Michael White Quintet UNIT2 Selected As A Los Angeles County Arts Commission Group 2011-2014!

We are proud to announce that Michael White Quintet UNIT2 has been officially selected as a Los Angeles County Arts Commission (LACAC) group. The LACAC Musicians Roster primarily serves as a resource for Presenters of Free Concerts in Public Sites, of the rich and diverse talent available to them. The Commission fosters excellence, diversity, vitality, understanding and accessibility of the arts in Los Angeles County. The Commission provides leadership in cultural services for the County, including information and resources for the community, artists, educators, arts organizations and municipalities. So look for MWQ UNIT2 to bring their talents to the public and community stages of Los Angeles County.

R.I.P. Billy Bang

©The New York City Jazz Records
Michael wrote a tribute text for Billy Bang, published in June 2011 Issue Of The New York City Jazz Record

In Sync With The Universe

Yesterday Michael & Leisei were chilling out at "Barnes and Noble" in the Americana for coffee where they have a beautiful third-floor balcony. We were looking out at the fountains, the lawns surrounded by trees, children laughing and playing, old JAZZ playing through many many speakers, birds flying over hopping and pecking crumbs. "Peace in Chaos" : ) so to speak with the sun shining blissfully.

On the way out, we were coming down an escalator, got to go through bookshelves to get to another. Then all of a sudden, we smelled good fragrances and STOPPED, PAUSED, LOOKED around . . . Ahhhh it's the music section Ahhhh the Jazz section.

ZOOM! TWO JAZZ books on the shelve came to Leisei's eyes, we found out that Michael was featured in those books : )

John Coltrane: His Life And Music By Lewis Porter

It was on Page 367 " - 1962 - May 1-20. San Francisco. Jazz Work. DB, July 5 says Dolphy, Wes Montgomery, and violinist Michael White sat in during the last day, when there was a matinee and possibly a final evening show as well."

Michael never mentioned it till 6 years ago, his brother Teddy reminded him to make sure we should add it (playing with John Coltrane) onto our press kit. Yes, Michael has been and still is the man looking ahead hardly ever looking back, busy improving his music, playing and dreaming. But in recent years we have looked into all of his musical histories. Also with modern technologies, we have found quite a bit of written proof. And nowadays he is more willing to share his stories with the public!

Freedom, Rhythm, & Sound - Revolutionary Jazz Cover Art 1965 to 1983 By Gilles Peterson & Stuart Baker.

A beautiful hardcover weighs tons : ) with an incredible collection of revolutionary jazz album cover art from 60s & 70s! It featured the cover art Michael's Impulse Album "Pneuma", and "The Blessing Song" was also featured on their accompanied two set compilation CDs "Freedom Rhythm & Sound Revolutionary Jazz In The USA 1965-80" from Soul Jazz Records 2009. We were happy to see that many of our friends and Jazz masters were also featured Cecil McBee, Sun Ra, Pharoah Sanders, Phil Ranelin, Prince Lasha among others.

When we are in the ZONE, our senses will over-ride any pre-conceived notions & knowledge, and we flow with least resistance. Then we know we are in TUNE, in SYNC with the UNIVERSE * . * * . * Receiving through and sending out. We love those moments!

With LOVE, Leisei & Michael

Mastery Of JAZZ A Hint From The Wes Montgomery Story

We were commenting on Buddy Montgomery's Birthday, January 31st on Facebook led us reminiscence of this story his older brother Wes Montgomery the great Jazz Guitarist. 

Wes Montgomery's great Jazz guitar style came from LOVE of his family. He had a day job when he was coming up so he had to practice at night and he did not want to wake up his wife and children, practicing very softly and quietly let to his style of playing. 

Well lucky him that is exactly one of the keys to master JAZZ, "play each sound slowly, softly and quietly like going under your skin" said and say by Many Jazz Masters. We also know great Jazz players practice like this for many hours a day. This way, one can develop the great sense of touch and strength, sounds refine and get bigger naturally with effortless ease, resonate with everything and ring eternally. So as playing fast will be easier too . . It's truly a win win situation :))) It requires discipline to practice this way and the result is significant! It's exactly as the TAI JI & Qigong practices too, they help us rise ENERGY - Life Force to endure JAZZ discipline!!! Put one's self in that mode to practice and taking time can be hard at times, it also might require a kind of life style to do so. We hear many JAZZ players nowadays with complex technical facilities, sounds impressive and exciting. But sounds tight and dry, noisy and not complete. They might probably are not taking time for this kind of discipline . . . 

The TIME well spent for the Mastery of JAZZ is PRECIOUS we witness. The sounds will last a long long time and deep to hearts of people through generations "Timeless and Ageless" Everything will pay off at the end!

Michael performed with Buddy Montgomery at a JAZZ festival in Minnesota. Michael also performed with Wes Montgomery, at the John Coltrane Quartet, John Coltrane, Jimmy Gallison, Elvin Jones, and McCoy Tyner with Eric Dolphy, the gig in San Francisco 1962 as a special guest. It was recorded on the book "John Coltrane: his life and music" (p.367) by Lewis Porter

Wes Montgomery - Impression 1965 : Wes Montgomery (guitar), Harold Mabern (piano), Arthur Harper (bass), Jimmy Lovelace (drums) who was our dear friend, great touch we miss him too !

MWQ's LIVE At The Sputnik Launching In 1957

In January 25 2011 at the state of union, president OBAMA mentioned about "SPUTNIK moment" . . . then Michael said  "At that moment SPUTNIK - the world first Russian Satelite - launching, I was with my band Michael White Quartet at the Channel 5's Studio in San Francisco playing music LIVE "  For the Michael White Quartet , it was the another cosmic moment!  As JAZZ musicians, it was a perfect way to spend the magical moment!!!

It was October 4th 1957

We are wondering if the program ARCHIVE still available ??? Maybe with recent highlights about SPUTNIK MOMENT, the video archive might appear on Youtube to us to see it and hear it??? . . . maybe . . . Michael added that "This opportunity arose way before the band released any albums . . . " We guessed the TV miraculously found the very Kozmic Groove band in town :))))))

UCLA Live Presents Alice Coltrane Tribute Dec. 5 All-star evening includes performances from McCoy Tyner, Kyp Malone, Nels Cline, Han Bennink, Daniel Carter, Michael White & Leisei Chen, Radha Botofasina, plus Flying Lotus and special guests

Michael White & Leisei Chen

White is a master violinist who introduced the instrument into the world of jazz rock fusion; Chen is an ethereal vocalist with unmistakable range. Michael toured with Alice in the 1970's as part of the Impulse Record tour and recorded with John & Alice Coltrane on the Infinity album.

Single tickets are on sale now. UCLA Live at Royce Hall, 340 Royce Dr., Westwood. Sunday, December 5 at 7 p.m. $28-48 ($15 UCLA students). (310) 825.2101, uclalive.org

"One Rare Special Guests Appearance Michael & Leisei DUO"

Michael White's musical history with John & Alice Coltrane - In 1965, Michael White has appeared in San Francisco, as a special guest with The John Coltrane Quartet, McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Gallison, Elvin Jones, along with Wes Mongomery and Eric Dolphy. In 70' the Impulse! Recording Tours - the Michael White Quartet together with bands and groups of Alice Coltrane, Pharaoh Sanders, Archie Shepp, John Klemmer nationally and internationally at major colleges and festivals. In 1971, Michael credited in John Coltrane "Infinity" album as a violinist of the string section. in 1974, Michael joined the recording on Joe Henderson's album "Elements" with Alice Coltrane. Michael performed with Alice Coltrance, Tootie Heath, and others at one of the black community parks in Los Angeles in 80'.

Billboard 09.04.71 "ABC Free Form Convention"

Billboard 09.04.71 "ABC Free Form Convention" - Page 8 -

"MICHAEL WHITE, free form violinist, performs while being recorded live at the Kabuki Theatre. His album is slated for early fall release. Other artists from the Impulse and ABC/Dunhill line who 'helped wind up the convention included Mel Brown, John Lee Hooker, Clifford Coviter, John Klemmer and Danny Cox. . . "

Early fall release probably means Michael's First Impulse Release "Spirit Dance". We were wondering if there is the LIVE recording still exist from this convention?