Mike Fahie
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Mike Fahie

New York City, New York, United States | SELF

New York City, New York, United States | SELF
Band Jazz Avant-garde

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"Mike Fahie - ANIMA"



Even as a fellow Montrealer and jazz aficionado, I was only vaguely aware of New York-based trombonist Mike Fahie. Maybe it’s a Canadian thing – to stay out of the limelight – but over the years Fahie has quietly amassed an impressive list of performance and recording credentials. In addition to leading his own ensembles, he is a regular with the Gramercy Brass Orchestra and Darcy Argue’s Secret Society, and has performed alongside Maria Schneider, Ingrid Jensen, Donny McCaslin, and Jon Cowherd.

Fahie’s debut release, Anima, is no exception as the leader surrounds himself with some top notch musicians including Bill McHenry (saxophone), Ben Monder (guitar), Ben Street (bass), and Billy Hart (drums). The disc opens with Fahie taking an unaccompanied introduction on “The Journey” demonstrating his bright yet nuanced tone. McHenry joins in for the brooding melody before the two exchange solos that blur the line between improvisation and composition.

Following a recent trend for jazz musicians to try their hand at arranging pop and rock tunes (see Brad Mehldau, Vijay Iyer, or the Bad Plus), Fahie reinterprets Paul Simon’s “Cecilia.” Rather a surface treatment of the tune, Fahie provides a total overhaul featuring a slowed down groove, open vamp, and reharmonization of the melody. Also of note are solos by McHenry who exercises a melodic minimalism, and Monder who displays his trademark ethereal timbre and sonic palette. The album includes two additional covers, namely a minor blues by William Green entitled “Village Greene,” and a faithful rendition of Thelonious Monk’s “Work”.

Of the six original compositions the two standouts are “Waltz for P.C.,” a gospel-tinged country-esque waltz, and “Seven Sisters,” a modern straight eighth tune in 7/4 with a simple melody and pop chords. The fact that this is Fahie’s first release as leader belies the fact that his music reveals the sophistication and emotional depth of a jazz veteran. Hopefully Anima will introduce the trombonist to a wider audience as the quality of his playing and compositions/arrangements definitely deserve star billing.
- Jazz Times


"BJU - Mike Fahie/Anima"

The collection of covers and originals on this debut album from a rising bone man rounding up some of the best in Brooklyn to help him out adds up to a nice mix of sitting down jazz and getting your groove on jazz. Coming together as an ensemble in fine style, they take you on a tour of decades of feelings rather than styles. A delightfully hard to pin down eclectic album, there’s something here for the pickiest contemporary jazzbo as well as the casual groover just looking for some new kicks. Highly creative throughout, the sure footed playing is sure to make a positive impression no matter what your jazz stripe. Check it out.
- Midwest Record


"Anima - Mike Fahie"

Trombonist/composer Fahie (pronounced "Fay") has lived in New York City since the turn of the 2000s and is an integral member of several large ensembles (includng Darcy James Argue's Secret Society, Rob Mosher's Storytime and the Pedro Giraudo Jazz Orchestra.) His debut CD features a smaller yet quite explosive and exploratory ensemble including Bill McHenry (tenor saxophone), Ben Monder (guitar), Ben Street (bass) and Billy Hart (drums) - guess one's first name has to start with a "B" to be in this quintet. There is so much to enjoy on this program, starting with the impressive original compositions and intelligent arrangements. The rhythm section really kicks this music, especially Hart's dramatic drive and support throughout the program (listen to how he can be melodic as well as percussive.) Monder can really "wail" when he wishes (the high-energy "Democracy" being the primary example) yet his more subtle playing also stands out (Paul Simon's "Cecilia" and Fahie's "An Axe to Grind" among the highlights.) The Simon tune, cleverly rearranged, is pleasing for many reasons, from the highly active drumming to the solos to the way the piece unwinds, introspectively as opposed to the "poppiness" of the original version. McHenry is such a wonderfully understated soloist, at all times. Listen as he strolls his way through the group's take on Thelonious Monk's "Work" (great bass and drum work here as well) and his long tones mixed with short phrases on "Village Greene." Fahie is a strong soloist, whether riding atop Hart's snare on "Village Greene", on his own reading the melody for the opening 90 seconds of "The Journey" and flying through the changes on "Seven Sisters."
After hearing Mike Fahie as a member of trombone sections on several fine recordings, it's such a treat to hear his music and playing on "Anima." This is the sort of program that just gets better with each listen. For more information, go to www.mikefahie.com.
There is a CD Release Party on Sunday April 25 at the Cornelia Street Cafe, with the rhythm section section of bassist Jorge Roeder and drummer Jochen Reuckert replacing Street and Hart. The Cafe is located at 29 Cornelia Street, Greenwich Village in New York City. For more information, go to www.corneliastreetcafe.com. - Steptempest


"BJU scores again with brass"

... The other disc is also by a pianoless group led by a brass man — Mike Fahie’s “Anima,” the Latin word for “spirit.” And this disc has plenty. Ben Monder is the capable guitarist, but the most solid impression here is made by veteran drummer Billy Hart. Not that the trombonist leader is any slouch; he’s got an understated agility and charm in every phrase he plays, and he draws his band in around him to etch some great ensemble playing on this debut disc. Up-and-coming jazz musicians these days — and maybe always, really — have to make their mark as colleagues: It’s a “gestalt” art — what’s the big picture a bandleader projects? Well, it’s the quality and personality of collective music-making. - Indianapolis Star


"The lovely bones"

The Ottawa-raised, McGill University-educated and New York-based trombonist Mike Fahie, 33, surrounds himself with distinctive A-list players for his debut disc. This varied but always lyrical collection features guitarist Ben Monder, saxophonist Bill McHenry, bassist Ben Street and the masterfully splashy drummer Billy Hart.

The disc opens on a slow, stirring note with Fahie’s composition Journey, which would make a fine national anthem if a small country somewhere is still in need of one. The track is by turns mysterious and plaintive, but it becomes more urgent when McHenry takes centre stage.

Waltz for P.C., a slow, country-tinged song that takes some pleasant harmonic twists, is a feature for Fahie and Street, while Monder accentuates the song's inherent twang. June With John is a naive, floating ballad done just right so that it casts a cohesive spell over its 8 1/2 minutes. The disc ends buoyantly with Seven Sisters, a poppy, 7/4 creation.

Fahie’s quintet also succeeds with its covers. Set to Hart's loose straight-eighths groove, Paul Simon's Cecilia is at first slow and pretty, and then more broad and energetic. Village Greene is an exuberant minor blues by William Green, tailor-made for stretching out, with McHenry's solo an enthralling mix of outward-bound lines and twisting motifs.

Anima’s great strength is that Fahie’s struck the perfect balance between offering succinct, forthright compositions and allowing his bandmates to express themselves fully and eloquently. - Ottawa Citizen


"Mike Fahie - Anima"

Recently this writer, in a conversation with another journalist, described a jazz musician as "obscure." He responded, "By now, they're all obscure." Perhaps so. We live in a world where Pat Metheny, Brad Mehldau, and Joshua Redman get demoted by their major record label (Warner Bros.) to a subsidiary niche label (Nonesuch).
Enter Mike Fahie. Ever heard of him? Me neither. He is an erudite, witty composer and a trombonist with serious chops. That albums like Anima keep getting made proves that jazz as an art form is thriving, even if jazz as a business is on its ass.
Anima features no one in particular, as Art Blakey used to say. Everyone here is a creative soloist, but the album is mostly about Fahie's intricate compositions and ensemble concepts, which sound breezy when played by the quick, agile organism of this quintet. "June With John" starts with an eight-not measure, subtracts one note per bar until none are left, then starts adding them in again. "Waltz for P.C." is in three keys a major third apart. Both come across as approachable, even simple. Bassist Ben Street and Billy Hart (the greatest obscure drummer in jazz) remain true to their assertive, volatile personalities while keeping Anima light and airy.
Paul Simon's "Cecilia" is a brilliant choice. Street twitches. Hart rumbles and tumbles. After Fahie's epic, declamatory, diverse trombone solo, Bill McHenry stabs and shoots defiant tenor saxophone runs and Ben Monder scatters a lovely independent array of guitar notes. It is funny when they all return to the dervish of the famously, addictively singable "Cecilia," and take it out deadpan and dry.
Not only is the jazz art form in good hands, so is jazz engineering. Jim Clouse, like Mike Fahie, is not famous. His Park West Studio is a small basement in Brooklyn. With modest older equipment (a Mackie console, Digital Performer software, affordable microphones) he achieves stunning results on Anima. Street's bass is powerful and physical yet not overbearing, Hart's drum kit is arrayed across both channels, the cymbals going way beyond the outer edges of your speakers. The horns and guitar are alive in free air. - Stereophile


Discography

As a leader:

Mike Fahie - Anima (Brooklyn Jazz Underground)

As a sideman (selected):

Darcy James Argue's Secret Society - Infernal Machines (New Amsterdam)

Pedro Giraudo Orchestra - Cordoba (Ind.)

Pedro Giraudo Orchestra - El Viaje (Ind.)

Pedro Giraudo Orchestra - Desconsuelo (Ind.)

Paul Carlon Octet - Roots Propaganda (Deep Tone)

Paul Carlon Octet - Other Tongues (Deep Tone)

Rob Mosher's Storytime - The Tortoise (Ind.)

Photos

Bio

Mike Fahie is a jazz trombonist, composer and educator living in Brooklyn. His current projects include a collaboration with legendary trumpet player John McNeil, the Mike Fahie Jazz Orchestra, and the Mike Fahie Quintet, which is represented on Mike’s debut album, Anima, released on the Brooklyn Jazz Underground label.
Anima features the all-star cast of Bill McHenry, Ben Monder, Ben Street and Billy Hart, and was released in 2010 to wide acclaim, for instance: “Anima gives the genre a taste of new life”, “(Fahie’s) music reveals the sophistication and emotional depth of a jazz veteran,” “Fahie’s struck the perfect balance between offering succinct, forthright compositions and allowing his bandmates to express themselves fully and eloquently”, and “He is an erudite, witty composer and a trombonist with serious chops. That albums like Anima keep getting made proves that jazz as an art form is thriving…”
Mike is also an in-demand sideman in New York City, playing with many highly recognized groups. He is the lead trombonist of Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society, a 2010 Grammy nominee. He is the principal trombonist of the Gramercy Brass Orchestra of New York, and a member of the Gramercy Brass Quintet. He is also a regular member of the Pedro Giraudo Jazz Orchestra, the Gregorio Uribe Big Band, Rob Mosher’s Storytime and the Paul Carlon Nonet.
Mike has shared the stage with too many musicians to list, but a few notables include Maria Schneider, Ingrid Jensen, Eddie Palmeiri, Ken Peplowski, Jon Cowherd, Mike Rodriguez, Jon Gordon, Mark Ferber, Nir Felder, and many others.
Mike works as a commercial musician as well, and has played several Broadway shows including Ragtime, In The Heights, and Elf. He has appeared on a number of recordings and movies, and performs with various rock & pop bands.
Mike is an also an educator, and has been on the faculty of the United Nations International School for over 7 years, and is currently on the faculty of the New York Jazz Academy. He has also worked across the US as a trombone and composition clinician.
Mike was a finalist for the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Trombone Competition, and was the first ever Canadian Fulbright Scholar in jazz.