Michael Malis Trio
Press Quotes
August 2019: “Of the current pool of young jazz pianists on Detroit’s scene, Malis has proven to be one of the most daring, willing to go musically where his peers are reluctant to or don’t have the chops yet to go. Malis’s daring was on full display Friday evening at the Motor City Wine Bar where his quartet performed challenging compositions by Don Cherry, Andrew Hill, Geri Allen, and Wayne Shorter, mixed with some of Malis’s originals fresh from the oven.”
December 2015: “an uncommonly mature and distinctive debut... The music is loose and spontaneous, alert to dynamics and textural variety while balancing formal detail and discipline with freedom. … Malis' flexible touch and attack can sound sumptuous, splashy or spiky, and his well-developed technique allows him to get around the piano easily. He also has an impressive way of spreading out the rhythm between his two hands to create a fulsome sound that comes from playing the entire instrument. His sweeping approach, the way he projects a feeling of progressivism, reminds me a bit of his teacher, Geri Allen, without mimicking the specifics of her style.”
September 2015:“Malis’ multi-faceted stylings cover a broad range of free expression. He bridges the gap between original composed, complex written material and the spontaneity of improvisation.”
May 2016: “On his debut, pianist Michael Malis definitely gets in his share of quality swings, and this fun recording has more than its share of inspired moments and surprises.”
December 2015: “Malis never sounds like someone else and already displays his own musical personality, characterized by a seamless continuum between compositional and instrumental qualities. This is how the Detroit jazz piano tradition is evolving for our times.”
November 2015: “From Detroit comes Michael Malis, bending the idea of the traditional piano trio. His music starts on the crystalline end of classically influenced jazz piano, but he’s willing to veer into adventurous territory.”
Past Performances
Cliff Bell’s (Detroit) November 2022, December 2019, July 2019
Blue Llama Jazz Club (Ann Arbor) December 2022, January 2020, August 2019
Jefferson Avenue Presbyterian Church (Detroit), September 2021
Detroit Jazz Festival September 2016
Shapeshifter Lab (Brooklyn, NY) August 2016
Tranzac (Toronto) July 2016
Cafe Résonance (Montréal) July 2016
Trinosophes (Detroit) July 2016
Bop Stop (Cleveland) July 2016