cosmic groove. At its most accomplished, Kozmigroov is both expansive and highly rhythmic, and simultaneously finds connections with the mind, soul and body. - by freeform.org -

Michael White Quintet 2006
Michael White - violin, Leisei Chen - vocals/voice, Michael Howell - guitar, Cecil McBee - bass, Kenneth Nash - percussion

:: CD "Voices" sales @
CDbaby, Amazon, Tower Records, Best Buy, Down Town Gallery, Respect Records.

:: Digital Downloads sales @
Apple iTunes, MusicNet, MusicIsHere

:: Press Reviews ::

"I savored the rasping moans and chanting clangs of this adventurous violinist's new CD, Voices (Izniz Recordings). White's burgundy tone, funky pizzicati, and easygoing arrangements smartly blend jazz and folk music from around the world....... " by stranger magazine

http://www.jazzreview.com/cd/review-17460.html
by Rob Johnson - jazz review

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=20756
by John Kelman - all about jazz

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=19204
by Michael P. Gladstone - all about jazz

:: Listner's Voices ::

"There's much radiant warmth and intelligence on display on this cd, with outstanding playing, particularly from Michael White and Tim Young, throughout. Some of my favorite things (so far) - 'Circumambulation'; the parts of 'Serenade' with the violin uncannily doubling Leisei Chen's voice, 'Mechanical Man'... Unlike many recordings, the louder you turn it up, the better and clearer it sounds! Very enjoyable, I'm glad I found out about Michael White, and 'Voices'. " by steve wilson

" loved all of it particularly voices,serenade and fiesta. i hope there is more coming from mr white." by k davis

" Inspirational! Organic! " by Doung Hare, Jack Straw's Sonarchy Radio.

" Voices has found a permanent place in my CD player!" by R. Dawson, D.C.

" More I listen to "Voices", I feel good and my mind is transformed " by Taneo, Japan

:: Electronic Press Kit ::
www.sonicbids.com/michaelwhitequintet

:: Aritst Website ::
www.leisei-michael.com

:: Contact ::
booking@leisei-michael.com
USA: +1.206.654.4402
Japan: +81.(0)50.3428.6148