November 4, 2019, Monday - Improvisation at the Piano: A Global Perspective with Michael Cain at MacPhail

Time: 1 pm

Location: MacPhail Center for Music, 501 S 2nd Street

Improvisation at the Piano: A Global Perspective with Michael Cain

Michael Cain, nationally recognized jazz pianist and new MacPhail faculty member will present a series of two workshops designed to help musicians explore improvisation. These workshops will cover a variety of approaches and techniques for helping pianists integrate improvisation into their own practice and teaching. Drawing on different world music elements along with jazz and blues concepts, topics will include discussion of modes, drone, chords, and ostinatos, as well as rhythmic concepts including counting versus clave. These workshops are open to all pianists regardless of prior experience with improvisation. While this session is geared towards pianists, all musicians are welcome to attend. Participants are encouraged to attend both workshops.

Pianist and composer Michael Cain began gaining international recognition in the mid 1980’s while still a student at the California Insitute of the Arts, performing, touring, and recording with jazz greats James Newton, jazz vocalist Marlena Shaw, the Gerald Wilson Orchestra, and drummer Billy Higgins among others. After moving to New York in 1990, Cain became a first call pianist, working with drum legend Jack DeJohnette for nine years, as well as Dave Holland, Steps Ahead, Ravi Coltrane, Bobby McFerrin, Terence Blanchard, Stanley Turrentine, Lauren Hill, Pat Metheny, Charles Neville, Christian McBride, Vernon Reid, Robin Eubanks, and Meshell N’degeocello among others.

As an educator Michael has been an Assistant Professor at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY, and faculty at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA. He is currently a Professor at Brandon University in Brandon, MB, Canada.