Trio: Trumpet, Piano, Bass
Quartet: Trumpet, Piano, Bass, Drums
Quintet: Trumpet, Saxophone, Piano, Bass, Drums
 
 MUSIC:

    The concept of The Michael Metz Jazz Ensemble is basic and straight forward, to perform a music that is long in history and deep in tradition. The original idea was to perform all types of jazz, everything from Dixieland to Avant-garde, Big band to Jazz-rock, Mainstream to Instrumental Pop. Due to the limitations of funds, rehearsal time, and musicians I found that by specializing in one particular genre of jazz I was going to be able to achieve my ultimate goal: a jazz group that performs at the highest artistic level possible.

The Michael Metz Jazz Ensemble performs what is called Classic Jazz. Although all of our repertoire doesn't fall within this category most of our music brings back memories of what has been called "A Golden Age of Jazz", where Mainstream Jazz music could be heard anywhere you traveled and Art Blakey, Cannonball Adderley, Miles Davis, Art Farmer and countless other musicians reigned supreme. The style is solid, straight ahead jazz classics and originals that cook, with a sprinkling of sensitively played ballads all put together in a sound that will remind you of those jazz legends of the fifties and sixties but still keeps up with the trends, styles and intensity of today's jazz music. Our collective talents lend an exciting blend of open-ended improvisations, top-notch musicianship and excellent composing and arranging skills.

The other objective with The Michael Metz Jazz Ensemble is to have fun. The motto the I have always used is "If you are not having fun then why are you doing it?" The musicians that are part of The Michael Metz Jazz Ensemble are some of the best in the area and excel at the art of performing, especially jazz. That is the reason The Michael Metz Jazz Ensemble exists, to perform on a regular basis, to have fun while performing and to spread the word of jazz. As one local press release recently said "What do you get when five musicians with a passion for jazz all get together on a regular basis to perform? You get The Michael Metz Jazz Ensemble..."

• Weekly Alibi Music Awards 2000: Winner “Best Local Jazz Band” - The Michael Metz Jazz Ensemble
• Weekly Alibi Music Awards 2000: Nominee “Best Local Instrumentalist—Other” - Michael Metz—Trumpet
• MP3.com Jazz Bebop Top 40—over three weeks at #1
• The Weekly Alibi—Spring & Fall Crawl 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002
• Bernalillo Wine Festival - 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002
• O'Neill's Pub - 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002
• Pearl's Dive - 2000, 2001, 2002
• Indigo Crow - Wednesday Evenings - 1999, 2000
• "Sunport Serenades" at The Albuquerque International Airport - 1999, 2000
• Telluride Jazz Celebration - Telluride, Co.- 1993
• "Summer Nights" at The Albuquerque Aquarium & Botanical Gardens - 1998
• Santa Fe Wine Festival - 1997, 1999
• "Tailgate Jazz Series", Flickinger Center for the Arts, Alamogordo, NM - , 1995, 1997, 1999. 2001
• New Mexico Jazz Workshop's "Summer Under the Stars" Performance Series - Summer 1998
• New Mexico Jazz Workshop's "Jazz Under the Stars" 20th Anniversary Performance Series - Summer 1996
• Featured Artist & Play Along CD  - Jazz Player Magazine - April/May Issue - 1998
• Bound to be Read Bookstore - Weekend Music Series - 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
• Borders Books & Music - Friday Night Music Series -  1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
• Valhalla Jazz Festival - Lake Tahoe, CA. - 1992, 1993, 1997
• "Courtyard" Jazz music series - Courtyard by Marriott - Summer 1997
• Anderson Valley Vineyards - "Jazz By The Barrel" - Winter Jazz Series - 1995, 1996, 1997
• Anderson Valley Vineyards "Summer Jazz Sundays - Summer 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997
• Voted: 1994: "The Best Jazz Band in Albuquerque" by Albuquerque Monthly Magazine's Annual Readers Poll
• Voted: 1995: Runner-Up - "The Best Jazz Band in Albuquerque" by Albuquerque Monthly Magazine's Annual Readers Poll
• Corrales Cultural Arts Council - Performing Arts Series - 1996
• Black Entertainment Television's (BET) Jazz Discovery Program - September 1995
• Trimble Hot Springs Jazz Festival - Durango, Colorado - July 1995
• Opening Act for Joe McBride (A Head's Up Recording Artist) Concert - August 1994
• Kodak Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta - 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994
• Arts in the Parks - City of Albuquerque Performance Series - 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998
• Selected into The New Mexico Arts Division 1995-1997 Directory of Artists (performing arts category)
• Winrock Shopping Center "Saturday Nights Live" - Summer Jazz Series - Summer 1994
• The New Mexico State Fair - 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995
• Various New Mexico Clubs, Restaurants, Music Festivals, Arts and Crafts Fairs, Private Gatherings & Fundraising Activities
• More Information available upon request
 

 

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