Bounce, the new release by pianist Michael Wolff, represents a grand celebration of life.
The album, out today on Sunnyside, is his musical response to a three-year journey back from a rare form of cancer that nearly took him from us. During Wolff’s return visit to Morning Jazz, we talk about that historic recovery, and the resilience that flows through his new music.
His bandmates, bassist Ben Allison and drummer Allan Mednard, are returning from their last outing as a trio, Swirl, to collaborate on originals including the title track, “Chill,” “Resuscitate” and “Caribbean Rain Dance” — the last one suggesting a sense memory of Wolff’s days with Sonny Rollins and Cal Tjader.
Here is the band performing “Chill” in our performance studio.
Bounce is available now on Sunnyside. The Michael Wolff Trio performs tonight and tomorrow at the Birdland Theater in New York City.