Awards
Conversations
I can think of no better way to have a conversation with my many musical friends, from here and from all over the world, than to play together and the duet setting is the most intimate way. The idea came to me because I was visiting many of my friends (and making new ones) over the past year, here and abroad, and what I wanted to do was to play a selection that represents them, their culture and our friendship. Maybe their composition or arrangement or a tune that we both like, run it down once and then record on video, just using my iPhone, to be as spontaneous as possible – a real ‘Conversation’ in that moment. I then realized that I had had ‘Conversations’ like this over the years and included them within this collection. It was all great fun.
Following are my ‘Conversations’ with musicians from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Finland, France, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Russia and throughout the United States. More coming….
Recorded @ UofL School of Music
Playing with Harry Pickens is always a special musical experience. Harry is, without question, the consummate accompanist, someone who has your ‘musical back’ at all times. This and the next three videos are from a concert we presented. It is obvious that Harry is a true musical partner!
Recorded @ UofL School of Music
When recording our CD ‘Conversations‘, we felt like we needed one more tune and found that we could not settle on the right one. Harry said wait a minute, more like 15 minutes, and he came up with this beautiful and meaningful melody. It was the right one.
Recorded @ UofL School of Music
What a fantastic melody with a wonderful story about lost love, disappointment and pain. Harry and I recorded this on ‘Conversations‘ and finally got an opportunity to play it live. I’d do again and again …
Recorded @ UofL School of Music
Great fun playing Brazilian music with Harry. We had to have at least one Jobim tune.
Duets & Trios
FREE IMPROVISATION – Michael Tracy and Philippe Geiss.
Recorded at Akademia Muzyczna in Poznan, Poland
Philippe is a outstanding saxophonist and educator. He and I met at the 5th International SaxEvent in December. Philippe enthusiastically embraced our playing together, so much so that we did so a second time just minutes following on the evening concert. Not often do you get to hear sopranino.
FREE IMPROVISATION – Michael Tracy and Rafal Rachwal.
Recorded at Akademia Muzyczna in Poznan, Poland
Rafal and I met at the 5th International SaxEvent in Poznan, Poland in December 2023. Rafa? is an excellent classical saxophonist and someone who has not had much experience improvising; however, it did not take much for me to get him to ‘converse’ with me through our saxophones.
BYE, BYE BLACKBIRD – Ray Henderson with bassist Rich Syracuse.
Recorded at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland. June 2023.
I met Rich many years ago in La Plata, Argentina, with Waldo Brandwajnman. I always enjoyed Rich’s enthusiasm and musical approach to playing. You can tell he just loves to play and I wanted to share that with him. Interestingly, he and I are both playing on borrowed instruments. Doesn’t matter in the least.
THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER YOU – Harry Warren with bassist Rich Syracuse.
Recorded at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland. June 2023.
We enjoyed playing so much, Rich said let’s do another. So we did.
NIGHT and DAY (1) – Cole Porter with guitarist Alé Demogli.
Recorded @ the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland, June 2023.
I met Alé during my first of many visits to Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2006, through a mutual friend, Waldo Brandwajnman. Our paths have crossed many times over the years, this time in Helsinki. We had to play together.
NIGHT and DAY (2) – Cole Porter with guitarist Alé Demogli.
Recorded @ the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland, June 2023.
Enjoyed playing so much with my Argentine friend Alé that we had to do a second take.
FREE IMPROVISATION 1 – Michael Tracy and Esa Pietilä.
Recorded @ the Sibelius Academy, Helsinki, Finland. June 2023.
Esa is from Finland and a very interesting individual who loves the saxophone, composing, sailing and much more. Don’t remember when we first met but have stayed in touch over the years. Playing freely is a different challenge and who better to play with than Esa.
FREE IMPROVISATION 2 – Michael Tracy and Esa Pietilä.
Recorded @ the Sibelius Academy, Helsinki, Finland. June 2023.
Had to try it again, who knows what might happen?!
YOU STEPPED OUT OF A DREAM – Nacio Herb Brown with guitarist Hector Lepe.
Recorded at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland. June 2023.
While attending the International Association of Schools of Jazz Meeting, I had to borrow a saxophone. Hector Lepe, a graduate student at the Sibelius Academy, often helped me with getting an instrument and a room to practice. Hector and I started talking and I found out that he was from Mexico and a really fine guitarist, another opportunity for an unplanned ‘conversation’.
BEATRICE – Sam Rivers with pianist Oscar Graça
Recorded @ the Sibelius Academy, Helsinki, Finland. June 2023.
Oscar and I met that the International Association of Schools of Jazz Meeting just this year. We were in a faculty group together and I loved his playing, so I had to ask if he’d play a duet with me. Thankfully he agreed.
SUNSHOWER – Kenny Barron with bassist Hamilton Pinheiro
Recorded at the Universidade de Brasília in Brasilia, Brazil.
Hamilton and I have had a close friendship and association ever since our first meeting in Brasilia many years ago. He is a founding member of my Brazilian group Hora Certa and helped to coordinate my Brazilian Music Workshop. We played many a job and recorded several CDs together. I love his compositions especially Mikezão and Para Casa. He is an extraordinary bassist and musician. I love playing with him in any setting
When I first heard Stan Getz playing Kenny Barron’s Sunshower I immediately wanted to play the tune. It was an excellent choice to play with Hamilton.
BEAUTIFUL LOVE – Victor Young with bassist Oswaldo Amorim
Recorded at the Universidade de Brasília in Brasilia, Brazil. May 2023.
Oswaldo is a first call bassist and it is such a joy playing with him. His smile and spirit are infectious, and shows in his playing. We recorded in a studio at UnB but had to wait because there was a session going on in the next room and there was bleed from their bassist. We kinda messed around with it while waiting for their session to end. Well unexpectedly Oswaldo just decided to stick it on the end of Beautiful Love, so our Conversation continued, stumbles and all. Like I wrote, a joy playing with Oswaldo.
BLACK ORPHEUS (Manhã de Carnaval) – Luiz Bonfá with guitarist Paulo Andre Tavares
Recorded at the Universidade de Brasília in Brasilia, Brazil. May 2023.
I really love the gentle way Paulo Andre plays, his touch and sensitivity to what others play. He is a true accompanist. We were considering tunes and he suggested Luiz Bonfá’s Black Orpheus. What a great suggestion and what better way to end our afternoon.
STELLA BY STARLIGHT – Victor Young with saxophonist Anderson Pessoa.
Recorded at the Universidade de Brasília in Brasilia, Brazil. May 2023.
Anderson is a colleague, friend and former student. He is also an excellent saxophonist, creative composer/arranger and outstanding teacher. I met Anderson during my first trip to Brazil in 1998 and we have stayed in touch ever since. I love visiting him and his students in Natal – the beaches, dunes, food….!
We had just finished participating in a saxophone event and thought we’d play a tune, so we selected Stella and just started playing. No melody at first, just soloing over the changes.
SOFTLY, AS IN A MORNING SUNRISE – Sigmund Romberg with drummer Ed Soph.
Recorded @ my UofL office.
‘Mr. Soph’ and I go a long way back, back to 1976 when I roomed with him at my first Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshop in Wichita, Kansas. We traveled the world together – England, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and more. What a great player and educator, character and caring friend.
Ed was in Louisville to play on John La Barbera’s composition Assumption, the orchestral piece that features tenor sax and rhythm section, for my retirement event. We found time between rehearsals to go to my old office and play a duet. I didn’t tell him the title, just the form and gave him a tempo. I knew that it would work out great.
TEMA PARA ESTHER – William Maestre with pianist William Maestre.
Recorded @ Universidad el Bosque, March 2023.
I met William Maestre in 2015 during my first visit to Bogota and el Bosque. Over the years and my many visits, I really enjoyed getting to know him, his playing and his compositions. Seemed a natural for a ‘conversation’ and he said yes and that he had the perfect composition for it – a waltz that he had written for his mother. After a quick run through, we played this lovely piece. I could tell it was meaningful for him.
SIN VIAJE – Javier Perez with guitarist/composer Javier Perez.
Recorded @ Universidad el Bosque, March 2023.
Javier and I have been friends and colleagues for many years. I have always enjoyed visiting Colombia and spending time with his students and faculty, for I have learned a great deal from our time together. Playing his composition Sin Viaje is a perfect example of our ‘conversations’ about his music and Colombia.
NARDIS – Bill Evans with guitarist David Becker.
Recorded @ my UofL office, March 2023.
David and I met through a mutual friend, Waldo Brandwajnman, in La Plata, Argentina in 2006 and have remained in touch every since. We recorded this for Waldo who passed during the pandemic. Waldo touched everyone he met and cared deeply about the music. Waldo you are greatly missed by many.
YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT LOVE IS – Don Raye and Gene de Paul
Recorded @ UofL School of Music. Faculty Gala.
This was supposed to be a duet with my friend Harry Pickens. We were to play Alfonsina y el Mar, a wonderful tune by Félix Luna – Ariel Ramírez. Unfortunately Harry became ill and could not play. So I had a choice – to get someone else to play, not play or play solo. I knew that I could not do Alfonsina justice alone, so I selected You Don’t Know What Love Is just before coming out. I love the melody and lyrics of You Don’t Know … and it is somewhat in the spirit of Alfonsina. So what was to be a duet with Harry became a ‘duet’ with myself.
O Grande Amor – Antonio Carlos Jobim
Conversation – Steve Allee
There Will Never Be Another You – Harry Warren
Autumn Leaves – Jacques Prevert
Everyone had to adjust during the COVID pandemic. Our annual Tyler Park Jazz Fest was no exception. Winton and I just got together and presented our concert from my home. It was an enjoyable experience playing fun tunes.
Playing Samir is always fun. He is game to try anything and it
always comes out musically.
Love playing Brazilian music and love playing with Pedrinho and Kiko, so creative and musical. We just set-up and went, no rehearsal.
Recorded for Jazz Studies, 6/2019.
Recorded for Jazz Studies, 6/2019.
Recorded for Jazz Studies, 6/2019
Recorded @ UofL Faculty Gala, 2/2019
I love this melody and the interaction with Craig. He hears everything.
Recorded @ UofL Faculty Gala, 9/2018.
Playing with Craig is always a treat. Pick a tune and just go.
Recorded @ UofL Faculty Gala, 9/2016
Love this Strayhorn melody.
Recorded @ my home, 5/2016
A promotional video for a tour of China. (short version)
Recorded @ my home, 5/2016
Recorded @ my home, 5/2016
Recorded @ my home, 5/2016
A promotional video for a tour of China. (short version)
Recorded for KET-TV, 2/2000.
Always fun swinging with Tyrone.
Turning the tables on Miles’ classic tune, sax the bass line and bass the melody.
HORA CERTA and Brazilian
A night of Brazilian standards and originals.
Michael Tracy – sax, Moisés Alves – trumpet, Daniel Rodrigues – trombone, Iara Gomes – piano, Giovanni Sena – bass, Pedro Almeida – drums, Larissa Umaytá – percussion with special guest Renato Vasconcellos – piano
Hora Certa
Joy Spring – Clifford Brown arr by CC Mariano and Winton Reynolds
Fábio Calazans – Guitar, Michael Tracy – Tenor Sax, Saulo Moura – Bass, Edu Szajnbrum – Pandeiro
Hora Certa @ Saxophone Weekend 2019.
Fotografia
CD release concert (September 19, 2019)
Festivals
with Robenare Marques, Marcelo Coelho, Rich Syracuse, Jeff Siegel, David Becker & Renato Vasconcellos
Autumn Leaves – Kosma
Original – Robenare Marques
with Marek Walarowski Trio
Israel – John Carisi
with Marek Walarowski Trio
Original – Marek Walarowski
with Renato Vasconcellos, Oswaldo Amorim & Leander Motta
Mulher Rendeira – arr. Paulo André Tavares
with Renato Vasconcellos, Oswaldo Amorim & Leander Motta
Once I Love – Antonio Carlos Jobim
with Renato Vasconcellos, Oswaldo Amorim & Leander Motta
No Horta do Tom – Oswaldo Amorim
with Renato Vasconcellos, Oswaldo Amorim & Leander Motta
Recado Bossa Nova – Djalma Ferreira
Jazz at the Library
Lexington, KY (October 6, 2014)
Quartet / Quintet / Sextet
JazzFest 2018
with Adam Nussbaum, Gabe Evens, Chris Fitzgerald
Kavkaz Jazz Festival 2016
Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia
Thelonious Club 2014
(Buenos Aires, Argentina) – with Ale Demogli – guitar, Rich Syracuse – bass, Jeff ‘Siege’ Siegel – drums
with Marek Walarowski Trio
Israel – John Carisi
with Marek Walarowski Trio
Original – Marek Walarowski
UofL Jazz Faculty
performances with the jazz faculty of the University of Louisville
Boy in the Red Hat – Gabe Evens
Quito Exchange – Gabe Evens
KET-TV Live
Recorded for KET-TV, 2/2001
with Renato Vasconcellos – piano, Tyrone Wheeler – bass,
Jason Tiemann – drums
Orchestra
by John La Barbera
Michael Tracy – saxophone
Gabe Evens – piano
Chris Fitzgerald – bass
Ed Soph – drums
Kimcherie Lloyd – conductor, University of Louisville Symphony Orchestra
education
INTERVIEW: REFLECTIONS on JAZZ and MUSIC EDUCATION
Mukuru Ghetto. Nairobi, Kenya. November 28, 2024
Omollo Phabian is a trumpeter and PR person for Ghetto Classics. I think he did an excellent job creating this video.