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| Pianist Mike Malis |
The Detroit jazz community has so many uniquely
gifted musicians. So, I have to think long and hard when asked who's my
favorite drummer, bassist, or horn player. However, I proclaim Mike Malis, my
number one pianist, without pause when asked to pick my fave pianist. Malis is
an alumnus of the University of Michigan. There he studied with the late Geri
Allen. After hearing him perform with the vocalist Milton Suggs many years ago,
I became fond of Malis's playing. Over the years, my fondness for him has grown.
I witnessed him co-lead the duo Balance with saxophonist Marcus Elliot (recently
featured in Jazz Times magazine) and tackle challenging works by greats such as
Andrew Hill and Ornette Coleman. At the Detroit Institute of Arts Friday
evening, Malis premiered his most ambitious project yet with the chamber
ensemble Virago violinist Meg Rohrer, cellist Wesley Hornpetrie, saxophonist
BethAnne Kunert, and vibraphonist Sofia Carbonara. All possess fierce improvisational
skills. Malis packed a lot of arresting music into the 90-minute concert,
starting with four movements from his suite Imperfect Intervals. Then performing
Hold Tightly Your Vision of How Things Could Be and ending with music
from his new recording, From Darkness We Awaken. During this leg of the concert,
the Virago members were in stride with each other like a championship relay
team. Malis treated the audience to three different concerts, each equally moving.
For weeks to come, I'll think about Malis giving his all on Hold Tightly
Your Vision of How Things Could Be. Honestly, I've never been a friend of solo
piano because it's like watching a pianist practice. However, I was taken by Malis's
range, depth, and beauty. Midway through the solo, I wondered if he'd invested
time dissecting late pianist Jaki Byard's gift. Like Byard, Malis can play many
styles simultaneously. So much music in a single concert could've overwhelmed
an audience unwinding after a taxing work week. However, Malis is a self-assured
leader, and he made such an ambitious undertaking look effortless.
