Bonafide Michael Dease

• 1 Pearls 05:00
• 2 Theme For Basie 06:05
• 3 Rufus McWhitman 04:59
• 4 Tenor Madness 05:18
• 5 Batista's Groove 04:21
• 6 Coexist 06:00
• 7 Forge Ahead 04:45
• 8 Alpha 06:13
• 9 In Walked Wayne 08:55
• 10 Nós 06:08
• 11 The Real Deal 05:59
• Total Runtime 01:03:43

Info for Bonafide

Trombonist Michael Dease gives listeners the real deal by assembling a colossal collection of several of the best trombonists -- including Conrad Herwig, Marshall Gilkes, and Gina Benalcazar -- for his latest release “Bonafide.” Highlighted by a full complement of tour de force performances, the album also features strong showings supported by the hard swinging rhythm section of pianist David Hazeltine, bassist Todd Coolman, and the ever exciting drummer E.J. Strickland. This amazing ensemble of talents plays skillfully, and everyone works seamlessly together to keep the session in the pocket while the trombones cover all the finer points of the music with effortless mastery and melodic brilliance. “Bonafide” is a straight forward collection of quality performances that will certainly entertain jazz enthusiasts again and again with amazement and delight.

"If you want some trombone in your life, slide on over to this album by Michael Dease. He leads a nine piece band boasting of four, count ‘em, four trombones, including bass ‘bone Gina Benalcazar along with Marshall Gilkes, Conrad Herwig and an unintimidated sole tenorist Sam Dillon and a rhythm team of David Hazeltine/p, Todd Coolman/b and EJ Strickland/dr. The bold and brassy team works well, teaming with a gospel piano on the funky “Alpha,” popping like bubble gum during “Forge Ahead” and punching like a middleweight for “Coexist” and the bouncy “Theme For Basie” with nice solo work by almost the entire brass section. Dillon gets his share veering through the horns on a lovely “The Real Deal” and richly textured “In Walked Wayne” while the horns glisten like a sunset on the lusciously textured “Nos.” A fun one!" (George W. Harris, jazzweekly.com)

Michael Dease, trombone
Marshall Gilkes, trombone
Conrad Herwig, trombone
Gina Benalcazar, bass trombone
Sam Dillon, tenor saxophone
David Hazeltine, piano
Todd Coolman, bass
E. J. Strickland, drums

Michael Dease
has emerged as one of the premier jazz trombonists of his generation. He serves as associate professor of jazz trombone at the MSU College of Music.

Born in Augusta, Georgia, the “Deep South,” Dease played the saxophone and trumpet before choosing the trombone. He was a self-taught high school senior, when he moved to New York in 2001 to study at the Juilliard School where he earned his Bachelor and Master degrees.

Dease quickly established his reputation as a soloist and sideman, recording 4 albums as a leader and logging over 100 sessions as a sideman, all before the age of 30. His 4 critically praised releases as a leader include: The Takeover (2005), Clarity (2007), Dease Bones (2008) and Grace (2010). His latest album, Coming Home, to be released on D Clef Records, May 21st, features a stellar lineup of band mates: pianist Renee Rosnes, bassist Christian McBride, drumer Ulysses Owens Jr, and saxophonist Steve Wilson, plus a guest appearance by tenor sax man Eric Alexander.

He is a Grammy award-winning trombonist, and has played with many of today’s foremost jazz orchestras, including those led by Wynton Marsalis, Christian McBride, Roy Hargrove, Nicholas Payton, Charles Tolliver and Rufus Reid. He has revitalized the trombone’s image on the frontline of quintets and sextets lead by masters musicians like Winard Harper, Renee Rosnes, Bill Charlap, Claudio Roditi, The Heath Brothers and Lewis Nash.

Michael learned his craft from trombone legends Wycliffe Gordon and Joseph Alessi. His associations run the entire spectrum of musical genres and include Alicia Keys, Paul Simon, Paul Schaffer, CBS Orchestra, Elton John, Neal Diamond, Illinois Jacquet, Slide Hampton, The World Of Trombones, Fred Wesley, Maceo Parker, WDR Big Band, George Gruntz, Billy Harper, and numerous others.

Dease’s unique blend of curiosity, hard work and optimism has helped him earn worldwide recognition, including awards from ASCAP, The International Trombone Association, Yamaha, Eastern Trombone Workshop, New York Youth Symphony, among others. Dease was recently profiled in Cicily Janus’ book, The New Face of Jazz: An Intimate Look at Today’s Living Legends (Random House).

Michael’s singular teaching talent has resulted in invitations to host master classes and residencies at University of North Texas, Scranton University, University of Iowa, Florida State College, Broward College, and many institutions abroad, and has also been on faculty at Queens College CUNY, The New School and Northeastern University.

Aside from leading his own quartet, quintet and sextet, Dease conducts his own 17-piece big band loaded with young talents like Sharel Cassity and Coleman Hughes, plus heavy hitters Rodney Whitaker, Greg Gisbert and Tom “Bones” Malone.

This album contains no booklet.