"Derrick Michaels Presents" A 2019 Concert Series

In 2019, I made a big decision that scared the hell out of me: I chose to dedicate a whole year to programming concert events, and refused to be a leader on ANY gig where the music was intended incidental to some other social function. (A "Big Boy Move" as a friend so eloquently put it...)

What resulted were 20 concerts I produced, 12 of which were part of an engaging monthly concert series at An Die Musik in Baltimore. This series was my public declaration of a new direction in my music and my engagement with the community. Each concert taught me more about the inner workings of the music, the inner workings of the saxophone, the delicate yet powerful connection between players on stage, and the even more delicate yet equally vital connection with the audience...

There were major takeaways that will inform the music I make for years to come, and I'll expound on those in the next blog post or more...Thanks to everyone who supported these efforts, whether from the stage or the audience. Thanks to An Die Musik for opening the space to us. Here's to 2020!

Mission Statement:

“The wholehearted expression of music has the potential to uplift the spirit and heal our hearts. These 12 concerts are representative of a creative continuum which is designed to challenge convention & elude classification. I’ve stationed my tenor saxophone at the axis of a distinctive array of ensembles, putting full trust in improvisation as a potent unifying force across musical boundaries. The mission is to deliver music of substance - embracing the community, while affirming the exceptionally personal nature of creative process for the improvising musician.”

Thanks to this cast of musicians who through your creativity and spontaneity have all pushed me to become a more deeply authentic musician and human. My “ears” are bigger, and my heart is fuller.

John Dierker - reeds (Jan/Aug/Dec)
Tom Swafford - violin
Zach Swanson - bass (Jan/March/Oct)
Derek Wiegmann - bass (Jan/May/Dec)
Savino Palumbo - piano
Alex Weber - bass (Feb/July)
Dominic Smith - drums
Dalius Naujo-drums
Ellery Eskelin-tenor saxophone
Susan Alcorn - pedal steel guitar
Theljon Allen-trumpet
Eric Kennedy-drums (April/Nov)
Sarah Hughes-winds
Zack Branch-cello
Michael Formanek-bass
Dave Ballou-trumpet
Mike Kuhl - drums (June/Aug)
David Diongue-Alto saxophone
Jaron Lamar Davis-drums
Chris Pumphrey-piano/saxophone
Erin Connelly-trumpet
Nicole Connelly-trombone
Andrew Hadro-baritone saxophone
Jacqueline Pollauf-harp
Brent Madsen-trumpet
Jamal Moore-reeds
Jeff Reed-bass
Laura Banner-cello