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Mike Fortune

Mike Fortune is a drummer committed to creative new music. Growing up in upstate New York, Mike studied with percussionists Richard Albagli and James Peterscak and drummers John Riley, Ed Shaunessy and Bob Moses. He also, during that time, earned a B. of Ed. In Music Ed. at the Crane School of Music. When not meditating in the wilderness, he gained performing experience with Bret Zvacek, Mark Capon, Nick Mancini, Paul Tynan, and other friends. Upon moving to New York City five years ago, Mike stumbled into the 'downtown' scene in NYC, by accident, through meeting a mutual friend, Kelly Pratt. They together formed the group, Microtonacity. Forgoing his instilled beliefs that music is a fear-based system, Mike has gone on to perform/record with not only Microtonacity but also other great musicians, many being international jazz luminaries. The list includes Marshall Allen, Shanir Blumenkrantz , Roy Campbell Jr., Daniel Carter, Jorrit Dykstra, Avram K. Fefer, Francois Grillot, Adam Lane, Lukas Ligeti, Ed Littman, Sabir Mateen, Eyal Moaz, Lawrence "Butch" Morris, Ras Moshe, Bern Nix, Rueben Radding, Michael Ray, Jeffrey H. Shurdut, Sonny Simmons, Blaise Siwula, Luther Thomas, Walter Thompson, to name but a few. New projects include the quartet "The Pattons" a collaboration with guitarist Ty Cumbie based on the works of organist "Big" John Patton. Mike has performed at venues and festivals such as the Blue Note, Knitting Factory, Tonic, Zebulon, Tribes, C.O.M.A., Bowery Poetry Club, Music Now!, University of Notre Dame Jazz Festival, FreeStyle Series at CB's Lounge, and many, many, many others.

Selected recordings:

Microtonacity "Microtonacity" (Tonacity Records) 2002

Microtonacity "Negative Miles" (Microtonacity Records) 2004

Daniel Carter "Live at the Medicine Show" (Fly on the Wall Records) 2004

Sonny Simmons "Zebulon 1" (NO LABELS/Cadence Dist.) 2005

Luther Thomas "The Rap" (NO LABELS/Cadence Dist.) 2005

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Album Review

Joel Harrison: The Wheel

Read "The Wheel" reviewed by Troy Collins


A wildly diverse improviser/composer/arranger with a penchant for unorthodox instrumental combinations, guitarist Joel Harrison has sustained one of the most unpredictable discographies of the last decade with his chimerical mix of jazz, blues, chamber music, African and Indian folk music, Appalachian tunes and old school country songs.

Nothing in his expansive output approaches the episodic grandeur of The Wheel however. A five part suite written for a combined string quartet and jazz quintet, Harrison's long-form work succeeds where ...

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Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

The Wheel

Innova Recordings
2008

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