After starting a musical education in Classical Piano, Micah Graves made the change to Jazz Piano. Let the church say Amen. Not only has he embarked on studies in piano performance, Micah has honed his craft in Jazz composition. Having released his third album, Pawns, he continues to write and perform.
His supporting artists on Pawns are remarkable. Micah is, of course, on piano and keyboards and is joined by Zach Fischer on guitar, Yasseh Ali on tenor sax, Robby Cruz on trumpet, Dick Oats on alto sax, Zoe Lynch on violin, Zach Guise on bass, and Julian Miltenberger on drums. The vocals are supplied by Shafiq Hicks and Danielle Dougherty.
All eight songs on the album were written or co-written (track 7) by Graves himself. The performances are marvelous and the compositions are extraordinary. The influences of fusion, funk, bebop, and straight-up Jazz are immediately noticeable in sounds reminiscent of Weather Report, Return to Forever, and Jan Hammer. But this is Micah Graves and no one else. He delivers with his own voice and vision.
The title track, Pawns, opens the album with a quick opening of tight percussion and smoking melodies from the horns and piano. Miltenberger’s drums grab your attention quickly and Graves’ own piano work is excellent. You’re going to love the tenor sax of Yesseh Ali. Zach Fischer also turns in brilliant guitar passes.
Spirit slows things only a bit, allowing for fine melodic development. The vocals of Hicks and Dougherty are fine additions and the saxes are a marvel. Then Lost Time in Central Square maintains those cool runs of combined vocals and horns. The bass and drums are never behind, setting a hot pace. Seriously, pay attention to Guise and Miltenberger. Reminds you of Chick Corea and Return to Forever. Especially because of Graves’ brilliant keyboard passages.
Inner Beast slowly develops with warm horns and cool vocals. Fed Up features Graves on the electric piano and he deserves all the attention you can give. The album is so well distributed among all the artists with their leads and solos that, when Graves’ turns come around, you remember that there is a reason why he is the leader. Odd Times starts with Ali’s tenor sax intro before the band jumps into the pocket. These guys swing and swing hard.
Dougherty’s vocals introduce When We Fall and she is marvelous, setting the pace for what follows. The melodic line is gorgeous and Fischer and Graves pair their guitar and piano into a beautiful duet. The album concludes with the smoking The Hague. The electric piano, bass, and drums passes are brilliant, setting up those excellent sax sections. The trumpet and rhythm section close it out with a flash.
Micah Graves’ Pawns is an optimistic, energetic, and highly creative tour de force of composition and artistry. His piano and keyboard virtuosity is bold and fascinating. The complement of artists leave nothing to spare and attack each piece with purity and integrity. The album’s sub-title is Not for the Ordinary. No doubt about that. This is one marvelous album.
~Travis Rogers, Jr. is The Jazz Owl
His supporting artists on Pawns are remarkable. Micah is, of course, on piano and keyboards and is joined by Zach Fischer on guitar, Yasseh Ali on tenor sax, Robby Cruz on trumpet, Dick Oats on alto sax, Zoe Lynch on violin, Zach Guise on bass, and Julian Miltenberger on drums. The vocals are supplied by Shafiq Hicks and Danielle Dougherty.
All eight songs on the album were written or co-written (track 7) by Graves himself. The performances are marvelous and the compositions are extraordinary. The influences of fusion, funk, bebop, and straight-up Jazz are immediately noticeable in sounds reminiscent of Weather Report, Return to Forever, and Jan Hammer. But this is Micah Graves and no one else. He delivers with his own voice and vision.
The title track, Pawns, opens the album with a quick opening of tight percussion and smoking melodies from the horns and piano. Miltenberger’s drums grab your attention quickly and Graves’ own piano work is excellent. You’re going to love the tenor sax of Yesseh Ali. Zach Fischer also turns in brilliant guitar passes.
Spirit slows things only a bit, allowing for fine melodic development. The vocals of Hicks and Dougherty are fine additions and the saxes are a marvel. Then Lost Time in Central Square maintains those cool runs of combined vocals and horns. The bass and drums are never behind, setting a hot pace. Seriously, pay attention to Guise and Miltenberger. Reminds you of Chick Corea and Return to Forever. Especially because of Graves’ brilliant keyboard passages.
Inner Beast slowly develops with warm horns and cool vocals. Fed Up features Graves on the electric piano and he deserves all the attention you can give. The album is so well distributed among all the artists with their leads and solos that, when Graves’ turns come around, you remember that there is a reason why he is the leader. Odd Times starts with Ali’s tenor sax intro before the band jumps into the pocket. These guys swing and swing hard.
Dougherty’s vocals introduce When We Fall and she is marvelous, setting the pace for what follows. The melodic line is gorgeous and Fischer and Graves pair their guitar and piano into a beautiful duet. The album concludes with the smoking The Hague. The electric piano, bass, and drums passes are brilliant, setting up those excellent sax sections. The trumpet and rhythm section close it out with a flash.
Micah Graves’ Pawns is an optimistic, energetic, and highly creative tour de force of composition and artistry. His piano and keyboard virtuosity is bold and fascinating. The complement of artists leave nothing to spare and attack each piece with purity and integrity. The album’s sub-title is Not for the Ordinary. No doubt about that. This is one marvelous album.
~Travis Rogers, Jr. is The Jazz Owl
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