Michael Eckroth | |
---|---|
![]() Michael Eckroth performing in 2019 | |
Background information | |
Origin | Phoenix, Arizona, United States |
Genres | |
Occupation(s) | Musician, pianist, arranger |
Instrument(s) | Piano, keyboards, vocals |
Years active | 1995–present |
Labels | Daptone Records, SteepleChase Records, Positone Records |
Website |
www |
Michael Eckroth is an American jazz pianist, arranger, and composer from Phoenix, Arizona, particularly known for his work in Latin jazz. [1] [2] [3] He was a member of jazz-rock guitarist John Scofield's New Quartet from 2010-2012. [3] Currently, he is the co-writer, arranger, and pianist for Cuban and American mambo big band Orquesta Akokán, [1] whose self-titled debut album from Daptone Records was nominated in the 61st Annual Grammy Awards. [4]
Michael Eckroth was raised in Phoenix, Arizona. He is from a musical family and is the brother of keyboardist Rachel Eckroth. [5] [6]
He formally studied jazz throughout his career, receiving his B.A. at the University of Arizona and receiving his M.A. at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. [7] [8] [9] He began pursuing his Ph.D. at New York University in 2006. [9] During this time, he was the recipient of the Díaz-Ayala Library Travel Grant at Florida International University under a U.S. Department of Education Title VI grant in 2012 to conduct research on Cuban music. [10] He later completed his Ph.D. in 2016, writing his dissertation on Cuban piano solos of the 1940s. [1]
While studying at New York University, Eckroth became involved in a number of musical projects as a pianist. While Eckroth was a student in an ensemble class led by jazz-rock guitarist John Scofield, Scofield invited Eckroth to join his New Quartet with drummer Bill Stewart and bassist Ben Street from 2010-2012. [3] [11] Eckroth appears in the live concert DVD of the group's 2010 concert in Paris, France at jazz club New Morning. [11]
Eckroth formed the Latin vocal trio La Voz de Tres with Chilean vocalist Natalia Bernal and guitarist Jason Ennis in 2008. [12] [13] The group released their self-titled debut album in 2010 and their second album Sueños y Delirios in 2015. [14] Around this time, Eckroth also performed with jazz multi-instrumentalist Paul McCandless and Brazilian guitarist Aliéksey Vianna. The trio released a live concert DVD from Brazil in 2009 titled Ebano. [15] Additionally, Eckroth appeared on Morrie Louden's album Time Piece, which featured singer Gretchen Parlato and guitarist Lionel Loueke. [16]
In 2015, Eckroth released a solo album of Cuban music titled Piano and Rhythm. [17] Later in 2016, Eckroth released a duo album with bassist Ron McClure titled Hello Stars. [3] Eckroth appeared on Ron McClure's Trio album Hope and Knowledge as well. [18] Eckroth also appeared on saxophonist Dan Pratt's Quartet album Hymn for the Happy Man with bassist Christian McBride and drummer Greg Hutchinson. [19]
Starting in 2016, Eckroth formed the Cuban and American mambo big band Orquesta Akokán as its co-writer, arranger, and pianist with singer José "Pepito" Gómez and composer Jacob Plasse.[ citation needed] The group is a collaboration of musicians from Cuba and the United States that formed after the normalization of relations between the two countries in 2014. [1] The band recorded their debut album in Havana, Cuba at the historic EGREM state-run Areíto Studios, where notable musicians like Buena Vista Social Club, Celia Cruz, Benny Moré, and Frank Sinatra have recorded. [1] [20] [21] The group's debut album was released by Daptone Records in 2018, and it was the record label's first all Spanish-language recording. [2] The album was nominated for the 61st Annual Grammy Awards in the "Best Tropical Latin Album" category. [4]
Eckroth also served as the arranger and pianist for Calle Mambo Project's 2018 album See The Light. [22] He is currently part of the jazz faculty at Dartmouth College. [23]
2019: Nominated in the 61st Annual Grammy Awards in the "Best Tropical Latin Album" category for the self-titled debut album by Orquesta Akokán.
Michael Eckroth | |
---|---|
![]() Michael Eckroth performing in 2019 | |
Background information | |
Origin | Phoenix, Arizona, United States |
Genres | |
Occupation(s) | Musician, pianist, arranger |
Instrument(s) | Piano, keyboards, vocals |
Years active | 1995–present |
Labels | Daptone Records, SteepleChase Records, Positone Records |
Website |
www |
Michael Eckroth is an American jazz pianist, arranger, and composer from Phoenix, Arizona, particularly known for his work in Latin jazz. [1] [2] [3] He was a member of jazz-rock guitarist John Scofield's New Quartet from 2010-2012. [3] Currently, he is the co-writer, arranger, and pianist for Cuban and American mambo big band Orquesta Akokán, [1] whose self-titled debut album from Daptone Records was nominated in the 61st Annual Grammy Awards. [4]
Michael Eckroth was raised in Phoenix, Arizona. He is from a musical family and is the brother of keyboardist Rachel Eckroth. [5] [6]
He formally studied jazz throughout his career, receiving his B.A. at the University of Arizona and receiving his M.A. at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. [7] [8] [9] He began pursuing his Ph.D. at New York University in 2006. [9] During this time, he was the recipient of the Díaz-Ayala Library Travel Grant at Florida International University under a U.S. Department of Education Title VI grant in 2012 to conduct research on Cuban music. [10] He later completed his Ph.D. in 2016, writing his dissertation on Cuban piano solos of the 1940s. [1]
While studying at New York University, Eckroth became involved in a number of musical projects as a pianist. While Eckroth was a student in an ensemble class led by jazz-rock guitarist John Scofield, Scofield invited Eckroth to join his New Quartet with drummer Bill Stewart and bassist Ben Street from 2010-2012. [3] [11] Eckroth appears in the live concert DVD of the group's 2010 concert in Paris, France at jazz club New Morning. [11]
Eckroth formed the Latin vocal trio La Voz de Tres with Chilean vocalist Natalia Bernal and guitarist Jason Ennis in 2008. [12] [13] The group released their self-titled debut album in 2010 and their second album Sueños y Delirios in 2015. [14] Around this time, Eckroth also performed with jazz multi-instrumentalist Paul McCandless and Brazilian guitarist Aliéksey Vianna. The trio released a live concert DVD from Brazil in 2009 titled Ebano. [15] Additionally, Eckroth appeared on Morrie Louden's album Time Piece, which featured singer Gretchen Parlato and guitarist Lionel Loueke. [16]
In 2015, Eckroth released a solo album of Cuban music titled Piano and Rhythm. [17] Later in 2016, Eckroth released a duo album with bassist Ron McClure titled Hello Stars. [3] Eckroth appeared on Ron McClure's Trio album Hope and Knowledge as well. [18] Eckroth also appeared on saxophonist Dan Pratt's Quartet album Hymn for the Happy Man with bassist Christian McBride and drummer Greg Hutchinson. [19]
Starting in 2016, Eckroth formed the Cuban and American mambo big band Orquesta Akokán as its co-writer, arranger, and pianist with singer José "Pepito" Gómez and composer Jacob Plasse.[ citation needed] The group is a collaboration of musicians from Cuba and the United States that formed after the normalization of relations between the two countries in 2014. [1] The band recorded their debut album in Havana, Cuba at the historic EGREM state-run Areíto Studios, where notable musicians like Buena Vista Social Club, Celia Cruz, Benny Moré, and Frank Sinatra have recorded. [1] [20] [21] The group's debut album was released by Daptone Records in 2018, and it was the record label's first all Spanish-language recording. [2] The album was nominated for the 61st Annual Grammy Awards in the "Best Tropical Latin Album" category. [4]
Eckroth also served as the arranger and pianist for Calle Mambo Project's 2018 album See The Light. [22] He is currently part of the jazz faculty at Dartmouth College. [23]
2019: Nominated in the 61st Annual Grammy Awards in the "Best Tropical Latin Album" category for the self-titled debut album by Orquesta Akokán.