Michael Hashim
Encyclopedia
Michael James Hashim is an American jazz
alto saxophonist.
Hashim began playing saxophone while in elementary school
, playing with Phil Flanigan and Chris Flory as a high schooler. He worked with both into the middle 1970s, and in 1976 he toured with Muddy Waters
and played with the Widespread Depression Jazz Orchestra
, which we would later lead. He also formed his own quartet in 1979, which has included Dennis Irwin
, Kenny Washington
, and Mike LeDonne
as sidemen. In 1980 he toured with Clarence Gatemouth Brown
. He played in New York
in the early 1980s with Roy Eldridge
, Jo Jones
, Brooks Kerr
, Sonny Greer
, and Jimmie Rowles. From 1987 he worked often with Judy Carmichael. He toured China
in 1992, and was one of the first jazz musicians ever to do so. He worked with Flory through the 1990s, and toured North America
and Europe
regularly. In 1990 he recorded an album of Billy Strayhorn
songs with his quartet, and in 1998 expanded this ensemble into 11 members as the Billy Strayhorn Orchestra.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
alto saxophonist.
Hashim began playing saxophone while in elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
, playing with Phil Flanigan and Chris Flory as a high schooler. He worked with both into the middle 1970s, and in 1976 he toured with Muddy Waters
Muddy Waters
McKinley Morganfield , known as Muddy Waters, was an American blues musician, generally considered the "father of modern Chicago blues"...
and played with the Widespread Depression Jazz Orchestra
Widespread Depression Jazz Orchestra
The Widespread Depression Jazz Orchestra was a nine-piece jazz ensemble founded in 1972 at Vermont's Marlboro College.Initially, the group played 1950's style R&B and early rock and roll with guitars, piano, sax, bass guitar, drums, and a vocalist, but by the middle of the 1970s was operating as a...
, which we would later lead. He also formed his own quartet in 1979, which has included Dennis Irwin
Dennis Irwin
Dennis Irwin was an American jazz double bassist. He toured and recorded with John Scofield and the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra among others, and played on over 500 albums.-Biography:...
, Kenny Washington
Kenny Washington (musician)
Kenny Washington is a jazz drummer born in Staten Island, New York.He studied at the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts...
, and Mike LeDonne
Mike LeDonne
Michael LeDonne is a jazz pianist and organist known for post-bop and hard bop.His parents ran a music store with his father also being a jazz guitarist. He played with his father at gigs from the age of ten...
as sidemen. In 1980 he toured with Clarence Gatemouth Brown
Clarence Gatemouth Brown
Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown was an American musician from Louisiana and Texas. He is best known for his work as a blues musician, but embraced other styles of music, having "spent his career fighting purism by synthesizing old blues, country, jazz, Cajun music and R&B styles"He was an acclaimed...
. He played in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in the early 1980s with Roy Eldridge
Roy Eldridge
Roy David Eldridge , nicknamed "Little Jazz" was an American jazz trumpet player. His sophisticated use of harmony, including the use of tritone substitutions, his virtuosic solos and his strong influence on Dizzy Gillespie mark him as one of the most exciting musicians of the swing era and a...
, Jo Jones
Jo Jones
Jo Jones was an American jazz drummer.Known as Papa Jo Jones in his later years, he was sometimes confused with another influential jazz drummer, Philly Joe Jones...
, Brooks Kerr
Brooks Kerr
Brooks Kerr is an American jazz pianist born in New Haven, Connecticut, perhaps best-known for being bandleader of a small group featuring Sonny Greer and Russell Procope and for his knowledge of Duke Ellington's work, which he often performs.Kerr was a student of Willie "The Lion" Smith...
, Sonny Greer
Sonny Greer
Sonny Greer was an American jazz drummer, best known for his work with Duke Ellington.Greer was born in Long Branch, New Jersey, and played with Elmer Snowden's band and the Howard Theatre's orchestra in Washington, D.C. before joining Duke Ellington, who he met in 1919...
, and Jimmie Rowles. From 1987 he worked often with Judy Carmichael. He toured China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
in 1992, and was one of the first jazz musicians ever to do so. He worked with Flory through the 1990s, and toured North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
regularly. In 1990 he recorded an album of Billy Strayhorn
Billy Strayhorn
William Thomas "Billy" Strayhorn was an American composer, pianist and arranger, best known for his successful collaboration with bandleader and composer Duke Ellington lasting nearly three decades. His compositions include "Chelsea Bridge", "Take the "A" Train" and "Lush Life".-Early...
songs with his quartet, and in 1998 expanded this ensemble into 11 members as the Billy Strayhorn Orchestra.
Discography
- Peacocks (Stash Records, 1983)
- Lotus Blossom (Stash, 1990)
- A Blue Streak (Stash, 1991)
- Guys and Dolls (Stash, 1992)
- Keep a Song in Your Soul (Hep RecordsHep RecordsHep Records is a Scottish record label specializing in both new and reissued jazz music. The label was founded in 1974 by Alastair Robertson in Edinburgh.-Past and present artists:*Don Lanphere*Jessica Williams*Jim Mullen*Tommy Smith*Michael Hashim...
, 1996) - Multicolored Blue (Hep, 1999)
- Green Up Time: The Music of Kurt WeillKurt WeillKurt Julian Weill was a German-Jewish composer, active from the 1920s, and in his later years in the United States. He was a leading composer for the stage who was best known for his fruitful collaborations with Bertolt Brecht...
(Hep, 2001)