Michael Blanco, an electric and acoustic bassist, resides in New York City. He is also a jazz composer, and twice-recipient of the ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composer Award (2006). His third album of original music, Spirit Forward was released by Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records on October 7, 2016. Spirit Forward includes eight original compositions by John Ellis and Kevin Hays. Clarence Penn is the drummer. Spirit Forward was named Ralph A. Miriello’s Best of Jazz 2016 at The Huffington Post and Jay Miller’s Best Jazz Albums of 2016. Michael moved to New York City in 2000 and has recorded and performed with many of the most prominent jazz artists, including Donny McCaslin and Rich Perry, Jon Irabagon and Will Vinson, as well as guitarists Lage Lund and Gilad Hekselman and Mary Halvorson, pianists Jay Miller’s Best Jazz Albums of 2016, and Kevin Hays, Aaron Goldberg and David Cook, as well drummers Clarence Penn and Donald Edwards, Ari Hoenig and Mark Ferber. He was a member, among others, of the following bands: Bob Reynolds, Shayna Stahle, Russ Nolan and Doug Wamble; guitarists Lage Lund, Jonathan Kreisberg, Gilad Hekselman, and Mary Halvorson; pianists Kevin Hays, Aaron Goldberg, Adam Birnbaum, and David Cook; as well as drummers Clarence Penn, Donald Edwards, Ari Hoenig, Mark Ferber, Frank Basile, Tomas Fujiwara, Richard Doron Johnson, Richard Doron Johnson In The Morning, Michael’s debut album, was released on the Fresh Sound/New Talent jazz label in 2006. Jazz Times magazine called In the Morning “a remarkable introduction that leaves you eager to hear more”. Bass World magazine said that Michael’s “fresh approach to composition and the arrangements are lush, compelling”. No Time Like the Present was Michael’s second album. It was released by Nineteen-Eight Records in 2013. No Time Like the Present was named Ralph A. Miriello’s Best of Jazz 2013 by JazzWax. Marc Meyers, JazzWax’s JazzWax correspondent, described it as “a beautiful record with compositional depths and technical maturity.” He also stated that “Bassist Michael Blanco understands the value of originality – he can tastefully roll out your creative vision and keep the customer satisfied.” The U.S. Department of State has twice selected Michael to represent the United States in art abroad. In 2001, he was part of the Kennedy Center Jazz Ambassador program and toured South America, Central America and the Caribbean. In 2008, he traveled to the Middle East with Jazz at Lincoln Center. Michael is also highly sought after outside of jazz. He has been a part of orchestras for over 30 Broadway shows, and is currently the pianist for Anastasia. His freelance career has seen him record with Itzhak Perlman, perform on the soundtrack of the Cohen brothers’ major motion pictures Hail, Caesar!, as well as a TV appearance on USA’s Royal Pains, along with Joshua Bell. Michael leads a jazz band that performs his original compositions. He has performed at many New York City venues, including Carnegie Hall and Town Hall. While he resides in New York City most of the time, Michael has had the privilege of performing abroad. From www.blancobass.com
