Mike Verba All Stars
After several years of cooperation with the well-known American drummer Ronnie Burrage and the jointly released album “The Dance of The Great Spirit” in the United States, Mike Verba invites another star of the jazz world to cooperate – the outstanding saxophonist Wayne Escoffery, winner of the Grammy Award, brilliant sideman of the greatest jazz stars Michał Wierba All Stars – in a strong cast of world-class musicians – is another step on the path of the Polish pianist in the world of jazz, which breaks borders, connecting continents and cultures. After years of experience on the Polish and American stages, Michał Wierba creates his first international band under his name, offering his audience a new quality – true modern jazz fusion of the 21st century. The project is to be continued in 2024 with other quests of jazz, such as American bassist Daryll Hall and Polish trumpeter Piotr Wojtasik.
Pop Fiction
Pop Fiction is a project of the first solo piano album by Mike Verba, in which he wants to redefine the concept of a “solo piano” album in a musical (genre, stylistic) and social context. The album is thus maintained in the solo piano convention, and at the same time in the “one man show” trend – all soundtracks, arrangements, song production and realization are created by the Artist. The title of the album – Pop Fiction – refers to the American, postmodern cinema of the second half of the 20th century century, eclecticism, collage techniques and playing with conventions. The pianist, “winking” to Quentin Tarantino (a reference to the cult film by the director of Pulp Fiction), offers the audience a new dimension of jazz pianism and the concept of a solo artist – intertextual and diverse. Verba focuses on advanced, demanding, but at the same time egalitarian piano playing. The album is divided into two parts. The first part consists of songs from the borderline of electronics, jazz and popular music, the second is maintained in the convention of a solo piano album and the “modern classical” genre, which are broken with a non-standard selection of repertoire. Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Nirvana, George Michael, Ed Sheeran and Sting. Importantly, Pop-fiction is planned as an interactive project with a performance character, not a traditionally understood album. The cover and visual setting of the album is maintained in a comic book style. Pop – Fiction is an important step in the artistic development of an experienced pianist who, is responsible for almost everything in this project – composition and arrangement, sound production (except acoustic piano), production and comprehensive performance. Coming from the tradition of jazz music, knowing and respecting it, Verba breaks the convention of the “solo piano” album. He creates a highly differentiated material, in which the classic piano technique meets electronic and trance sounds, using a full range of technical solutions and instrumental tools dedicated to pianists (including Roli’s Seaboard). The premiere of an album is planned to take place in the beginning of 2024.
Body language
Body Language is Michal Wierba’s live album released by For Tune Records label in November 2017. This special musical album is a live recording of Wierba’s concert in Polish Radio ,,Trójka” where he performed with his band and appreciated Polish jazz saxophonist Maciej Sikała (known for his collaboration with famous Polish band MIŁOŚĆ and Piotr Wojtasik Quintet) which he worked with in 2013-2016.
After two solo albums ,,Blackjack” and ,,Orange sky”, Wierba’s album ,,Body Language” is a huge step in artist’s career as a pianist, composer and producer, who, now turning his interest into new musical trends and new technologies in music industry, stays close to his musical roots playing with musical tradition with intelligence, humour, charm and freshness. ,,Body Language” is a mixture of jazz and world music. You can find here playing with quotes and convention, moving in different styles, traditional motives …. and most of all the aura of fragile beauty.