Lady Bird/Half Nelson – Dameron/Boyd with saxophonist Samir Kambarov
August 16, 2020
Playing Samir is always fun. He is game to try anything and it
always comes out musically.
Triste – Antonio Carlos Jobim with percussionists Pedro Augusto & Kiko Serbian
July 1, 2019
Love playing Brazilian music and love playing with Pedrinho and Kiko, so creative and musical. We just set-up and went, no rehearsal.
Beatrice – Sam Rivers with pianist Gabe Evens
June 1, 2019
Recorded for Jazz Studies, 6/2019.
Blue Bossa – Kenny Dorham with pianist Gabe Evens
May 1, 2019
Recorded for Jazz Studies, 6/2019
Nardis – Bill Evans/Miles Davis with pianist Gabe Evens
June 1, 2019
Recorded for Jazz Studies, 6/2019.
Blue n Green – Miles Davis/Bill Evans with guitarist Craig Wagner
February 11, 2019
Recorded @ UofL Faculty Gala, 2/2019
I love this melody and the interaction with Craig. He hears everything.
Alone Together – Arthur Schwartz with guitarist Craig Wagner
September 1, 2018
Recorded @ UofL Faculty Gala, 9/2018.
Playing with Craig is always a treat. Pick a tune and just go.
Isfahan – Billy Strayhorn with bassist Chris Fitzgerald
September 1, 2016
Recorded @ UofL Faculty Gala, 9/2016
Love this Strayhorn melody.
So What – Miles Davis with bassist Tyrone Wheeler
February 1, 2000
Turning the tables on Miles’ classic tune, sax the bass line and bass the melody.
Doxy – Sonny Rollins with bassist Tyrone Wheeler.
February 1, 2000
Recorded for KET-TV, 2/2000.
Always fun swinging with Tyrone.
The Girl From Ipanema – AC Jobim with bassist Andre Gonsalves
February 19, 2016
All Blues – Miles Davis with pianist Winton Reynolds
May 1, 2016
Recorded @ my home, 5/2016
Blue Bossa – Kenny Dorham with pianist Winton Reynolds
May 1, 2016
Recorded @ my home, 5/2016
All Blues – Miles Davis (short version) with pianist Winton Reynolds
May 1, 2016
Recorded @ my home, 5/2016
A promotional video for a tour of China. (short version)
Blue Bossa – Kenny Dorham (short version) with pianist Winton Reynolds
May 24, 2016
Recorded @ my home, 5/2016
A promotional video for a tour of China. (short version)
Tyler Park Jazz Fest 2020 – Duo Concert with pianist Winton Reynolds
September 20, 2020
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.
Nardis – Michael Tracy with David Becker
March 2, 2023
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.
Night and Day – Michael Tracy with Alé Demogli (1)
June 20, 2023
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) – Michael Tracy with Alé Demogli
June 20, 2023
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.
Beatrice – Michael Tracy and Oscar Graça
June 2, 2023
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.
Free Improvisation 1 – Michael Tracy and Esa Pietilä
June 10, 2023
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
June 10, 2023
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?!
Free Improvisation – Michael Tracy and Philippe Geiss
December 17, 2023
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 Rafa? Rachwa?
December 17, 2023
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 – Michael Tracy with Rich Syracuse
June 21, 2023
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 – Michael Tracy with Rich Syracuse
June 21, 2023
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.
You Stepped Out Of A Dream – Michael Tracy with Hector Lepe
June 10, 2023
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’.
Sin viaje – Michael Tracy with Javier Perez
March 3, 2023
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.
Sin viaje – Michael Tracy with William Maestre
March 4, 2023
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.
Stella by Starlight – Victor Young with Anderson Pessoa
May 25, 2023
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.
Black Orpheus(Manhã de Carnaval) – Luiz Bonfá with Paulo Andre Tavares
May 25, 2023
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.
Beautiful Love – Victor Young with Oswaldo Amorim
May 25, 2023
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.
Sunshower – Kenny Barron with Hamilton Pinheiro
May 25, 2023
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.
Softly,As In A Morning Sunrise – Sigmund Romberg with Ed Soph
April 1, 2023
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.
You Don’t Know What Love Is – Don Raye and Gene de Paul
October 25, 2022
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.