Michael White Quintet

Michael White is a jazz violinist /composer/educator. He has been fortunate to have played with many legendary jazz giants, such as John Coltrane, Sun Ra, Pharoah Sanders, John Handy, Joe Henderson, McCoy Tyner, Stevie Wonder, Sonny Simmons and many others, throughout his music career. Also in the early 70's, He was a major recording artist as a leader with Impulse and Elektra/Asylum. Thereafter for about three decades, his musical endeavors have lead into recording as a guest player with artists of many different genres.

With newly released CD “Voices”, Michael White Quintet was born

Michael White is a jazz violinist /composer/educator. He has been fortunate to have played with many legendary jazz giants, such as John Coltrane, Sun Ra, Pharoah Sanders, John Handy, Joe Henderson, McCoy Tyner, Stevie Wonder, Sonny Simmons and many others, throughout his music career. Also in the early 70's, He was a major recording artist as a leader with Impulse and Elektra/Asylum. Thereafter for about three decades, his musical endeavors have lead into recording as a guest player with artists of many different genres.

With newly released CD “Voices”, Michael White Quintet was born. The recording brought together a union of great musicians, a grammy winning bassist Cecil McBee and Kenneth Nash-percussion, along with Tim Young-guitar and Leisei Chen-voice. The artistic expressions are extended to it's concept of color, design, liner notes


We discovered that our musical philosophy had a mutual spiritual dynamic. The four corner stones of our music are “ Love, Healing, Inspiration & Hope”. Our sound is intended to touch one's heart and fill one's body with a kozmic groove


Our band is available for international engagements, festivals, concerts, workshops and multimedia recording projects. The band's instrumentation consists of Violin, Vocals/Voice, Guitar, Bass and Percussion. Our repertoire covers original compositions, jazz classics, bossa nova, latin, and sponteneous sound improvisation.

Current Reissues:
09/27/05 - The Land Of Spirit And Light - Impluse! USA & Europe
10/12/05 - Pneuma - Impulse! Japan
06/13/06 - Pneuma - Impulse! USA
From the reissues of above albums, Verve Music Group will support the publicity on our appearances

MICHAEL WHITE - Violinist / Composer /Educator-

Michael White is a truly original and groundbreaking violinist in the realm of jazz. In the 1960s, he introduced the violin into the free jazz scenes of the Bay Area and New York, playing with luminaries such as Sun Ra and Pharoah Sanders. In the early 1970s, he was a founding member of the first fusion group, the “Fourth Way”. He released five albums with the Michael White Quartet on Impulse records, and toured throughout the United States and Europe. He has performed in Lagos, Nigeria with Stevie Wonder and Sun Ra. He continues to play with Pharoah Sanders, appearing on Sanders' 1996 album Message From Home. In 1998 he released an album of duets with Bill Frisell entitled Motion Pictures.His latest recording “Voices”, features a reunion with his original Impulse! Records rhythm section of Cecil McBee, bass; Kenneth Nash, percussion; along with guitarist Timothy Young and vocalist Leisei Chen.

In addition to the newly released album “Voices”, his impulse albums “The Land of Spirit and Light” and “Pnuema” have recently been reissued by Impulse and “The Blessing Song” has compiled among the world's renowned DJs - Kyoto Jazz Massive “Succession Of Spirit” (Japan), “Pure Fire! A Gilles Peterson Impulse! Collection”(UK) and others. Highly acclaimed as a Spiritual Jazz Master, his music is resonating through generations globally.

Michael White was a former Capitol, Impulse and Elektra/Asylum recording artist

Performed with the Other Artists And Bands:
Michael White has appeared in San Francisco, as a special guest with The John Coltrane Quartet, McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Gallison, Elvin Jones, along with Wes Mongomery and Eric Dolphy.
Joe Bonner, Richard Davis,Henry Grimes, Tootie Heath, Philly Joe Jones (band), Rasaan Roland Kirk (band), Herbie Lewis, Buddy Montgomery, Eddie Moore, Phineas Newborn Jr., Odean Pope, George Szabo, Lonnie Liston Smith, McCoy Tyner, Alice Coltrane, Joe Henderson, John Handy, Sonny Simmons and others.

Appearances at the festivals:
Montreux Jazz Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, Berkeley Jazz Festival, Pacific Coast Jazz Festival, FESTAC Multi-Arts Festival (Lagos, Nigeria), Newport Jazz Festival Violin Summit (with Ray Nance and Jean Luc-Ponty), Eddie Moore Jazz Festival (San Francisco, California), San Francisco Jazz Festival (Fourthway Reunion)

National Awards:
* 2007 Winner in The 6th Annual Independent Music Awards
* 2006 Second Place Winner in The International Songwriting Competition
* 2006 Honorable Mentions-Session 1 in The JLSC
* Voice of America Radio New Star Awards
* Down Beat Magazine Award for Talent Deserving Wider Recognition
* Faculty member of the Cornish College of The Arts