Tenor/soprano saxophonist and composer Michael Rosen, a revered figure with near guru status on the European Jazz Scene, reunites with longtime friend and colleague, legendary drummer Tommy Campbell, to present Rosen’s new cd on the Jando Music Label together Via Veneto Jazz, SWEET 17, a collection of original compositions combining a rarely found melodic lyricism with rhythmic complexity and harmonic sophistication, which Rosen recorded at New York’s Sear Sound with Lage Lund on guitar, Ralph Alessi on trumpet, Italian pianist Domenico Sanna, Matt Penman on bass, and Ralph Alessi on trumpet, and Bill Stewart on drums.
Rosen and Campbell, who met in the late ‘80s onstage at the Boston’s Ryles, have shared the stage on many subsequent occasions, touring italy together for the first time in the mid-90’s. Although he mainly lives and works in Europe, the saxophonist has made New York appearances over the years, as well as performing at clubs and festivals all over Europe, and is respected and admired by the many top tier international artists, with whom he has performed and/or who attend his concerts, such as Sheila Jordan, who calls Rosen “a musician of exceptional talent”, and Ralph Towner, who defines Rosen “An extraordinary saxophonist, composer and arranger”. The U.S. press has also taken note of Rosen, who has received consistently superb reviews for his 9 solo cd’s, with Cadence calling his first effort “a scintillating release”, and adding that “Rosen stands out as a composer... consistently beautiful melodies, played in a charming yet invigorating style..displaying monstrous chops restrained by tasteful discipline, ” and Thom Jurek of All Music Guide acclaiming: “Rosen is a composer and musician of vast ability.”
Rosen, a native of Ithaca New York, and ’87 Berklee grad, currently lives between London and Rome, has performed at major festivals and clubs all over Europe, as well as in Brasil, Israel and Argentina, with his own bands and with a slew of artists, from Sheila Jordan to Mike Stern, to Bobby McFerrin to Kenny Wheeler, Peter Bernstein, Jim Hall and the La Scala Orchestra, as well as touring and recording with many noteworthy brasilian musicians such as Grammy Nominee Duduka DeFonseca, and guitarist Nelson Faria who has been artistic director of Joao Bosco's band, among other things, for many years.
In addition to his 9 solo cd’s, Rosen has appeared as guest soloist on approximately 200 cd’s, mostly for Italian and British jazz musicians as well as for numerous pop and crossover artists, many of whom are superstars in their home countries, particularly in Italy.
Thrice, Rosen has placed in the top 10 in Italy’s Jazzit Magazine Reader’s poll for best worldwide soprano saxophonist, placing 4th in 2011 after Dave Leibman, Wayne Shorter and Branford Marsalis.
www.jandomusic.com www.viavenetojazz.it
Booking Contacts drummer@tommycampbell.com +1-347-602-1992