Music-Associated Videos

Kenya – A Collection

January 1, 2025

MY TIME with GHETTO CLASSICS
Korogocho and Mukuru Ghettos. Nairobi, Kenya. October to December 2025

This is a collection of videos from my six weeks working with students and faculty from Ghetto Classics. It was a fantastic, humbling experience. I cherish every moment I was able to know and work with these really wonderful people.

Joy Spring by Clifford Brown, arr. by CC Mariano and Winton Reynolds

October 14, 2024

Joy Spring – Clifford Brown arr by CC Mariano and Winton Reynolds

Brasilia Connections

May 17, 2024

Brasília Connections – opening concert for the Brazilian Music Workshop @ Casa Thomas Jefferson. Brasilia, Brazil May 17, 2024

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

Blue Whisper – Amina Figarova

December 4, 2023

Blue Whisper – Amina Figarova

Black Orpheus(Manhã de Carnaval) with guitarist Paulo Andre Tavares 

May 30, 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.

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.

Assumption

April 6, 2023

by John La Barbera
Michael Tracy – saxophone
Gabe Evens – piano
Chris Fitzgerald – bass
Ed Soph – drums
Kimcherie Lloyd – conductor, University of Louisville Symphony Orchestra

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.

Tyler Park Jazz Fest 2020 – Duo Concert with pianist Winton Reynolds

September 20, 2020

I Mean You – Thelonious Monk
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.

Hora Certa 1/27/2019

January 27, 2019

Hora Certa @ Saxophone Weekend 2019.

UofL Jazz Studies Program

October 5, 2014

Meet the Faculty – Mike Tracy

November 18, 2013

Jamey Aebersold’s Jazz Workshop

July 18, 2012

The University of Louisville School of Music recently hosted the Jamey Abebersold Jazz Workshop.Hundreds attended the workshop this year. During the week-long workshop, participants received hands-on training from some of best jazz instructors in the country. The event showcased UofL’s Belknap campus and the School of Music to young musicians and music lovers from all over the world.

Master class with Eric Alexander – Summer Jazz Workshops

June 18, 2012

Eric Alexander (tenor sax) Master Class – Day 2 with Mike Tracy

UofL Open World Jazz Program

March 4, 2010

UofL’s School of Music, home of the Jamey Abersold Jazz Studies Program, hosted the 6th annual Open World program in February. Jazz students from Russia who have never been to the United States came to learn, to experience the culture and most importantly to play jazz.

Brazil

Saxophone Workshop In Brazil

May 31, 2011

Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) – Natal, Brazil

Colombia

Improvisation Master Class – Michael Tracy

March 4, 2023

Jazz Improvisation – Things to Consider
Universidad el Bosque
Bogota, Colombia

I really enjoy working with students, especially ones in different countries, who may or may not speak English. Typically they are keenly interested in new ideas and, since English is their second language at best, it forces me to slow down and to think of different ways to get ideas and concepts across. This was a master class on improvisation for students that the Universidad el Bosque in Bogota, Colombia. As you can tell when listening, they were into it. It was a really good time together and I just happened to have turned on my iPhone to record.

Ecuador

Universidad de las Artes master class

May 28, 2019

Short clips from a master class at Universidad de las Artes in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

Republic of Georgia

Mike Tracy in Tbilisi

June 20, 2016

The U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi was proud to support the visit of jazz musician and educator Mike Tracy. Mike came to Georgia for two weeks so share his knowledge about jazz with Georgian music students and musicians from around the region. He gave free masterclasses and workshops at the Tbilisi State Conservatoire. Mike also participated in the Kavkaz Jazz Festival, where he performed in Tbilisi and Akhaltsikhe.