Guided Tour

... take a GUIDED TOUR of the musical mind of pianist/composer/producer Michael BB, and his veteran group, as they explore the immediacy and synergy that is JAZZ! The pieces are all solidly in the bebop and blues modes associated with the mainstream of jazz, coming out of the music of Bird, Bud, and beyond. A variety of tempos, moods, keys, colors, and feelings makes for listening that will keep your Inner Ear interested and your foot tapping. Saxist Eric Koppa plays with a big, classic tenor sound. Drummer Greg Marsh keeps things swinging, stylish, and sweet, with just the right touch of the unexpected. Bassist John Christensen plays good time, and makes for a good time when he is soloing. Bop bass is no easy task! Pianist/composer/producer Michael BB, aka Michael Butkus-Bomier, plays the dutiful accompanist, keeping things harmonically and rhythmically grounded in the background, stepping out for solos that keep the groove happening, keep the changes humming along, and make for concise melodic and rhythmic statements. This recording was made using NO headphone monitors, no moving faders during mixdown or mastering, and no compression anywhere. The music is natural jazz: just as it was played, so has it been recorded. With all the tech-tricks out there to artificially make music Musical, we rely on good old Instinct and Taste to make these mainstream tunes pop with the feeling that listeners expect from mainstream jazz. Enjoy! and look for our other two CD's recorded in the same sessions, 'Popular Culture', DOC 002, neo-bop and modal jazz, and 'You're Dippin' ' DOC 003, blues, gospel and Latin jazz, all by the Michael BB Quartet, and available on CDBaby.