Return Trajectory

Michael Dease is a total monster on the jazz trombone, a multi-Grammy winner, and a 2025 Guggenheim Fellow. Originally from Augusta, Georgia, he started playing at 17 and quickly made his way up to New York as part of Juilliard's very first jazz class. Since then, he's played on over 250 records, won the DownBeat Critics Poll multiple times, and now helps shape the next generation of players as a professor at Michigan State University.

Dease has always had a deep love for big bands, having played with powerhouse ensembles like Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Christian McBride Big Band, and the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band. He really locked in his skills as a large ensemble leader back in 2011 during a legendary two-year monthly residency lab in Greenwich Village.
His brand new release, Return Trajectory, marks an exciting return to that big band format. It's not just a trip down memory lane—it's a fresh continuation of his big band journey. Backed by a high-energy lineup of rising stars from MSU and brilliant special guests, the album brings an urgent, live-session energy to new originals, collaborations with executive producer Gregg Hill, and straight-ahead jazz classics.

The Deep Dive
The album kicks off with the smooth, soulful horn layers of You Know I Love You, a Dease original that gives guest flugelhornist Dennis Adu and alto sax star Erena Terakubo plenty of room to shine with full backing by Michael Dease on trombone, Mason Reinhardt and Stephen Michaels on alto sax, Paloma Ximena and Shane Karas on tenor sax, Andrew Wittmer on bari sax, Aiden Clark, Miles Cole, Eli Howell ,and Elizabeth Shafer on trombone, Scott Beck, Joel Reaves, Eli Rachlin and Andrew Brown on trumpet, Max Gage on piano, Jonathan Hilliard on bass, Sam Melkonian on drums and Zach Sommerfield on guitar. Dease really blows the back out on trombone making this track a stellar opener. Oasis written by veteran composer Gregg Hill is my favorite track on the release with some monster riffs by Sommerfield on guitar. It's a dynamic ride that lets the rhythm section stretch out, setting up a fluid solo by Mason Reinhardt on soprano sax, dynamic trombone work by Miles Cole, and nicely muted work by Joel Reaves on trumpet. Very nice.

Dease really steps it up with a huge bari sax solo on Cherokee, which really puts the band in jump mode. Another real show stopper is Dease on bari sax on Up South, where he slows things down and features a completely unaccompanied, 4 minute plus solo. WOW! Wrapping the release is J.J. Johnson's Little Dave, with its driving full on attack. Excellent trumpet lead with warm sax backing and piano punctuation leads to and extended trombone lead from Dease. This track is bop with band backing. Excellent closer for a strong release.