Azure Miles Records Piano Improvisation Series

Azure Miles Records Piano Improvisation Series

Piano Improvisations by Michael Robinson

all 47 albums to date linked lower on this page

Mattataal Caravan: Nine New Solo Piano albums!

"Robinson continues to invent new forms of musical expression" (All About Jazz, April 2023)

Not Like Before: Michael Robinson's Jazz Without Borders (All About Jazz, March 2023)

"Robinson and Zigmund demonstrate impeccable synergy... " (All About Jazz, January 2023)

"...Robinson rolls out soulful refrains that build and intricate improvisation." (All About Jazz, June 2022)

"...Robinson operates on the threshold of fluidity and structure..." (All About Jazz, January 2022)

"A mix of originals and radically reimagined standards..." (All About Jazz, July 2021)

Maria, as never heard before. Michael Robinson's cool raga-riff on Lenny's hit tune. (Norman Lebrecht)

Great musician, great fingers to express his musicality and invention. It is a pity that improvisation is no longer generally encouraged among young classical pianists. I was given British Grenadiers, in the style of Prokofiev. O Dear!

(anonymous comment responding to Lebrecht Maria post from October 2020 discovered April 2023)

Thank You Bill and Jocelyn

On Losing A Piano Teacher

Standards Proving To Be A Jazz Phoenix

Prismatizing Standards with Jazz and Raga Amalgams, Polymodality and Equal Temperament Tuning

Gatra Vina Presaging Pianoforte

Riding Planets and Star Clusters

Jazz Beginnings Anew

Piano Saptaks and Chakras

Approaching What May Be Daunting

The Azure Miles Records Piano Improvisation Series represents an unexpected yet welome development. While my compositions and performances for meruvina are my primary music, these piano improvisations show another side of me.

When I first learned how Bill Evans refused to divulge his pianistic secrets to another player because he feared this would deprive that person of the enormously pleasurable (and perilous!) experience of developing a personal approach, I thought it was an excuse, and Bill was being miserly. Now, that impression has changed drastically. All it really takes is to actually spend consistent time playing the piano, together with nurturing one's musical spirit and knowledge through listening to and studying music with creative substance, to see that Evans was not joking. Most recently, the influence of Lennie Tristano, the teacher of my primary jazz teacher, Lee Konitz, arose spontaneously without any conscious premeditation.

Jocelyn, in her nineties, and owning an Steinway grand over a hundred years old, is the person who first asked me to play standards for her once a week, a custom that began my pianistic explorations, including her most kind encouragement. I've only played standards for her, this being her favorite music. Sometimes she sings along and often taps.

While meruvina composition and performance remains my primary musical avenue, improvising on the piano is engaging, too. Now, for the first time since childhood and teenage years, I actually have a keyboard at home.

Over Chicken Soup details some of my earlier piano playing. The first two paragraphs here are taken from Thank You Bill and Jocelyn.

Above the World (2023) new release!

Azure Miles Records Piano Improvisation Series 39

Summer Skies (2023) new release!

Azure Miles Records Piano Improvisation Series 40

Passion Eyes (2023) new release!

Azure Miles Records Piano Improvisation Series 41

April Bright (2023) new release!

Azure Miles Records Piano Improvisation Series 42

Summer Kisses (2023) new release!

Azure Miles Records Piano Improvisation Series 43

Across The Sands (2023) new release!

Azure Miles Records Piano Improvisation Series 44

Dark Is the Sky (2023) new release!

Azure Miles Records Piano Improvisation Series 45

A Thousand Things (2023) new release!

Azure Miles Records Piano Improvisation Series 46

Soul To Soul (2023) new release!

Azure Miles Records Piano Improvisation Series 47

Found Joy (2023)

Duet recording with Anindo Chatterjee

Azure Miles Records Piano Improvisation Series 35

Those Sighs (2023)

Duet recording with Anindo Chatterjee

Azure Miles Records Piano Improvisation Series 36

Throng My Memory (2023)

Duet recording with Anindo Chatterjee

Azure Miles Records Piano Improvisation Series 37

Begin (2023)

Duet recording with Anindo Chatterjee

Azure Miles Records Piano Improvisation Series 38

A Lark Somewhere (2022)