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Rale Micic

Rale Micic is one of the most successful and critically acclaimed jazz musicians to emerge from Serbia. Audiences throughout the world have been captivated by Micic’s mesmerizing music, exploring interaction between his Serbian musical roots and his extensive knowledge of jazz.

With three albums‘released on CTA Records, Rale Micic created cult-like following among music fans with his mix of jazz and haunting melodies from the Balkans. On his second release entitled Serbia, Micic establishes himself as one of the most inventive voices on the music scene today, featuring renowned Grammy-nominated trumpet player Tom Harrell, and was called “mellow, tight and tasteful” by Downbeat. His trio album, symbolically titled “3”, is an entrancing trio record described as “ a groove heavy record… pure listening pleasure”.

On his new album entitled Night Music (Whaling City Sound) , Rale looks closer to home for his inspiration. It features all new music, a modern day re-imaging of Bela Bartok’s idea of night music and what it would sound like in the city today.

Rale Micic has been featured in numerous publications including Downbeat, JazzTimes, LA Times, San Diego Tribune, Boston Globe, etc. He has performed at prominent jazz clubs and music festivals in US and Europe including Village Vanguard, Catalina Jazz Club, Blues Alley,, Scullers Jazz Club, Dizzy’s, Smalls, San Jose Jazz Festival, Hartford International Jazz Festival, etc.

As a sideman, Micic has worked with the jazz artists such as Tom Harrell, Don Friedman, Eric Alexander, Jason and Delfayo Marsalis, etc. He is a member of Tom Harrell Chamber Ensemble and is featured on critically acclaimed release First Impression (2015 High Note). Rale Micic plays Sadowsky guitars and D’Addario strings.

Gear

Sadowsky SS-15 Gibson ES-330 D'Addario Strings


Tags

2
Album Review

Mike LeDonne: The Heavy Hitters

Read "The Heavy Hitters" reviewed by Mike Jurkovic


Homing in on the electric, ancestral vibe of Rudy Van Gelder's house of musical myth and magic in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, the Heavy Hitters, spearheaded by journeyman pianist Mike LeDonne and well-traveled saxophonist, Eric Alexander, approach this eponymous debut with a ballsy, brassy, big sounding blueprint which carries through the entire recording. In deciding who best to share Van Gelder's hallowed space with, LeDonne and Alexander brought in the big guns--namely trumpeter Jeremy Pelt, alto saxophonist Vincent ...

5
Album Review

Mike LeDonne: The Heavy Hitters

Read "The Heavy Hitters" reviewed by Pierre Giroux


There was a period back in the middle years of the 20th Century and beyond when All-Star Groups were quite common, including the Buck Clayton All-Stars, Howard Rumsey's Lighthouse All-Stars, and Gene Harris and the Phillip Morris Superband among several other similar aggregations. In today's musical environment, this kind of coming together of high profile musicians is exceedingly rare, primarily driven by cost issues, although availability of the musicians is also a limiting factor. Pianist & organist Mike LeDonne was ...

40
Album Review

The Heavy Hitters: The Heavy Hitters

Read "The Heavy Hitters" reviewed by Jack Bowers


The Heavy Hitters. Hyperbole? A matter of fact? Or simply the name given by co-leaders Mike LeDonne and Eric Alexander to their newly minted sextet. The third statement is true--but so is the second. From pianist LeDonne and tenor saxophonist Alexander to fellow front-liners Jeremy Pelt (trumpet) and Vincent Herring (alto sax) and the Washingtons, Peter on bass and Kenny at the drums, these gentlemen are by any measure heavy hitters. Their first album as a unit ...

6
Album Review

The Heavy Hitters: Heavy Hitters

Read "Heavy Hitters" reviewed by Troy Dostert


The self-titled debut from the Heavy Hitters, pianist Mike LeDonne's latest sextet, has the feel of a tribute album. However, unlike most recordings of that nature, there is no classic repertoire present, as all nine tracks are penned either by LeDonne or his colleague, tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander. Instead, it is a tribute to a sound that LeDonne and partners are aiming for: in this case, that of the iconic Blue Note label's 1950s-60s period, when artists such as Freddie ...

12
Album Review

Rale Micic: Only Love Will Stay

Read "Only Love Will Stay" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Only Love Will Stay, a tasteful and even-keeled trio date, embodies seven of Serbian-born guitarist and leader Rale Micic's original compositions and a lone standard, Irving Berlin's venerable “How Deep Is the Ocean." Micic is ably supported by organist Jared Gold and either Johnathan Blake (five tracks) or Geoff Clapp (three) on drums. Micic's themes are respectable but, if you want to hear the trio at its best, go straight to Berlin (Irving, that is). Micic is even brighter and ...

1
Album Review

Rale Micic / John Abercrombie / Peter Bernstein / Lage Lund: Inspired

Read "Inspired" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Inspired showcases four of the world's most accomplished jazz guitarists honoring the legacy of a fifth: the late maestro Jim Hall, an exemplar to all and mentor to many. The quartet consists of American luminaries Peter Bernstein and John Abercrombie, Norway's Lage Lund and Serbian-born Rale Micic (Rah-lay Mee-cheech). Four unique personas with one inflexible purpose: to enhance and perpetuate the vision of a friend, comrade and archetype. The album consists for the most part of songs ...

5
Album Review

Rale Micic: Night Music

Read "Night Music" reviewed by Jack Bowers


On Night Music, his fourth album as leader of his own group, Rale Micic (pronounced Rah-lay Mee-cheech), a Serbian-born guitarist who has lived and gigged in New York City for more than fifteen years, pays tribute to the music of the Hungarian classical composer Bela Bartok who, as it turns out, spent his last years living in the same Riverdale neighborhood of the Bronx, in upper Manhattan, where Micic has made his home for the past dozen years. Having learned ...

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3

Recording

A World Of Talent: Rale Micic’s Heartwarming Fusion Of Heritage, Taste, And Jazz Guitar Sophistication Shines On 'Only Love Will Stay'

A World Of Talent: Rale Micic’s Heartwarming Fusion Of Heritage, Taste, And Jazz Guitar Sophistication Shines On 'Only Love Will Stay'

Source: Mixed Media Promotion

It goes without saying, though we’ll say it once, right from the top here, that Rale Micic is a unique voice in jazz guitar. He combines an absurdly melodic approach and an intricate insight into harmonies, with a sort of deep personal story from his native Serbia. His life experience and heritage exert a soft and loving influence on his artistic approach: the rhythm, tone, and feel of the music of his life. This approach, in the works for a ...

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Video / DVD

Rale Micic "Serbology" Jazz Music Video Now Available

Rale Micic "Serbology" Jazz Music Video Now Available

Source: Rale Micic

CTA Records is proud to announce the YouTube release of the jazz music video for guitarist Rale Micic's song “Serbology." Almost a year in the making, this project breaks new ground in that it was financed directly by fans using crowdfunding and may be seen as both a music video and a short film. Founded by Creatives for Creatives, NY-based crowdfunder RocketHub selected Micic's project to inaugurate its Music Video category and his campaign reached its goal in less than ...

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Technology

RocketHub Partners With Critically-Acclaimed Rale Micic To Propel The Art Of The Music Video Through Crowdfunding

RocketHub Partners With Critically-Acclaimed Rale Micic To Propel The Art Of The Music Video Through Crowdfunding

Source: Kl Ma

RocketHub, a grassroots crowdfunding community developed for Creatives by Creatives, has launched a new “Music Video" category on its internationally-renowned fundraising platform. The premier music video project features critically-acclaimed jazz guitarist Rale Micic. Crowdfunding establishes a web-based event that harnesses an artist's network and audience for funds, awareness, and authentic feedback. RocketHub Co-founder and CEO, Brian Meece sums it up as “a new spin on an established idea: Beethoven + Social Media = Crowdfunding for the modern musician. Welcome to ...

89

Interview

Rale Micic Charts New Ground with Crowdfunding

Rale Micic Charts New Ground with Crowdfunding

Source: Rale Micic

New York, NY—Rale Micic, who is being hailed as “one of the most interesting young guitarists on the New York City scene," has turned to crowd funding, a new way of financing independent, creative projects, to produce a high-quality jazz music video for his composition “Serbology." Crowd funding is a grassroots, web-based approach to raising money that allows fans to be directly involved in the creation of new projects. In an all-or-nothing bid, artists establish a financial goal and timeframe ...

126

Performance / Tour

Rale Micic to Perform at 2010 JJA Jazz Awards

Rale Micic to Perform at 2010 JJA Jazz Awards

Source: Michael Ricci

New York, NY - On Monday afternoon, June 14, Rale Micic, who is being hailed as “one of the most interesting young guitarists on the New York City scene", will perform at the 14th annual JJA Jazz Awards. His brand new release, symbolically titled “3", is an entrancing trio record featuring Gregory Hutchinson (Ray Brown, Joshua Redman, Joe Henderson) and Scott Colley (Jim Hall, Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker). “3", already recognized by listeners and critics alike, is described as “ ...

126

Recording

Rale Micic's Album "3" Available Now

Rale Micic's Album "3" Available Now

Source: Michael Ricci

New York, March 12, 2010 - CTA Records has released a new album by guitarist and composer Rale Micic entitled 3, which explores interaction between Micic's musical roots in Serbia and his extensive knowledge of Jazz, with his trio consisting of New York's hottest rhythm section, bassist Scott Colley and drummer Gregory Hutchinson. “Micic is bringing an intriguing new perspective to the jazz guitar" wrote Don Heckman in LA Times. The album “3" has many compelling facets of Micic's music, ...

116

Recording

CTA Records Announces a New Album by Guitarist Rale Micic Entitled "3"

CTA Records Announces a New Album by Guitarist Rale Micic Entitled "3"

Source: Michael Ricci

RALE MICIC'S ALBUM “3" COMING MARCH 8, 2010 ON CTA RECORDS

New York, NY - On March 8, 2010, CTA Records will release a new album by guitarist and composer Rale Micic entitled 3. In much anticipated follow up to his acclaimed album “Serbia", Micic explores interaction between his musical roots in Serbia and his extensive knowledge of Jazz, with his trio consisting of New York's hottest rhythm section, bassist Scott Colley and drummer Gregory Hutchinson. “This album is a ...

112

Performance / Tour

Rale Micic Trio at Cornelia Street Cafe

Rale Micic Trio at Cornelia Street Cafe

Source: All About Jazz

RALE MICIC FEATURES NEW TRIO AT CORNELIA STREET CAFE On Wednesday evening, January 14, one of the most original jazz guitarist and composers on the music scene today, Rale Micic, will present a concert at Cornelia Street Cafe. During past two years, guitarist Micic established himself as one of the most inventive voices in music, leading a quintet featuring jazz great Tom Harrell. His Cornelia Street Cafe appearance marks premiere of his new Trio, including Miriam Sullivan on ...

115

Performance / Tour

Rale Micic / Tom Harrell Tour Dates in California

Rale Micic / Tom Harrell Tour Dates in California

Source: All About Jazz

This August, one of the most original guitarists and composers on the music scene today, Rale Micic, is making his California premiere. He will be joined by renowned Grammy-nominated trumpet player Tom Harrell, Dayna Stephens on tenor, Sean Conly on bass and Nasheet Waits, drums.

8/16 Catalina's Bar and Grill / Los Angeles, CA 8/17 Dizzy's / San Diego, CA 8/18 Anna's Jazz Island / Berkeley, CA - Quartet only 8/19 Comcast San Jose ...

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Performance / Tour

Rale Micic Quartet at Night and Day June 9

Rale Micic Quartet at Night and Day June 9

Source: All About Jazz

SOME RESERVATIONS REMAIN FOR THE RALE MICIC QUINTET

Night and Day announces that some reservations remain for the Rale Micic Quartet which will give performance this Friday evening, June 9. The performance will take place at 7 pm.

Performers in the Rale Micic Quartet include Rale Micic, playing the guitar, Dayna Stephens, tenor saxophone, Sean Conly, bass, and Justin Brown, drums.

The quartet's music has been described by Glenn Astarita in All About Jazz magazine: “... packs an unassuming punch ...

“Micic is bringing an intriguing new perspective to the jazz guitar.” LA TIMES

“One of the most interesting young guitarists on the New York City scene"" ALL ABOUT JAZZ

"Micic summons up dulcet tones and delightful lyricism on originals which blends jazz with Balkan melodies and rhythms." JAZZ TIMES

"Micic is the cool cat, and Serbia is mellow, tight and tasteful, . Micic is a subtle, intelligent player who echoes the likes of Jim Hall." DOWNBEAT

“Micic’s technique, lyricism, mature compositions and modern flair make the distinguished Serbia one to track down.” KJAZZ Guide Highlights

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

The Heavy Hitters

Cellar Records
2023

buy

Heavy Hitters

Cellar Music Group
2023

buy

Only Love Will Stay

Whaling City Sound
2021

buy

Night Music

Whaling City Sound
2016

buy

Inspired

ArtistShare
2016

buy

3

CTA Records
2010

buy

Videos

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