Concerts

8.30pm $15; 10.15pm 10$; 11.30pm: Free

For the last 40 years Michael's improvisatory skills on the bassoon have opened the door for the instrument to enter a variety of musical environments not associated with the instrument. Whether blowing bebop in the Charles Mingus Orchestra which he is a founding member or freely improvising with Anthony Braxton Michael's contributions have changed the conception of what the bassoon can do.

He has recorded with Ira Sullivan, Red Rodney, Wynton Marsalis, John Hicks, Dave Douglas, Chris Potter and Joe Lovano. He has recorded 5 CDs as leader (two with his quartet Bassoon in the Wild) and recently collaborated with virtuoso french horn player John Clark in a quintet called the Odd Couple Quintet. Michael is a Buffet Artist and continues to inspire bassoonists and musicians over the world as a pioneer in improvisation on the bassoon.