Michael William Gilbert

Last updated
Michael William Gilbert
Born (1954-08-17) August 17, 1954 (age 70)
Origin New York, New York, United States
Genres Electronic music
World Music
Avant-garde rock
Occupation(s) Musician, Computer Research Analyst
Instrument(s) Synthesizer
Percussion
Flute
Guitar
Years active1978–present
LabelsGibex Recordings
Palace of Lights
Website www.mwgilbert.com

Michael William Gilbert (born August 17, 1954) is an American music composer working in the genres of electronic music and world music.

Contents

Biography

Michael William Gilbert grew up in Connecticut and Brussels, Belgium. While living in Europe he first encountered the music of Varese, Stockhausen, and Pierre Henry, as well as music of India, Africa, and Japan. After studying electrical engineering at MIT, he continued studies in music at the Boston School of Electronic Music, later as a teacher and designer of synthesis systems. He graduated with a degree in music from Hampshire College, and shortly thereafter became the technical director of electronic music studios at Amherst College, Smith College, Hampshire College, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He has since taught electronic music at Hampshire College, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and Holyoke Community College. [1]

MW Gilbert has been composing and recording actively from the 1970's through the present. In 1978 he released his first LP, “Moving Pictures”, with the goal of humanizing electronic music, using wooden flutes, percussion, and voice to complement synthesized sounds and textures. “The Call” (1980), his second LP, grew out of a desire to set jazz-influenced solo lines against a backing of drone, percussion, and soundscapes, also evoking aspects of Eastern music. “The Call” marks MW Gilbert's first work with multi-wind and reed player Tim Moran, experimental percussionist/vocalist David Moss, and acoustic bassist Salvatore Macchia. The LP “In the Dreamtime” (1982) followed and is a refinement of ideas germinated on the first two records. It uses a theme of dream imagery, exploring and merging distinctions between electronics, new jazz, and world music, and features work with Moran, Moss, and Macchia, as well as master drummer Royal Hartigan.

Moving to compact disc as one of the first indies to do so, MW Gilbert released “The Light in the Clouds” (1987), and “Point of Views” (1988). A collaboration with master percussionist Tony Vacca, bassist Salvatore Macchia, and synthesist Roy Finch, “The Light in the Clouds” brings together African, Jewish, Christian, and Shinto music traditions and melds them with crystal clear sounds and rhythms. “Point of Views” is a solo recording realized entirely in his (then new) MIDI/computer-based studio, weaving elements of jazz, world, and electronic into “an ethereal and beautiful blend!” “Point of Views” received 4 stars in Downbeat Magazine. It successfully creates the sound of an ensemble yet is a purely solo work, with only percussion by Tony Vacca on one track. MW Gilbert signed a recording contract with Penta Disc Recordings (WEA) for releases in Canada of music from this repertoire.

After a few long breaks from recording, two new CD projects were released. “Other Voices” (2000), with more collaboration with Tony Vacca and Roy Finch. This was followed by “I Can See from Here” (2010), a complex weave of jazz, folk, electronic soundscape, world music, and electroacoustic ambience. It features a track with guitarist and friend Peter Kaukonen (Black Kangaroo, Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship, Johnny Winter).

MW Gilbert's first three LP recordings, “Moving Pictures”, “The Call”, and “In the Dreamtime” were remastered and rereleased on CD, making the complete catalog to date available again, on both disc and digital distribution channels.

Composed with the aim of creating music for potential live performance, “Secret Stories” (2015) is a complex work encompassing many faces of electronic music old and new, jazz, contemporary classical, and influences from multicultural folk music. He released “Radio Omnibus” (2018), with cutting edge electronic music, two acoustic chamber pieces, and features collaborations with Adam Holzman (Miles Davis, Steven Wilson) and Mark Walker (Oregon, Lyle Mays).

His latest album is “Voice Ping Strum”, a vinyl only release. It has two extended suites, one on each side. It was realized in the studio using Eurorack modular, voice, and piano. It comes on the 40th anniversary of the release of his first album, “Moving Pictures”.

In recent years, MW Gilbert has released a series of singles and albums (see Discography below), often working with Adam Holzman.

MW Gilbert's music has been played in concerts and festivals in North America and Europe and has been used by choreographers in conjunction with modern dance works, including Susan Waltner, Valerie Feit, Jan Wodynski, and Paula Josa-Jones.

MW Gilbert retired from an almost 30-year career as Adviser for Technology Initiatives and Services for the University of Massachusetts Amherst, having engaged in research on internet media technologies, mobile devices, virtual teaching, strategic planning, and developing/supporting internet and technology cloud services to the campus and community. He is now able to work full time on music and is a consultant with his son Daniel's business Tall Dog Electronics, which has a growing line of Eurorack modules, all used on “Voice Ping Strum”! [2] [3]

Discography [4]

Related Research Articles

<i>London Calling</i> 1979 studio album by the Clash

London Calling is the third studio album by the English rock band the Clash. It was originally released as a double album in the United Kingdom on 14 December 1979 by CBS Records, and in the United States in January 1980 by Epic Records.

William Mark Wainwright, known professionally as William Orbit, is an English musician and record producer who has sold 200 million recordings worldwide of his own work, his production and song-writing work. He is a recipient of multiple Grammy Awards, Ivor Novello Awards and other music industry awards.

<i>Sandinista!</i> 1980 studio album by the Clash

Sandinista! is the fourth studio album by the English punk rock band the Clash. It was released on 12 December 1980 as a triple album containing 36 tracks, with 6 songs on each side. It crosses various genres including funk, reggae, jazz, gospel, rockabilly, folk, dub, rhythm and blues, calypso, disco, and rap. For the first time, the band's songs were credited to the Clash as a group, rather than to Joe Strummer and Mick Jones. The band agreed to a decrease in album royalties in order to release the 3-LP at a low price.

<i>Combat Rock</i> 1982 studio album by the Clash

Combat Rock is the fifth studio album by the English rock band the Clash, released on 14 May 1982 through CBS Records. In the United Kingdom, the album charted at number 2, spending 23 weeks in the UK charts and peaked at number 7 in the United States, spending 61 weeks on the chart. The album was propelled by drummer Topper Headon's "Rock the Casbah" which became a staple on the newly launched MTV. Combat Rock continued the influence of funk and reggae like previous Clash albums, but also featured a more radio-friendly sound which alienated Clash fans. While the recording process went smoothly, the producing process of the album was tiring and full of infighting between Mick Jones and Joe Strummer. Headon's heroin addiction grew worse and he slowly became distant from the band while Strummer and bassist Paul Simonon reinstated Bernie Rhodes as manager, a move unwelcomed by Jones. The band had disagreed on the creative process of the album and called in Glyn Johns to produce the more radio-friendly sound of Combat Rock. Lyrically, Combat Rock focuses on the Vietnam War, postcolonialism, the decline of American society, and authoritarianism.

<i>Dreamtime Return</i> 1988 studio album by Steve Roach

Dreamtime Return (1988) is a double album by the American ambient musician Steve Roach, based on Australian Aboriginal culture and the concept of the Dreamtime. Described as "one of the pivotal works of ambient music" and "groundbreaking," the album has been included on a number of lists of the world's best music, including 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die.

<i>Cut the Crap</i> 1985 studio album by the Clash

Cut the Crap is the sixth and final studio album by the English punk band the Clash, released on 4 November 1985 by CBS Records. It was recorded in early 1985 at Weryton Studios, Munich, following a turbulent period: co-founder, lead guitarist and co-principal songwriter Mick Jones and drummer Topper Headon had been dismissed by lead vocalist Joe Strummer and bassist Paul Simonon. Jones and Headon were replaced by three unknowns: guitarists Vince White and Nick Sheppard and drummer Pete Howard. During the tense recording sessions, Clash manager Bernie Rhodes and Strummer fought each other for control over the band's songwriting and musical direction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nonesuch Records</span> American record label company

Nonesuch Records is an American record company and label owned by Warner Music Group, distributed by Warner Records, and based in New York City. Founded by Jac Holzman in 1964 as a budget classical label, Nonesuch has developed into a label that records critically acclaimed music from a wide range of genres. Robert Hurwitz was president of the company from 1984 to 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlemagne Palestine</span> American visual artist and musician (born 1947)

Chaim Moshe Tzadik Palestine, known professionally as Charlemagne Palestine, is an American visual artist and musician. He has been described as being one of the founders of New York school of minimalist music, first initiated by La Monte Young, Terry Riley, Philip Glass, Steve Reich, and Phil Niblock, although he prefers to call himself a maximalist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jac Holzman</span> American businessman (born 1931)

Jac Holzman is an American music businessman, the founder, chief executive officer and head of record label Elektra Records and Nonesuch Records. Holzman helped commercially launch the CD and home video formats, as well as the pilot program which became MTV. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Omnichord</span> Electronic musical instrument

The Omnichord is an electronic musical instrument introduced in 1981 by the Suzuki Musical Instrument Corporation. It allows users to play distinctive harp-like arpeggios produced through an electronic strum plate, simulating the experience of playing a stringed instrument. Originally conceived as an electronic Autoharp, the Omnichord found popularity due to its portability, its unique timbre, and its value as a kitsch object.

Tymon Dogg is an English singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Dogg's career started early with shows at the Cavern and Peppermint Lounge in Liverpool when he was 15. As well as pursuing a solo career, he collaborated with many bands and musicians including The Clash, and was a member of Joe Strummer's last band, The Mescaleros.

Bruce Clifford Gilbert is an English musician. One of the founding members of the influential and experimental art punk band Wire, he branched out into electronic music, performance art, music production, and DJing during the band's extended periods of inactivity. He left Wire in 2004, and has since been focusing on solo work and collaborations with visual artists and fellow experimental musicians.

<i>Lanquidity</i> 1978 studio album by Sun Ra

Lanquidity is a 1978 studio album by American jazz musician Sun Ra.

Salvatore Macchia is an American composer of contemporary classical music.

Cotton Jones is an American indie folk band, with elements of psychedelic folk, dream pop, and chamber pop, based in Cumberland, Maryland and currently signed to Suicide Squeeze Records.

<i>Live Around the World</i> (Miles Davis album) 1996 live album by Miles Davis

Live Around the World is a live album by American jazz musician Miles Davis. The single CD contains live recordings from 1988 to 1991. The album peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Top Jazz Albums chart.

Tangerine Dream bootleg recordings are performances by Tangerine Dream that have attained some level of public circulation without being available as a legal release. The term most often refers to audio recordings, but also includes video performances. Bootleg recordings arise from a multitude of sources, including covertly copied live concerts, studio outtakes, broadcast performances. Some bootlegs have included material from official releases.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Macchia</span> American composer, arranger, and musician

Frank Macchia is an American composer, arranger, saxophonist, and multi-reed player in Los Angeles. Originally from San Francisco he began playing clarinet at age 10 and later studied bassoon, saxophone and flute. At 14 he began studying musical composition and writing jazz and classical music pieces. He is known for his large catalog of eclectic and virtuosic original compositions spanning jazz, classical, Cajun, Americana, experimental, New Age, Spoken Word, and jazz-fusion styles as well as his extensive work as a composer and orchestrator for live television and television and film soundtracks. Macchia has been noted for his jazz and orchestral arrangements of traditional American folk songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adam Holzman (keyboardist)</span> American jazz keyboardist (born 1958)

Adam Holzman is an American jazz and rock keyboardist. He is the son of Elektra Records' founder Jac Holzman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ekko Astral</span> American punk rock band

Ekko Astral are a punk rock band based in Washington, D.C. The group play a blend of noise rock and pop-punk, referred to by the band as "mascara mosh pit". Their first album, Pink Balloons, was released on Topshelf Records in 2024.

References

  1. ↑ Reid, Geannine. "Michael William Gillber on All About Jazz". All About Jazz .
  2. ↑ "Michael William Gilbert - Bio". Archived from the original on 2024-09-25. Retrieved 2014-12-23.
  3. ↑ Layne, Joslyn. "Michael William Gillber Biography on Allmusic". RhythmOne .
  4. ↑ "Michael William Gilbert - Discography". mwgilbert.com. Archived from the original on 2024-09-25. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  5. ↑ Willis, Bea (30 July 2018). "Michael William Gilbert: Radio Ominbus Review". 5 Finger Review.
  6. ↑ Honeycomb, Jay (17 November 2024). "Single Reviews: 17 November 2024". No Transmission.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.