Discography
New CD with 20 New Songs!
Anniversary CD celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the
release of our 1st CD "First Time Out" for the 2008 Summer Season
"20
Songs for 20 Years"
Cinco de Michael
New Jack Jazz
LIVE AT THE MOORE THEATRE"
ON DVD + CD (The package contains BOTH discs)
CD Ordering
 CD
OrderingRELEASED OCTOBER OF 1999 "BLUES THAT YOU CAN USE" There are two types of people, those who love Michael Powers’ music, and those who have not yet heard it! Michael Powers has established himself among a new breed of guitarists and composers who, with each album and every performance, continually redefines the guitars' role in the jazz context. His technique is stunning, but he never employs it at the expense of the musicality of the melodic line. Blues has always been at the core of Michaels’ inspiration and expression. His latest (sixth) CD "BLUES THAT YOU CAN USE" is a totally original collection of blues instrumentals that explore the full spectrum of blues styles. Included are ‘boogie’, ‘slow drag’, ‘funky’, ‘swamp/delta’, ‘hip-hop’, ‘swing’, ‘be-bop’ and traditional blues styles. the It is a celebration of the Blues in all it’s hues, and all of it’s majesty. It was recorded essentially live in the studio, and comes the closest yet to the experience of hearing Michael and the group in person. Does listening to the Blues necessarily have to make you feel blue? Michael believes the genre can be a release, a scream, a way to laugh to release the pain rather than crying. In the end, the process will leave you in a higher place. It features the wonderful talent of keyboard wizard Paul Richardson with the classic sound of the Hammond B-3 Organ trio (Organ, Drums and Guitar) playing 12 new ‘songs without words’. Included guests are B.B. Kings’ longtime Drummer Tony Coleman, NW drum legend Steve Banks, and special drum appearances by Jack Toker, Steve Hill, and Mark Arrington. It also features the sax & trumpet section of NW jazz treasure Jay Thomas, and electric bass of R&B bass wizard Tracy Arrington. |
 CD OrderingRELEASED JANUARY OF 1998 "COVER TO COVER" This, Michael's fifth full length release as a leader features guests such as electric bass legend Abraham Laboriel (Al Jarreau, Lee Ritenour, Dave Grusin), dynamic gospel vocalist Patrinell Wright (Total Experience Choir), and members of Michael’s touring group; Garey Williams-drums, Paul Richardson-keyboards and bassist/vocalist Douglas Barnett. Also featured are the percussion talents of Nonda Trimis. It’s Michael's most refined yet street smart release to date: a smooth combination of funk-infused R&B dance grooves, jazz flavors, sexy arrangements and silky production that takes my music to a new level. The focus is smooth funk you can dance or romance to such as remakes of "Conga" (Miami Sound Machine), "Creep" (TLC), "Brick House" (Commodores), "You can call me Al" (Paul Simon), and "Sara Smile" (Hall & Oates). Cover to Cover is a must have for any contemporary jazz/R&B enthusiast! |
  CD Ordering Michael's 4th full length recording "FROSTY THE BLUESMAN" hit #15 on the BILLBOARD Blues chart in December of 96’, and explores the holiday favorites from a Bluesman’s perspective. It was released by the GRAMMY nominee company MIRAMAR, and distributed worldwide by industry giant BMG. While not all the selections have a strict Blues beat, or chordal structure, the Blues essence shines throughout. There are the bent notes, slurs, wiggles, and vibratos that only become part of your musical vocabulary when one does some serious “shedding” (or studying) of the Blues. Even though the musical bottles change, the wine inside remains the same. Also for the first time on a recording, Michael features a vocalist (Priestley Thompson) on a total reworking of ‘Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer’. Rob Mullins is on keyboards, Mark Ivester played drums, Nonda Trimis is on percussion, along with special guests Clipper Anderson (Acoustic Bass), Chris Alpine (Comedic Voice), Jeff Smith (Conga), and Deon Estus (George Michaels’ Musical director) on Electric Bass . There are 14 songs in all, and over 63 minutes of music. |
 The
supporting cast of characters on Michael Powers' 1994 "FULL CIRCLE" release reads like a Who's Who of
contemporary jazz, featuring artists such as William Kennedy (YELLOWJACKETS), Steve Reid
(RlPPlNGTONS), Rob Mullins (CRUSADERS) and Carl Evans Jr. (FATTBURGER). Also contributing
to this collection are several northwest jazz luminaries. This release includes a wide
range of emotions and inflections from mainstream jazz to urban funk, showcased in 10
originals and 3 reworkings of standards (Tenderly, Birdland and Smoke
Gets In Your Eyes)CD Ordering |
 Building
on the success of FIRST TIME OUT, the brilliantly wrought "PERPETUAL MOTION" solidified Michael’s reputation as a
quintuple threat as composer, arranger, producer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. The
title well defines Michael, his music, and his rapid rise in Seattle area, and now
national, popularity. Perpetual Motion rose to the Top 20 on the Gavin Radio Charts just
weeks after its release in the fall of 1991. Alongside his work on Sir Mix-a-Lots’ #1
platinum mega-hit, Mack Daddy, Perpetual Motion has taken Michael to the next level of
wide popularity, hitting the top 20 charts in national airplay. CD Ordering |
 Powers'
self-produced and self-distributed debut album, "FIRST TIME OUT", won the 1989 Jazz Album of the Year award from
the Northwest Area Music Association (the Northwest's version of the Grammy awards),
beating out such popular figures as Kenny G. Through BBC release, First Time Out received
wide European airplay. He received even broader recognition as a NAMA nominee for 1990
Northwest Artist of the Year, and went on to win Best Northwest Electric Guitarist in 1991
and the EARSHOT Golden Ear awards for best NW Jazz Group (Electric) in 1991 and 1993 and
1994.CD Ordering |
CD and Cassette Ordering Information
Copyright
©, 2008 Michael Powers Music