Michael Eckroth Explained

Michael Eckroth
Origin:Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Instrument:Piano, keyboards, vocals
Occupation:Musician, pianist, arranger
Years Active:1995–present
Label:Daptone Records, SteepleChase Records, Positone Records
Associated Acts:Orquesta Akokán, John Scofield, Ron McClure, Paul McCandless

Michael Eckroth is an American jazz pianist, arranger, and composer from Phoenix, Arizona, particularly known for his work in Latin jazz.[1] [2] [3] He was a member of jazz-rock guitarist John Scofield's New Quartet from 2010-2012. Currently, he is the co-writer, arranger, and pianist for Cuban and American mambo big band Orquesta Akokán,[1] whose self-titled debut album from Daptone Records was nominated in the 61st Annual Grammy Awards.[4]

Early life and education

Michael Eckroth was raised in Phoenix, Arizona. He is from a musical family and is the brother of keyboardist Rachel Eckroth.[5] [6]

He formally studied jazz throughout his career, receiving his B.A. at the University of Arizona and receiving his M.A. at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.[7] [8] [9] He began pursuing his Ph.D. at New York University in 2006.[9] During this time, he was the recipient of the Díaz-Ayala Library Travel Grant at Florida International University under a U.S. Department of Education Title VI grant in 2012 to conduct research on Cuban music.[10] He later completed his Ph.D. in 2016, writing his dissertation on Cuban piano solos of the 1940s.[1]

Career

While studying at New York University, Eckroth became involved in a number of musical projects as a pianist. While Eckroth was a student in an ensemble class led by jazz-rock guitarist John Scofield, Scofield invited Eckroth to join his New Quartet with drummer Bill Stewart and bassist Ben Street from 2010-2012.[3] [11] Eckroth appears in the live concert DVD of the group's 2010 concert in Paris, France at jazz club New Morning.[11]

Eckroth formed the Latin vocal trio La Voz de Tres with Chilean vocalist Natalia Bernal and guitarist Jason Ennis in 2008.[12] [13] The group released their self-titled debut album in 2010 and their second album Sueños y Delirios in 2015.[14] Around this time, Eckroth also performed with jazz multi-instrumentalist Paul McCandless and Brazilian guitarist Aliéksey Vianna. The trio released a live concert DVD from Brazil in 2009 titled Ebano.[15] Additionally, Eckroth appeared on Morrie Louden's album Time Piece, which featured singer Gretchen Parlato and guitarist Lionel Loueke.[16]

In 2015, Eckroth released a solo album of Cuban music titled Piano and Rhythm.[17] Later in 2016, Eckroth released a duo album with bassist Ron McClure titled Hello Stars.[3] Eckroth appeared on Ron McClure's Trio album Hope and Knowledge as well.[18] Eckroth also appeared on saxophonist Dan Pratt's Quartet album Hymn for the Happy Man with bassist Christian McBride and drummer Greg Hutchinson.[19]

Starting in 2016, Eckroth formed the Cuban and American mambo big band Orquesta Akokán as its co-writer, arranger, and pianist with singer José "Pepito" Gómez and composer Jacob Plasse. The group is a collaboration of musicians from Cuba and the United States that formed after the normalization of relations between the two countries in 2014.[1] The band recorded their debut album in Havana, Cuba at the historic EGREM state-run Areíto Studios, where notable musicians like Buena Vista Social Club, Celia Cruz, Benny Moré, and Frank Sinatra have recorded.[1] [20] [21] The group's debut album was released by Daptone Records in 2018, and it was the record label's first all Spanish-language recording.[2] The album was nominated for the 61st Annual Grammy Awards in the "Best Tropical Latin Album" category.[4]

Eckroth also served as the arranger and pianist for Calle Mambo Project's 2018 album See The Light.[22] He is currently part of the jazz faculty at Dartmouth College.[23]

Awards and honors

2019:Nominated in the 61st Annual Grammy Awards in the "Best Tropical Latin Album" category for the self-titled debut album by Orquesta Akokán.

Selected discography

As leader/co-leader/arranger

Michael Eckroth

Ron McClure & Michael Eckroth

La Voz de Tres

Calle Mambo Project

DEF Trio

As a band member/session artist

Notes and References

  1. https://www.npr.org/2018/04/15/602237299/as-cuba-changes-orquesta-akok-n-revives-the-golden-age-of-mambo "As Cuba Changes, Orquesta Akokan Revives The Golden Age of Mambo"
  2. https://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/record-labels/8092557/daptone-taps-cuban-soul-on-upcoming-release "Daptone Taps Cuban Soul on Upcoming Release"
  3. https://latinjazznet.com/artists/artist-profile-michael-eckroth/ "Artist Profile: Michael Eckroth"
  4. https://www.dailynews.com/2018/12/07/2019-grammy-awards-nomination/ “2019 Grammy Awards: Complete list of nominations”
  5. https://www.boulderweekly.com/entertainment/new-directions/ "New Directions"
  6. https://www.verdenews.com/news/2013/nov/22/award-winning-khani-cole-performs-with-rachel-eck/ "Award-winning Khani Cole performs with Rachel Eckroth"
  7. https://www.tucsonweekly.com/tw/tammies/latinjzz.htm "Sounds of Brazil"
  8. http://www.jazzedmagazine.com/articles/upclose/dave-loeb-and-the-jazz-studies-program-at-unlv/ “Dave Loeb and the Jazz Studies Program at UNLV”
  9. https://www.nyu.edu/about/news-publications/news/2006/august/nyu_state_of_mind_first_billy.html “NYU State of Mind: First Billy Joel Scholarship Winners Announced”
  10. https://cri.fiu.edu/programs/library-travel-grants/ "Díaz-Ayala Library Travel Grants"
  11. https://www.allaboutjazz.com/john-scofield-new-morning-the-paris-concert-john-scofield-by-john-kelman.php "John Scofield: New Morning - The Paris Concert"
  12. https://www.benningtonbanner.com/stories/la-voz-de-tres-a-musical-collaboration-in-every-way,505669 "La Voz de Tres: A musical collaboration in every way"
  13. https://www.allaboutjazz.com/la-voz-de-tres-at-tempe-center-for-the-arts-by-patricia-myers.php "La Voz De Tres At Tempe Center For The Arts"
  14. https://worldmusicreport.com/reviews/cds/la-voz-de-tres-suenos-y-delirios/ "La Voz de Tres: Sueños y Delirios"
  15. https://musicians.allaboutjazz.com/mikeeckroth "Mike Eckroth"
  16. https://www.allaboutjazz.com/time-piece-morrie-louden-self-produced-review-by-michael-p-gladstone.php "Morrie Louden: Time Piece"
  17. https://latinjazznet.com/reviews/cds/featured-albums/mike-eckroth-piano-and-rhythm/ "Mike Eckroth: Piano and Rhythm"
  18. https://www.bassplayer.com/artists/bp-recommends-new-releases-from-rex-brown-paul-simon-rancid-and-more "BP Recommends: New Releases from Rex Brown, Paul Simon, Rancid, and More"
  19. https://www.axs.com/new-jazz-releases-to-comfort-your-soul-in-times-of-trouble-86364 "New jazz releases to comfort your soul in times of trouble"
  20. https://www.npr.org/sections/altlatino/2018/01/19/579050806/orquesta-akok-n-echoes-of-a-cuban-past-recorded-in-havana "Orquesta Akokan, Echoes Of A Cuban Past Recorded In Havana"
  21. https://www.journalnow.com/relishnow/music/u-s-cuba-partnership-orquesta-akok-n-will-perform-sunday/article_64fba8ed-8d45-5de0-bc6c-7dd27b3114e6.html "U.S./Cuba partnership: Orquesta Akokan will perform Sunday at SECCA"
  22. https://latinjazznet.com/reviews/cds/calle-mambo-project-see-the-light/ "Calle Mambo Project: See The Light"
  23. http://hopbackstage.org/2018/05/30/keep-your-values-at-the-heart-of-your-art-art-awardees-hear-from-acclaimed-alum-filmmaker/ "'Keep Your Values At The Heart Of Your Art': Art Awardees Hear From Acclaimed Alum Filmmaker"