Michael Janisch

Michael Janisch has established himself as a tireless creative force across the developing international spheres of contemporary improvised and experimental music. Based in London (originally from the USA), he successfully traverses this creative topography as a first-call electric & double bassist, MOBO-Award nominated solo artist, prolific producer, and owner of Whirlwind Recordings, which has become one of the world’s premiere indie labels of the last decade. Janisch’s previous solo albums have been nominated for multiple industry awards, while getting radio spins on Gilles Peterson, NPR, WDR, BBC, JazzFM shows as well as coverage in Jazzwise, Jazz Thing, Downbeat & Concerto Magazines, The NY Times & Guardian and beyond to international acclaim. His new album 'Worlds Collide' is an electro-acoustic album of original material recorded at Abbey Road Studios and has been described as combining contemporary jazz heavily influenced by both the London/New York scenes alongside free improvisations and soaring melodies over multi-metered grooves, paying hommage to artists such as Feli Kuti & Afro-Beat and the electronic music pioneer Aphex Twin. The album features a cast comprised of some of the world’s most creative improvisers in Jason Palmer (trumpet), John O'Gallagher (alto sax), Rez Abbasi (guitar), John Escreet (piano), George Crowley (tenor saxophone), Andrew Bain (drums) and Clarence Penn (drums).

Gear

AMT Microphones
D'Addario Strings, (double and electric)
Pirastro Strings (double bass)
Fender Electric Basses
Planet Wave Cables
Boss Pedals

Tags

Interview

Album Review

Paradigm Shift by Roger Farbey

Take Five With...

Take Five With Michael Janisch

Album Review

Purpose Built by Edward Blanco
Purpose Built by Woodrow Wilkins
Purpose Built by J Hunter
Purpose Built by Chris May

“Awesomely virtuosic double bass” The Guardian

“Michael Janisch is a commanding bassist, who brings a sinewy thrust to the ensemble with masterful agility.” Downbeat Magazine

“Janisch leads his quintet on a rip-roaring ride, doling out heavy grooves, tasty walking lines and melody by the bucketful. Like all good bassists, he knows when to sit back and let the lead instruments have their spot.” Bass Guitar Magazine

“Michael Janisch is a virtuoso on the bass.” Jazzthetic

“Janisch is one of the few bass players out there who plays both electric and upright with equal facility, passion and musicality.” Bass Musician Magazine

“Michael Janisch is simply a monster player

“Awesomely virtuosic double bass” The Guardian

“Michael Janisch is a commanding bassist, who brings a sinewy thrust to the ensemble with masterful agility.” Downbeat Magazine

“Michael Janisch is a virtuoso on the bass.” Jazzthetic

“Janisch is one of the few bass players out there who plays both electric and upright with equal facility, passion and musicality.” Bass Musician Magazine

“Michael Janisch is simply a monster player. His bass skills on both electric and acoustic seem monumental and at the same time, effortless. He obviously loves a groove, though his grooves are more complex than your average funk/R&B bassist. His soloing is thematic and takes in the entire range of the instrument, often contrasting high note melodic statement with low note grooves.” What’s On

“The bassist Michael Janisch, outstanding throughout in partnership with the drummer Jeff Williams, is featured at length on “Bilbao Song”, showing himself to be one of a new breed of player (along with Thomas Morgan and Larry Grenadier) whose renunciation of the desire to play faster, higher and ever more intricate lines acts to the great benefit of the music.” The Blue Moment

“Janisch seizes the instrument with a blend of speed and energy as if he wants to be melody, harmony and rhythm all at once.” The Telegraph

“A very great bassist and composer, providing a wealth of ideas and musical command of his instrument, both the acoustic and electric bass.” Musik Reviews

“A bassist everyone with ears seems to want.” The Buffalo News

“Janisch himself is a tower of strength, as he always is, providing the harmonic core, some of the most melodic bass playing in jazz.” Bebop Spoken Here

“A very great bassist and composer, providing a wealth of ideas and musical command of his instrument, both the acoustic and electric bass.” Music Reviews

“Michael Janisch has created the music of “now”—that is music in the immediacy of the present. Mr. Janisch is articulate in his muscular opening and what follows his challenge to dig deep is as mighty a response to his consonant and dissonant overture. Of course, this is the Michael Janisch that is heard throughout the record, pushing the drummer and the pianist to throw down gauntlets to the other soloists.” Latin Jazz Network

“Janisch’s Purpose Built seamlessly marries the highest virtues of jazz – intricate yet purposeful rhythm, colourful harmonic language, compelling melody and high- level improvisation together with those often underused qualities of light and shade… a perfect blend of tradition and modernity.” Jazz Journal

“One of the most inventive cross-border bandleaders to have recently arrived on the scene.” The Guardian

“Exceptional creativity, brilliant musicianship and compositional intensity are what bassist/composer Michael Janisch is all about, [Purpose Built] is the complete package.” JazzTimes Magazine

“Impressive from beginning to end, Purpose Built goes a long way to building a sturdy foundation from which Janisch will undoubtedly carve out a long career in jazz. Excellent musicianship, intelligent compositions and an authoritative approach to the music, makes this recording an unquestionable success. Hopefully there is more where Purpose Built came from, because intelligent, full-bodied music like this is what jazz needs to succeed in this new century.” All About Jazz

“Contributions like Janisch’s – both as bassist and as producer – to the musical life of our great city are beyond price.” London Jazz

“American bassist Michael Janisch’s Whirlwind label is fast becoming a major player.” The Guardian

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