Michalek | Strone
Monk Alters Chi
© 2005 Chris Michalek (790777014729)
CD IN STOCK. ORDER NOW. Will ship immediately.
SPECIAL: 10% discount if you buy more than one copy of it today!
This eclectic Jazz/Jam group is lead by virtuoso harmonica player Chris Michalek and bassist Christopher Strone. Their music blends elements and rhythms from around the world to form a unique, mesmerizing and incredibly moving genre of m
tracks
try this
albums you will love
genres you will love
By Location
Recommended if you like ...
notes
The collaboration of Chris Michalek and Christopher Strone is a completely original voice in contemorary acoustic jazz. Chris Michalek bring technical virtuosity and a distinctive style to the humble diatonic harmonica. He is one of a handful of players that has truly mastered the subtleties of the harmonica. He blends Indian, Arabic, Gypsy and Jazz inlfuences into a unique and dynamic energy.
Christopher Strone is a supremely versitile bass player and multi-instrumentalist who dazzles in every context - renaissance to ragas, Bach to fusion and superfunk. When they combine their talents, the result is art at once dynamic, melodic and flowing.
This extradinary demiurgic power uses rhythms and pitch sequences from foreign cultures to create an environment that is dually mesmerizing and inviting.
****
"Like Chicago, Michalek | Strone blends a thousand influences into an alluring identity all its own." - Chicago Tribune
"Each of them is a leader in his own right." - Chicago Sun-Times
"One of the most distinctive and cohesive groups on the scene." - Down Beat
"Going to be the finest modern jazz concept in the nation, and undoubtedly one of the most unique jazz groups period." - OffBeat
"A harmonica lead band comprised of world-class improvisers and composers,
Michalek has been Minneapolis' best-kept secret for more than 6 years." - JazzTimes
"The crowds at the Twin Cities Hot Summer Jazz Festival was once again exposed to the great harmonica talents of Chris Michalek and his band. There are only a few talents in the world who can play jazz harmonica well enough at a jazz festival and Michalek is one of them. I got nothing but great feed-back from our audience." - Steve Heckler, Executive Producer - Twin Cities Hot Summer Jazz Festival
"Anyone hip to the local scene knows these guys are tops -- put them together and you have a powerhouse."
Minneapolis Star Tribune
"It's great to finally meet players who you admire, but to get to sit right next to them, within two feet of them while they play, is like being in a clinic - except for the fact that the music is so overpowering that you forget to watch every move they make and close your eyes and enjoy!" - Tim Price - Minneapolis StarTribune
"Christopher Strone provides rhythmic foundation on his slimline stand-up, contributing pockets of remarkably au fait articulations from the lower end " -Irv Yarg
"The most innovative, creative, stimulative, refreshingly original music I've heard." -Rod Kennedy, artistic director, Kerrville Music Festivals
" ...their music climbs up the Blue Ridge and down to the Bayou and back up the Himalayas." -Washington Post
"The Michalek | Strone group is certainly a leader among those who blend the categories, who redefine eclectic and take eclectic to new and wonderful territories." -Greenville (SC) News
"A completely original and innovative force in acoustic music." -Acoustic Musician magazine
"Intensely musical and imaginative." -Stereo Review
"Wonderfully woven and evocative." -Washington Post
reviews
Please log in to review this album.
Overblow master
author: pekka pulkkkinenChris Michalek is one of the few true masters of overblow technique. This CD shows nice mixture of different styles and some juicy harp work.
Great CD. Incredible virtuosity.
author: RoscoMichalek's playing on Monk Alters Chi is a step forward in the progression of harmonica virtuosity. Only a few players make the leap from harmonica friendly riffs to making actual original sounding music on the instrument. But wait, there's even more!!! Strone is a versatile bass virtuoso, & together these guys combine forces to write interesting, genre expanding music. As a harp player, I love this recording; as a music fan I would buy it even if I had never played a note on harmonica. Think world music without the boring stuff.
Awesome
author: Bobbie SwansonThis disc is great. Its so different and good. I've never heard anything like this before. I hope you guys come to seattle soon.
Highs and Lows
author: Eric CarrierMonk Alters Chi is a great mix of highs (Michalek) and lows (Strone). Strone’s finger magic is superb on Monk Alters Chi and Michalek goes-to-town on the harmonica in Freedom Fries. From mellow (Almost Haunting) to funky (MoQuan Moods), this album has it all! Great, soothing music, for that hectic rush-hour drive home after work. Anxiously waiting for the next album!
Excellent CD!!!
author: Howard LevyVaried and adventurous original music by the 2 Chrisses. I especially liked "Hey is for Horses" and "McQuan Moods". Chris Michalek plays things you don't often hear on diatonic, musically and with a rich tone.
Original, energetic, soothing, awesome!
author: Laura HartleyThis CD is amazing! I love how easily it moves from exciting and energetic to calm and soothing. It has a little something for everyone. It's unlike anything I've heard before and I can't wait to hear what these guys come up with next!
Superb
author: Jason Ricci"The first time I heard Chris I was stunned not only by his incredible and mind boggling virtuosity but also by the infectious enthusiasm he has for the instrument and music of all kinds. He is truly a player without limits who incorporates influences from all imaginable genre's of music and displays a wonderful sence of subtlety in his attention to tone and vibrato and other nuances often missed by players as technically proficient. If I ever get the time I really want to sit down and take as many lessons from him as I can!" Jason Ricci www.jasonricci.com