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Composer/Arranger/Performer
Michael Pignéguy BMus
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Diversity is a
concept that sits very comfortably within Michael's artistic
outlook, having worked in genres ranging from jazz, hip-hop,
rock, Celtic, orchestral and Latin.
Known for his
taste, inventiveness and rhythmic instinct, he is respected as a
performer, composer, arranger and educator.
He considers his musical 'home' to be
jazz and that is the language through which he seeks to understand
other styles. Over time he has become more and more interested in the
way different genres have the potential to work together and has been
involved in many projects that reflect that. |
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Jazz Meets
Mozart, the C.Y.O'Connor Jazz Suite, Lingua Franca, When Worlds
Collide as well as the many arrangement commissions he has
received for pop artists have all required a well honed ability
to merge widely different elements into a cohesive new sound.
All of the above projects have built on the experience Michael
gained from writing for and leading his own sextet which was
formed in 1994. This group came to showcase his writing on the
group's critically acclaimed first album 'MPS Live' and later on
the double album 'PURE' also featuring Australian sax icon, Dale
Barlow in performance and co-producing roles.
The Michael Pignéguy Sextet (MPS) collaborated with poets, hip
hop musicians and classical instrument line-ups involving many
musicians that have made a big impact on the Australian scene.
An offshoot of MPS was Salamander, a musical force co-led by
Michael, bassist and composer-Peter Jeavons plus rapper and
drummer-Floods. Salamander demonstrated, on an elevated plane,
what is possible when jazz sensibilities get mixed up with
hip-hop, soul, dance music and electronica as the many reviews
for the group's debut album ADAPT attested.
Michael's own 'adaptability' led to him being picked to become
principal arranger and artistic director for the Jazz Meets
Mozart projected commission to celebrate the 250th anniversary
of Mozart's birth. After the performances of Jazz Meets Mozart
in Australia and the Middle East, the four musicians who
comprised the jazz component formally became the Australian Jazz
Collective. The Collective includes Jamie Oehlers (sax), Tom
O'Halloran (piano), Sam Anning (acoustic bass) and Michael
(drums).
Outside his performance on drums in the MPS, Salamander and the
Australian Jazz Collective plus the many commissions he has
received, Michael has had exciting career as a highly sought
after freelance musician and has performed with artists such:
Michel LeGrand (France), Kate Ceberano, Western Australian
Symphony Orchestra, Claire Martin, Frank Bennett, the Adelaide
Symphony Orchestra, Dale Barlow, Julian Lee, Mike Nock, Tim
Hopkins, Jamie Oehlers, Bob Downe, James Flynn, Cathie Travers,
Nichaud Fitzgibbon, Freddie Grigson, Helen Matthews, Penny King,
Elizabeth Sanderson, Grady Lovelle, Tropicana Beat, rock band
Jaluka, The Fling, Latin outfit Descarga.
Michael has undertaken a range of private study with artists
such as (in the USA) Jeff Hamilton, Peter Erskine, Ed Soph,
Winard Harper, Zack Danziger, Duduka Da Fonseca, John Clayton
(arranging) -(in Australia) Paul Grabowsky and Graeme Lyall
(arranging), Frank Gibson Junior and Gary France. In addition to
this he holds a BMus in Jazz Performance from the Western
Australian Academy of Performing Arts.
Michael is currently based in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab
Emirates. This vibrant city is soon to become home to the new
Guggenheim and Louvre as well as many other cultural buildings
which will be concentrated in the new arts precinct on Saadiyat
island.
In April 2009 Michael left his position as
Assistant Musical Director in the UAEPO where he worked
alongside Conductor and Artistic Director, Philipp Maier.
Michael is
also endorsed by Sabian Cymbals and Drum Workshop drums
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