Michael Pagan Discography of CDs

Michael Pagan CD discography All of the material on Pag's Groove except "Never Let Me Go" is by pianist-arranger-composer Michael Pagan. The big band is conventional and the harmonically advanced writing, although full of subtle surprises, is very much in the modern mainstream. The music swings and features some of the top Colorado-based musicians, 19 of whom have an opportunity to solo, while only Pagan gets two spots. Best known among the players are trumpeters Greg Gisbert and Brad Goode, but all of the musicians sound very much world-class. Fans of modern big bands will want this release since it is filled with fresh material and spirited ...

Michael Pagan discography A full decade separates pianist Michael Pagan's previous trio recording from this one, while in the interim, he's been busy teaching, composing, and working with a big band. Situated in Kansas City, Pagan's music on this recording reflects the cushy side of jazz, a program consisting mostly of ballads. With bassist Bob Bowman and drummer Ray DeMarchi, you can clearly hear that Pagan has been influenced by the introspective tones of Bill Evans, but occasionally, the brash verve of Oscar Peterson also comes to the forefront. Blessed with a beautiful touch and a steady stream of ideas to match, Pagan makes ...

Michael Pagan songs An excellent jazz pianist, Michael Pagan is in top form throughout this solo date. A modern mainstream player, Pagan hints at Oscar Peterson, Bill Evans, George Shearing and even Art Tatum in spots but essentially sounds like himself. He is lyrical on ballads (his rendition of "There'll Be Another Spring" is touching), swings hard on the more uptempo tunes and includes modern jazz songs from Enrico Pieranunzi, Kenny Wheeler and Steve Swallow in his repertoire. Although not too well known, Michael Pagan deserves recognition as a superior jazz pianist on the level of a Bill Charlap. ~ Scott Yanow This solo piano ...

Michael Pagan albums A unique work and the largest of its kind ever written specifically for saxophone quartet, jazz pianist/composer Michael Pag n's Twelve Preludes and Fugues is a collection of 24 pieces covering a wide range of styles and genres, including neo-classical, Saxophonist, composer, and bandleader Michael Pagán has long been interested in counterpoint and wrote this collection of 12 preludes and fugues over a nearly two-year stretch, with the Colorado Saxophone Quartet recording them over several sessions. Pagán incorporates written material, allowing for improvisation in some of the pieces, while successfully bridging the worlds of jazz and classical music. The quartet, which includes ...

Michael Pagan music CDs John Hines is a fine hard bop-oriented trombonist from Colorado. For this CD he joins with pianist/keyboardist Michael Pagan, bassist Mike Williamson, and drummer Rob Ward for straight-ahead standards and complementary group originals. Guest trumpeter/flügelhornist Hugh Ragin guests on three numbers (playing muted ŕ la Miles Davis on "I Could Write a Book"), and singer Angela Holley is featured on "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square." Other highlights include the catchy "In the Pocket," an uptempo "Secret Love," the harmonies between the two horns on "Central Park West," and Hines' warm tone throughout. The music is pleasing, swinging, and often infectious; ...