Michael Wang - Bone of the Wang Volume One (2020)

Highlights of last year was returning to New York to play 2 incredible shows at Brooklyn Steel and thanks to my team and the incredible Frank Filipetti, the whole concert was recorded. It gives me great pleasure to announce that I am releasing 'MIKA, Live from Brooklyn Steel'.

Up and coming trombonist and composer Michael Wang releases his debut album Bone of the Wang Volume One: a captivating and dynamic story of passion (NL 2011). Bone of the Wang Volume One is a mesmerizing album with Wang’s warm definitive sound accompanied by his energetic and polished band.

Wang studied at the Berklee College of Music as a recipient of the Presidential Scholarship, where he studied with Phil Wilson, Marshall Gilkes, David Santoro, George Garzone, Darren Barrett and was a member of the Berklee Global Jazz Institute from 2013-2016. Wang was the winner of the American Trombone Workshop's competition in 2015 and was a finalist in the International Trombone Association's Carl Fontana and JJ Johnson Competitions (2015 and 2016). After graduating Berklee, Wang moved to New York City in 2017 where he continues to play regularly with groups such as the Mingus Big Band, Frank Lacy's Smalls Sextet and "Tromboniverse," Josh Evans' Big Band, Pedro Giraudo's Jazz Orchestra, Arturo O'Farrill's Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, Alexi David's "Three or Four Shades of Mingus," David Chamberlain's "Band of Bones," as well as occasionally leading his own quintet. As jazz trumpeter Sean Jones describes, "With a warm sound and depth of vocabulary, Michael has demonstrated that he is one of the brightest trombonists of his generation."

Bone of the Wang Volume One captures with remarkable passion the emotions and experiences of Wang’s process as a developing jazz trombonist. Every song on the album possesses a musical element of passion to it, whether it's a strong melody, an uplifting chord progression, or certain dynamics within it that brings about intensity. The musical elements are derived from life events, relationships, and experiences which left a profound impact on Wang, while simultaneously representing a celebration of the experience and emotions one may cherish in life. Wang’s song, “September 27th” was the first song that he wrote after moving to New York City, with its use of many rhythmic elements, it captures the intense emotions of adapting and adjusting to a new life. The dynamic and energetic “Dream of Flying” which modulates into almost all 12 keys, is a magnetizing portrayal of an unwavering spirit to persevere and strive forward despite the challenges one faces.

In addition to drawing from the straight-ahead repertoire, Wang’s compositions are informed with Eastern Asian influence, folkloric elements, and Japanese pop. Versus the standard chord progressions heard on most jazz tunes, his compositions use harmony that often modulates diatonically or through modal interchange, showcasing the impressive improvisational skills of his band: the rhythmically intricate pianist Jon Elbaz, the hard-swinging bass lines of Giuseppe Cucchiara, the tasteful and conceptual ideas of drummer Kazuhiro Odagiri, and the intriguing rhythms of percussionist Juan Felipe Mejia Tobon on tambourine.