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Michael Eckroth: A Musician of Many Genres

Michael Eckroth:  A Musician of Many Genres

 

 

Introduction to Michael Eckroth.   2:19 min.  Interview:  Raymond Elman.  Post-Production:  Lee Skye.  Music: Michael Eckroth:  “Human Geography.”  Recorded via Zoom:  7/1/2024. Miami.

 

“I’m a pianist, keyboardist, arranger and composer working in the genres of jazz, Latin jazz, Cuban, Brazilian, and various American popular styles.”

MICHAEL ECKROTH has performed extensively in the U.S. and abroad with musicians such as jazz icons John Scofield, Ron McClure, Eliot Zigmund and Paul McCandless.

Equally at home in jazz and Latin- American music forms, Eckroth received a Grammy nomination for his work on the 2018 Cuban music album “Orquesta Akokan.”

Throughout a varied career which covers musical styles from jazz, R&B, pop, salsa, Cuban music, and American and world music in general, Eckroth  has shared the stage with performers with as varied pedigrees as pop icon Sheena Easton and jazz legend Scofield. In an over 15-year stint as a New York-based musician, Michael has performed on local stages everywhere from major jazz clubs like Blue Note, Birdland, and Smalls to larger NYC venues such a Lincoln Center’s summer stage and Joe’s Pub. On the international stage, Michael has performed in venue and festival settings everywhere from the Hamburg Elbphilharmonie, the North Sea Jazz Festival, Jazz al Parque and Salsa al Parque in Bogotá, SFJazz, WOMAD festivals in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand- all over the United States, the Americas and Europe in concert halls, jazz clubs and outdoor events.

Eckroth is a recipient of a PhD from New York University, a former professor of music at Dartmouth College, and is currently a full-time professor of music at Florida International University.

 

The videos below were recorded via Zoom, are organized by Success Factor, and run between 30 seconds and 7 minutes. Click on any video. You must be connected to the Internet to view the videos.

 

 

SEIZES OPPORTUNITIES:     1:49 min.

Does your Fulbright have a mission?

 

CRITICAL THINKING:    1:34 min.

Have the political changes in Brazil over the past 19 years impacted you?

 

EXPOSURE TO BROAD INFLUENCES:    1:27 min.

Where did you grow up and what was your first awareness of art of any discipline?

 

EXPOSURE TO BROAD INFLUENCES:    1:35  min.

Did your parents have eclectic tastes in music like you?

 

CREATIVE FLEXIBILITY:   0:59 sec.

Are you surprised by the increased popularity of country-western music?

 

UNDERSTANDS ARTISTS’ NEEDS:   3:40 min.

Where did you go to school and what did you learn that still informs you today?

 

CREATES A UNIQUE PERSONAL BRAND:    3:42 min.

Do you perform different genres of music to appeal to different segments of your audience? Or is your audience attracted to you because you play different genres of music?

 

DEVELOP A VOICE:   2:21 min.

Where do you like to perform in the Miami area?

 

CREATES A UNIQUE PERSONAL BRAND:    0:44 sec.

Do you perform at The Betsy Hotel on Ocean Drive in South Beach?

 

CRITICAL THINKING:   1:16 min.

You perform abroad quite a bit. Given the incarceration of people like Brittney Griner and Evan Gershkovich, should we assume that Russia has been removed from your itinerary?

 

UNDERSTANDS ARTISTS’ NEEDS:   3:17 min.

What role should a university play in the development of musicians?

 

EXPOSURE TO BROAD INFLUENCES:   3:34 min.

What was your motivation for getting a PhD?

 

PERSEVERANCE FURTHERS:   3:19 min.

Describe a challenging assignment or situation with a successful outcome.

 

CREATIVE FLEXIBILITY:   2:59 min.

What’s your favorite movie?