Michael Bocian

Michael Bocian (born June 18, 1953 in Cleveland ) is an American guitarist and composer who moves between jazz , classical and new improvisation music.

Live and act

Bocian learned classical guitar from the age of twelve. Jazz guitarist Bill De Arango , who had a music store in his hometown, became his mentor over the next few years and performed with him at the local jazz club Smiling Dog Saloon . He also played with Joe Lovano , Skip Hadden, Jamey Haddad , James Emery and Ernie Krivda . After spending time in California, Bermuda, Florida and Boston, he moved to New York in 1975, where he formed the band Universal Language with Joe Lovano, Paul McCandless , Billy Drewes and Dennis Dotson.

In the 1990s he formed a quartet with Dewey Redman , Ed Blackwell and Rashied Ali ; he also appeared for a long time in a trio with Ed Schuller and Victor Jones . In the Wood group he worked with bassist Scott Lee , clarinetist Billy Drewes and various violinists such as Jon Kass, Gregor Hübner and Mark Feldman . He also improvised together with David Darling for the Alwin Nikolai Dance Company .

He has released twelve albums under his name. He also wrote a book 25 Etudes for Contemporary Guitar (with an accompanying CD, 2008).

Discographic notes

• For This Gift ( GM Recordings 1980, with Paul McCandless, Dave Samuels , David Darling, Joe Lovano, Billy Drewes, Kenny Werner , Larry Porter and Judi Silvano )
• Go Groove (GM Recordings 1989, with Fred Hersch , Ed Schuller, Rashid Ali)
• Reverence ( Enja 1994, with Dewey Redman, Cameron Brown , Skip Hadden)
• Premonition (Enja 1997)
• Stork on the Hudson: Michael Bocian Solo (Ulua 2006)
• A Play Beyond Maya (Ulua 2007, with Ratzo Harris and Tom Rainey )
• Michael Bocian, Bill De Arango, Tom Rainey I Am the Blues (Ulua 2007, rec. 1994)
• The Five Elements (Ulua 2010)

Web links

• Web presence
• Michael Bocian at Allmusic (English)