Michael Zilber

Billy Collins Project: Eleven on Turning Ten

OA2 22067

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one of the best composers and players around anywhere, period!
Dave Liebman

San Francisco-based saxophonist/composer Michael Zilber sets to music eleven poems by the reknowned American poet Billy Collins, hailed as "the most popular poet in America" by the New York Times. With vocalist Andy Kirshner invoking a spirit reminiscient of Mark Murphy or Kurt Elling, he conveys Collins' words with conviction and charisma, as he breathes life into tunes like "Man on the Moon," and "Not Touching" and trades phrases with Zilber on "The Blues." Never straying far from their modern-jazz roots, Zilber's band nonetheless draws on influences of pop, jazz, and the blues to fully bring the tunes to life. With pianist John R. Burr, bassist John Shifflett and Jason Lewis on drums.


Track Listing:

1 night club 7:43
2 not touching 4:31
3 the blues 4:16
4 the man in the moon 4:46
5 on turning ten 7:25
6 walking across the atlantic 4:10
7 my number 5:17
8 another reason I don't keep a gun in the house 4:22
9 paradelle for susan 2:51
10 sonnet 5:30
11 vade mecum 3:30

Performers:

ANDY KIRSHNER - voice
MICHAEL ZILBER - soprano & tenor sax
JOHN R. BURR - piano
JOHN SHIFFLETT - bass
JASON LEWIS - drums & percussion

Production Info:

Produced by Michael Zilber
Recorded by Scott Sorkin at Open Path Studios,
San Jose, November 11-14 2007
and Jon Evans at San Pablo Recorders,
Berkeley, January 2008
Mixed by Jon Evans at San Pablo Recorders
Mastered by Dan Feiszli
Cover photograph of Jacob Zilber in Kiwanis, WI, 1933
Photograph of Billy Collins by Steven Kovich
Photograph of Michael Zilber by Hali McGrath
Cover design by John Bishop


Reviews of Billy Collins Project: Eleven on Turning Ten

All Music Guide (Adam Greenberg)
Billy Collins has been presented as the most popular poet in America, meaning that he's got a fair amount of renown and some potential expectations included with any works involving his poetry. Taking something of a chance then, sax player Michael Zilber took on the task of providing a jazz score to go with readings of Collins' work. It's ambitious ...

Bopndicks 10 Picks (Dick Crockett)
This new Michael Zilber CD is so Beat! So cool. Saxophonist Michael Zilber with the voice of Andy Kirshner interpret the poetry of Bill Collins, poet laureate, teacher on both coasts. Poets are the antithesis of hyperbole, those with pencil and note pad, create a moment of Ecclesiastes. My teacher David Gitin at Monterey Community College, ...

Jazz Times (Bill Milkowski)
Vancouver native and San Francisco resident Michael Zilber adapts the poetry of onetime American poet laureate Billy Collins to a compelling song cycle in his fourth outing as a leader. Accompanied by outstanding pianist John Burr and Taylor Eigsti's former rhythm tandem of bassist John Shifflett and drummer Jason Lewis, and with singer Andy Kirsh ...









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