Dig Dease CDs: Highlights from two decades of recordings

Here are a few Michael Dease gems from a mighty catalog of over 200 recordings, as leader and sideman, working back from 2023.

A wide-ranging set of fresh tunes, with nary a standard in sight, highlighted by veteran Geoffrey Keezer’s inexhaustible piano wizardry and Dease’s lively interplay with young clarinetist Virginia MacDonald.

“Gregg Hill’s fascinating writing is brought to life beautifully by Michael Dease’s arranging, and the playing of an excellent band. The end result is one of the best albums of the year so far.” – Jerome Wilson, AllAboutJazz

A tribute to five under-appreciated giants of jazz, featuring brilliant pianist Renee Rosnes and ferocious New York saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa, in a rare appearance as a sideman.

“Perfection can be a trap for a jazz musician, but Dease makes vast competence sound spontaneous.” – Thomas Conrad, JazzTimes

A banquet of straight-ahead, funk, soul jazz and more, sauced up by Lansing’s own Jim Alfredson’s Hammond B-3 organ.

Dease’s thoughtfully curated tour of America’s regional jazz scenes, from New Orleans and Memphis to Philadelphia, Detroit and Chicago, acknowledges both the sorrows and joys that flow into the river of music.

“Sobering and delightful” – Dan Bilawsky, AllAboutJazz

Taking on the mantle of educator (and father), Dease assembled a crew of sizzling young musicians, including bassist Endea Owens and saxophonists Markus Howell and Immanuel Wilkins, all of whom have gone on to make a major mark in music in the 2020s.

Dease’s “buttery tone monster chops, and impeccable sense of musicality lead the way” — Dan Bilawsky, AllAboutJazz

Dease is blasting away with fellow trombone masters Steve Davis, James Burton and Douglas Purviance (and MSU pianist non-pareil Xavier Davis) in a heady romp through 11 standards and originals that won the Grammy for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album in 2012.