What Now?

Release Date: September 30, 2022

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Tracks:
1. Won't Have to Wait *
2. What Now? *
3. Highland Ridge *
4. One Fine Day *
5. Fla-Flu
6. Medieval Winter in Muncie *
7. Koromanti #1
8. A-OK *
9. Dieupart's Sarabande
10. Tune for Tunde *
11. I'm Gonna Sleep With One Eye Open

*composed by Mike Block

REVIEWS:

"daringly taking his trio towards new musical possibilities … a rousing musical breakdown with classical music themes and progressive preciseness. Block takes a more urban approach here, giving bluegrass a bold statement, where the worlds of Del McCoury meet Mahavishnu Orchestra and Brand X.”
- Glide Magazine

“A collection of playful and stoic reinterpretations of Appalachian folk and world beat music. Never before have we heard the combination of these three instruments traverse such a wide breadth of music so effortlessly; it’s equal parts Baroque, bluegrass and latin jazz, virtuosic all the same.”
- WBUR Boston

“a burst of musical potency to the ears … chamber music stirred gently with a bluegrass spoon. These fellows have a good grip on entertainment with classical instruments. Highly recommended.”
- Americana Highways

About

The debut album from the Mike Block Trio is a long time coming, while the connection between these three unique musicians has been deepening for over a decade in various collaborations and configurations. Led by cello player, singer, and composer, Mike Block, who has been hailed as “one of the bravest, most intriguing musicians on the American fusion scene” by Gramophone Magazine, the trio features Joe K. Walsh (mandolin/vocals) and Zachariah Hickman (bass/vocals). Their first album as a trio features mostly original music, composed recently during the pandemic. The album oscillates between intimate meditations and burning improvisational virtuosity, explored through both original songs and instrumentals. There is also a sensitive reinterpretation of a Baroque Sarabande, and playful versions of tunes from Jamaica, Brazil, and a Bluegrass standard for good measure.

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Round and Round: Kids' songs for Mixed Ages

Release Date: June 10, 2022

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Tracks:
1. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
2. Itsy Bitsy Spider
3. Wheels on the Bus
4. Lullaby
5. Rain Rain Go Away
6. Mary Had a Little Lamb
7. The Hokey Pokey
8. Row Row Row Your Boat
9. Are You Sleeping?
10. If You're Happy and You Know It
11. You Are My Sunshine

About

Since becoming a father 3 years ago, I've become intimately aware of so many classic songs for children. The appeal of these songs span many countries and centuries, and there is a simple genius to the best of them. This album was a cathartic experience, reclaiming songs I’ve heard a million times by engaging with them creatively and exploring their limits. My hope is that kids can enjoy listening to these familiar songs in a new way, while also providing some extra interest for the parents in the room, as well. :) - Mike Block

ROUND AND ROUND. Revolve to evolve. It can be difficult to trace the true origins and meanings of some of these songs. No doubt they’ve been adapted and morphed through time and place, ending up in our collective consciousness to become an invaluable aid for learning and teaching. It has always been round and round since the very beginning of recorded kid’s music well over a century ago, starting with wax cylinders and 78rpm shellac disc evolving to vinyl 33rpm LPs and 45rpm singles to cassettes and compact discs. On this recording we continued the tradition by incorporating loops and phonographs to spin, twist and bend, creating something different right around the curve but never just going around in circles. - Barry Rothman

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Machines That Fly

Release Date: March 4, 2022

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Tracks:
1. Going Home
2. Make it Right
3. When the Birds Sing along in the Morning
4. If I Can Help It
5. Hills of Arkansas
6. The Chicken
7. Halfway
8. Lost in Love
9. Home Plate
10. Tenfold

About

During the pandemic, I no longer had a band to perform with, so I had to develop solo cello/voice arrangements of all my new original songs that were recently released on my album, The Edge of the Atmosphere, featuring a full rock band. It was an awkward feeling to listen to my own album over-and-over in order to learn my own songs, but thankfully I had plenty of time during the social distancing peak of the pandemic. At first, I had the intention of meticulously recreating the full band arrangements by combining multiple lines into a composite cello groove, even trying to hint at the remaining parts I couldn’t actively play. On a technical level, it was actually one of the most difficult arrangement/coordination challenges I have ever undertaken. Over time, though, these solo arrangements took on a life of their own, and I let them transform around the strengths of the cello, and I found opportunities to embrace the intimacy possible in stripped-down solo versions. Seven out the ten songs on this album are the result of this “reverse engineering” process of solo cello versions, while the other three tracks are the debut recordings of other original songs: Going Home, The Chicken, as well as When the Birds Sing Along in the Morning, which features lyrics pulled from the memoir of the legendary cellist, Pablo Casals. The title of the album comes from a phrase that Casals (born 1876) remembered his father telling him as a young boy: “when you grow up, there will be machines that fly”. I found this imaginative description of airplanes very evocative, especially since there wasn’t even a word for “airplane’ invented, yet, at that time. I feel the process of good song-writing is a bit like Casal’s father trying to describe “machines that fly” before airplanes were invented. I’m not always sure what it will end up like when I’m writing, but I know that once it’s done right, I’ll be able to fly. After a year and a half of not touring/travelling much at all, I really appreciated how these little song machines helped me fly me to other emotional times and places.

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Mike Block Planispheres

Planispheres

Release Date: December 3, 2021

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Tracks:
1. Alpha Centauri
2. Sirius
3. Pollux
4. Proxima Centauri
5. Cygnus X-1
6. Sea of Tranquillity
7. Arcturus
8. Small Steps

REVIEWS:

"possibly [Block's] most poignant project ... the intimacy of each performance is palpable and adds to the personal nature and timely relevance of the album." - Tome the Weather Machine

“incredibly elastic and daring, full of sonorous lines and sudden right angles” - The Whole Note

About

Each of these tracks is like an individual star system, distant and self-contained in the void. At the same time, they are related and composed of the same underlying materials.

This album is an attempt to recognize and identify them, hence the title, Planispheres, and will guide you on a journey of discovery and exploration. This album features field recordings from a series of fully-improvised live performances at a warehouse in Brooklyn, NY. Each track on the album was a separate performance, each presented for just one listener. The singular audience's influence on the emerging music felt significant in the moment, despite being hard to quantify. My desire as performer was to improvise freely, with only a few seconds of premeditation as the audience member entered the room, so that each of us could discover the music for the first time, together. The unusually reverberant acoustics of the extremely large open spaces also served as an additional character for me to sonically interact with, and I found myself testing both the limits of what the room would send back to me when I played forcefully, as well as the limits of intimacy I could share with the nearby listener at my softest.

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Where the Soul Never Dies - Sandeep Das & Mike Block

Click here to order

Released June 11, 2021

Tracks

  1. Fønix
    Annbjørg Lien and Bjørn Ole Rasch

  2. Resham Firiri
    Traditional Nepalese

  3. Dance from the Black Sea
    Traditional Arabic

  4. Teental Trilogy
    Sandeep Das + Mike Block

  5. Maspiel
    John Zorn

  6. Glory in the Meeting House
    Traditional American

  7. Ektaal Trilogy
    Sandeep Das + Mike Block

  8. Where the Soul Never Dies / Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram
    Traditional Indian / William Matthew Golden

  9. Brandenburg Meets Taj
    Traditional Indian / J.S. Bach

  10. Rupak Trilogy
    Sandeep Das + Mike Block

  11. Fight or Flight
    Sandeep Das + Mike Block

  12. Vaishnava Jana To
    Traditional Indian

Reviews:

“Raw, organic, eclectic and soulful dialogue” - Jazziz

"masterful collaborative album … never before has such an unorthodox pair of instruments sounded so deeply powerful." -  WBUR/The Artery’s 'Summer Music Guide’

“an extraordinary variety of sounds, moods and styles from just twin Indian hand drums and a cello.” - Gramophone Magazine /Songlines

"Overall, Where the Soul Never Dies is a unique project by two imaginative, talented, and spiritually connected musicians that will stir the heart and mind. Both players have an excellent musical understanding and fluidity that combines into a beautiful sound." - Staccatofy

"their journey of musical discovery seamlessly traverses a myriad of traditions and cultures to create something that is both respectful and innovative." - I Care If You Listen

“… truly is a stunning piece of work.  Listening to the record is like watching two of the top dancers in the world perform for you in an empty room where you are the only audience. What’s captured here sounds like nothing else out there today and should be heard by as many people as possible.”  - WeAllWantSomeone.org

About:

Where the Soul Never Dies is our duo's debut album, exploring the uncharted musical space of tabla and cello. The music comes from the joy that we experience from respecting and surrendering to each other’s musical heritages. The result crosses genres with a dialogue that’s raw, organic, eclectic, and soulful.

The title track is a combination of two spiritual songs: Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram (India) and Where the Soul Never Dies (America) symbolizing love and infinite divinity within us.

Contrasting it are experimental interludes based on Indian rhythmic compositions in traditional cycles such as Teentaal, Rupak, and Ektaal. Adaptations of folk music like Glory in the Meeting House (America) and Resham Firiri (Nepal) charm with their earthiness, while original compositions like Fight or Flight and arrangements of contemporary tunes like The Fønix (Norway) and Maspiel (America) investigate new textures and flavors.

We did not have an existing musical prescription to follow with our music, and that allowed us to follow our hearts and minds as we brought our two instruments together as conversing soloists. The experience has taught us a lot about each other's cultures and personalities, while at the same time uncovering something new within ourselves. We hope you also feel something new and unexpected when you listen.”

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The Edge of the Atmosphere

Released October 23, 2020

Click here to Order!

Tracks:
1. If I Can Help It
2. Home Plate
3. Tenfold
4. Make It Right
5. Hills of Arkansas
6. Forget the Weather
7. Done Today
8. Dovetail
9. Waterslide
10. Halfway
11. Chasing Stars
12. Lost in Love

Reviews

“fantastic pop sensibilities …. a truly exciting blend of world-class classical musicianship, undeniable pop hooks a genuinely dazzling sense of musical collaboration.. Block is synthesizing the culmination of his experiences into one effortlessly catchy and impactful sound”
- American Songwriter, in the review titled “Mike Block Exemplifies True Musicianship On New Record”

"His most engaging, radio-friendly album to date. And the third single from that record, “The Hills of Arkansas,” has every ingredient of a crossover radio hit: an unforgettable song with strong hooks, emotionally compelling vocals and a tastefully spun fiddle break on cello that is sure to make Alison Krauss swoon. Mike Block proves himself as capable a pop singer as a cellist, and radio is bound to take notice."
- The Berkshire Edge

About

An album of all original songs, featuring Lyle Brewer (guitar), Zach Hickman (bass), Sean Trischka & Dave Brophy (Drums). For this album, I turned my whole process upside down. Instead of identifying as a cellist who sings, I embraced the role of lead singer / songwriter, and treated the cello as an overdub. Instead of testing these songs out on the road for multiple tours before going into the studio with a clear sense of what they meant, I delayed the writing of these songs until 2 weeks before the sessions, so that the material would be fresh and unfinished when I brought it to the first band rehearsal. Lyrics were still being changed between takes in the studio. I respect the musicians on this project so immensely, so I wanted to see what they heard in the material, and let their personalties and instincts shape the treatment of these songs through a collective arranging process. In rehearsals, I actually didn’t play cello at all; I only sang. This left space for the band to fill, allowing them to drive the song where it needed to go. The cello parts were recorded last, giving me time to craft arrangements that embrace a more melodic role for the cello than I usually do in my songs. I’m excited about the conversation this creates with the singing, and I hope these songs make you feel as empowered and inspired as we felt playing them.

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Guzo

Released Aug 21, 2020
Debuted at #9 on the Billboard Classical Crossover Chart

Click here to Order!

1. Iniche Cosebe
2. Expression of Concern
3. Din Ka Antim
4. Tune for Tunde
5. Ariobarzanes at the Gate
6. Ifrah Web-Tisem
7. Guzo
8. Swimming Under an Orange Sky

About

Guzo means “journey” in the Amharic language. The record features eight original compositions, each inspired by a different culture and style of music: Malian, Levantine Arabic, Indian, Nigerian, Persian, Gulf Arabic (Khaliji), Ethiopian, and Chinese. Inspired by the idea that different parts of our personality manifest when interacting with different types of people (i.e. you act differently around your boss than with your friends), or when you are in different environments (you act differently at home than at church), Block, “wanted to see what kind of composer I might become within different musical environments and languages.”

Reviews

“Block is expanding the out-reach and acceptance of the cello with his tone, musicality, and collaborations that make GUZO a must-have”
– Stacattofy

“Exuberant ... delightful ... well worth checking out”
- Gramophone

“cellist Mike Block… seems really comfortable playing this Western instrument in all of these global settings… [on Guzo].”
– John Schaefer, NPR ‘All Things Considered’

“The joy … is palpable. Rousing and deeply felt … where the camaraderie felt in the room translates through the headphones. Some truly virtuoso playing here and an excellent exchange of ideas. “
- Tome to the Weather Machine


Crowned a “Top of the World“ album pick.
- Songlines Magazine UK

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Step Into the Void | Mike Block

Step Into The Void: The Complete Bach Cello Suites

Deputed at #4 on the Billboard Classical Chart! Released January 24, 2020

Click here to Order!

Disc 1: Suites 1-3

Disc 2: Suites 4-6

Disc 3: Live improvised performance with phonograph
Part 1: Utter Void
Part 2: Problems and Solutions
Part 3: The Diplomat
Part 4: What did you say your name is?
Part 5: Recapitulation
Part 6: When I left home
Bonus Track: Prelude to a Dream

About

Step into the Void features the complete Bach Cello Suites, as well as a live companion album from an improvised performance based on the material in Bach’s Cello Suites, performed in collaboration with phonograph artist Barry Rothman, whose instruments-of-choice are record players, stacks of LPs, and a multi-effects pedal.

Reviews

“a joyous glister that I found irresistible … here’s an original talent. I’d go to hear him live.”
- BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE

“ a refreshing freedom and a sense of exploration in his beautiful playing ... with delightful results.”
- The Whole Note

"Block makes Bach's dances swing, and moments like the opening of the C Major suite unfold with conversational ease...They're winning performances, Block understanding each suite’s distinct character and projecting it with a minimum of fuss. … Movements which sometimes pass me by really register here … definitely a keeper.”
- The Arts Desk

“One immediately notices Block’s smooth bowing and seamless integration of registers, along with his consistently spot-on intonation. Block also conveys a stronger sense of the music’s dance origins … I’ve rarely heard the Suite No. 6 Prelude’s earthly lilt unfold to Block’s supple degree.”
- Gramophone

“A highly creative interaction with Bach’s music. Cellist Mike Block recorded the complete cello suites for this project; they are masterfully played and recorded, and are included on the first two discs in the package. The third disc is a live recording of Block improvising freely on themes from the Bach suites, accompanied by performance artist Barry Rothman …. the resulting collage of sounds, words, and noises is by turns eerie, funny, disconcerting, and deeply beautiful. Highly recommended.”
- CD Hotlist

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13 SHADES I 13 FARBTÖNE

13 SHADES | 13 FARBTÖNE

by Mike Block & Stephan Braun

Released December 21, 2019

Buy here

  1. honiggelb - honey yellow

  2. moon stone grey - mondstein grau

  3. distel grün - distel green

  4. umbra burned - umbra gebrannt

  5. arktis blau - arctic blue

  6. ocean blue - ozean blau

  7. sahara gelb - sahara yellow

  8. blueberry blue - blaubeeren blau

  9. zart violett - soft violett

  10. silver black - silber schwarz

  11. zuckerwatten rosa - cotton candy pink

  12. safran orange - safran-orange

  13. morgen rot - morning red

Album Performer Credits

Mike Block - Cello: Right Channel
Stephan Braun - Cello: Left Channel

About

This is a completely improvised album featuring two like-minded cellists. Two companions from two cities, in two countries, on two continents 
met spontaneously in the summer of 2019 in Boston
 and decided to play music at the studio together.
 What resulted were a series of vignettes - 
acoustic, colorful and unique. 

13 of these “shades” have been selected by the two cellists, 
from honey yellow to ocean blue and cotton candy pink.
 Refreshing, lively, delightful, meditative and enchanting moments -
 always in flux.

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Walls of Time | Mike Block

Walls of Time

Debuted #3 on Billboard Bluegrass Chart

Released November 8, 2019

Buy at brightshiny.ninja/walls-of-time

  1. Walls of Time / Glory in the Meeting House (Peter Rowan / Traditional)

  2. How ‘Bout Going to the Creek? (Mike Block)

  3. Lay Down Your Weary Tune  (Bob Dylan)

  4. Old Sledge (Traditional, by way of Ed Haley)

  5. CC Rider  (Gertrude "Ma" Rainey and Lena Arant)

  6. Old Dangerfield (Bill Monroe)

  7. The Blackest Crow (Traditional) 

  8. Julianne Johnson / Forked Deer (Traditional)

  9. Wayfaring Stranger  (Traditional)

  10. Roll Over Beethoven (Chuck Berry)

Album Performer Credits

A folk album drawing on the rich history of Bluegrass, Old-Time, and other Roots styles, featuring a mixture of musicians native to America, as well as immigrants, and some living on the other side of the world. Together, they breathe new life into this repertoire and expand the sound of what we could call “American Music”.

Mike Block (lead vocals, cello)
Bruce Molsky (fiddle, harmony vocals)
Joe K. Walsh (mandolin)
Zachariah Hickman (bass)
Tunde Jegede (kora)
Wu Tong (sheng)
Sandeep Das (tabla)
Darol Anger (fiddle)
Derek Gripper (guitar)
Dietrich Strauss (harmony vocals)
Mark Erelli (harmony vocals)

Produced by Mike Block
Engineered/Mixed by Dan Cardinal at Dimension Sound Studios, Jamaica Plain, MA
Mastered by Dave Sinko
All arrangements by Mike Block

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Mike Block | It's Time To Dance

It's Time To Dance

Click here to buy this album of original pop songs

Released on Bright Shiny Things (2019)

Track List

  1. Cornelia’s Song

  2. My Heart Goes

  3. Gone Tomorrow

  4. Never Again

  5. It’s Time To Dance

  6. Right Guy

  7. Sea of Love

Credits:

Engineer: Dan Cardinal
Mastering & Mixing: Dan Cardinal
Recorded: Dimension Sound Studios: Jamaica Plain, MA.
Tracks 2, 3, 6 Recorded December 2015-March 2016. Tracks 1, 4, 5, 7 Recorded December 2016-March 2017

Mike Block - Vocals, Cello
Sean Trishcka - Drums
Zachariah Hickman - Electric Bass (Tracks 1, 5)
Mariah Finkelmeier - Percussion (Tracks 2, 3, 6)
Zach Tenorio-Miller - Keyboards (Tracks 1, 4, 5, 7)
Michele Beneforti - Guitars (Tracks 2, 3, 6)
Gabriel Birnbaum - Saxophone and Brass Arrangments (Tracks 1, 4, 7)
Michael Prentky - Trombone (Tracks 1, 4, 7)
Danilo Henriquez - Trumpet (Tracks 1, 4, 7)
Laura Cortese - Harmony Vocals (Tracks 2, 3, 6)

Gang Vocals on "It's Time to Dance:" Hanneke Cassel, Neil Pearlman, Sarah Hubbard, Sumaia Jackson, Mairi Chaimbeul, Katya Herman, Maria Finkelmeier, Julie DeBenedictus, Hannah Rose Baker, Louise Bichan, Marta Roma

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Saturday Morning in Boston

Buy on Bandcamp

Self-Released (2019)

Track List

  1. Ana

  2. Ananaming

  3. Koortjie

  4. Fanta and Felix

  5. Folon

  6. Lam Tooro

  7. I Like the Motorcar

  8. Chiwo

  9. Radio H

Featuring:

Derek Gripper, guitar
Mike Block, cello

Recorded in Boston by Dan Cardinal, Mastered by Dan Cardinal, Cover art by Bex Attwell 

“Mike and I met in a studio in Boston for the first time. Mike invited me to play a track on his album. I took a bus from New York and when I arrived and discovered that we had a whole day in the studio booked I suggested we do the track then record an album together. So we did. Mike had never heard any of these pieces before. So while you listen just keep thinking what a badass player he actually is. 

Maybe it is fitting that we played Folon which means "first time" in Bamana. 

The compositions are a mix of songs by (or inspired by) African singers - Salif Keita, Fanta Sacko, Baaba Maal, Chiwoniso and South Africa's own Madosini, as well as five compositions by myself.” 

- Derek Gripper June 2019

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Echoes of Bach | Mike Block

Echoes of Bach

Debuted #3 on Billboard's Traditional Classical Chart

Click here to order online!
Released on Bright Shiny Things (2018). Featuring Mike's favorite selections of Bach Cello Suites, juxtaposed with 20th-Century compositions for solo cello.

Track List

  1. JS BACH: Prelude in G major from Cello Suite 1 BWV 1007
  2. LIGETI: Sonata for Solo Cello, Mvt 1
  3. JS BACH: Allemande in D minor from Cello Suite 2 BWV 1008
  4. LIGETI: Sonata for Solo Cello, Mvt 2
  5. JS BACH: Courante in C major from Cello Suite 3 BWV 1009
  6. SAYGUN: Partita for Solo Cello, Mvt 4
  7. JS BACH: Sarabande in D major, from Cello Suite 6 BWV 1012
  8. GABRIELLI: Ricercar No. 1, Mvt 1
  9. JS BACH: Bourees from Cello Suites 4, 5 BMW 1010, 1011
  10. JS BACH: Gigue in D major from Cello Suite 6 BMW 1012
  11. SOLLIMA: “Citarruni”, from Taranta Project, a Silkroad commission with Shane Shanahan, percussion
  12. JS BACH: Sarabande in G major from Cello Suite 1 BMW 1007
   

Credits

Mike Block, cello
Shane Shanahan, percussion

Recorded and Mixed by Dan Cardinal @ Dimension Sound Studios in Jamaica Plain, MA

Mastered by Michael Mermagen in Kansas City, MO

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Final Night at Camp | Mike Block

Final Night at Camp - Deluxe edition

Buy now on Bandcamp

Released on Bright Shiny Things (2018)

Popular American folk songs and fiddle tunes with globally-inspired arrangements, as well as as some new compositions.

  1. Down in the Willow Garden

  2. I've Endured

  3. Stoney Lonesome

  4. Slow Day at the Cafe / Sweet Tea on the Porch / Julianne Johnson

  5. Can't You Hear Me Calling

  6. Billy In the Lowground

  7. Johnny B. Goode

  8. Don't That Road Look Rough and Rocky

  9. Today is a New Day (Lullaby - Dream - Dawn)

  10. Final Night at Camp


Credits

Darol Anger, fiddle
Karl Doty, bass
Nic Gareiss, percussive dance
Indrissa Kone, percussion
Balla Kouyate, Balafon
Greg Liszt, banjo
Stash Wyslouch, guitar
Joe Walsh, mandolin/harmony vocals
Mike Block, cello/lead vocals

Recorded and Mixed by Dan Cardinal @ Dimension Sound Studios in Jamaica Plain, MA
Mastered by Dave Sinko in Nashville, TN

 

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Brick by Brick | Mike Block

Brick by Brick

4th Floor Records (2012)

Featuring original songs written and recorded while missing nine teeth, as the result of being hit by a NYC taxi.

  1. Brick by Brick
  2. Concert Teeth
  3. Can't Go Home
  4. Lonesome Winter
  5. Global Warming Dance
  6. I'm Standing
  7. It's Time to Run
  8. All I Want for Xmas is My Two
      Front Teeth
  9. The Parking Lot Song
10. Brick by Brick
11. Learning to Smile

Featuring:

Darol Anger
Joe Walsh
Scott Law
Lauren Rioux
Jeremy Kittel
Joshua Pinkham
Simon Chrisman
Ron Cody
Emy Phelps
Wendy Cody
Mila Phelps-Friedl

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Naive Melody | Triborough Trio

Naive Melody by Triborough Trio

Self-released (2011)

Buy and/or stream on Bandcamp

Instrumental album featuring traditional and contemporary music from around the world, in well-crafted and creative arrangements.

  1. Lucifer Medley: We all go to Heaven when the Devil goes blind/Hell broke loose in Georgia

  2. Dumbala Dumba

  3. Is This Love

  4. Kvartetten

  5. This Must Be the Place

  6. The Storm

  7. Wayne's Thang

  8. Jasmine Flower

  9. Soppin' the Gravy

  10. Gardenia Waltz

  11. Black & White Rag

  12. Longa Nakreez

Triborough Trio

Mike Block, cello
Hans Holzen, guitar
Kyle Kegerreis, bass

The mission of the Trio is to put their personal spin on traditional and contemporary music while mixing and matching American string band styles with music from around the globe. Always drawing upon their individual backgrounds rooted strongly in Classical, Country, and Jazz they reinvent their various influences with well-crafted and creative arrangements while featuring cello as the lead instrument possibly for the first time ever in many of these genres.

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After the Factory Closes

4th Floor Records (2010)

Buy on iTunes | CDBaby

The Mike Block Band presents an exciting and genre-bending combination of rock, classical, jazz, and many types of folk music through original songs, improvisational tunes, and fully written-out compositions by cellist and singer, Mike Block.

  1. 8th of January

  2. Oompa Loompas At Night After the Factory Closes

  3. The Moose Escapeth

  4. The Earthquake Fell In Love With the Tornado

  5. At A Loss For Words

  6. The 1-20 Train From Kenya To Washington Is Departing

  7. Hellenic Hoedown

  8. The Knights Return From Battle

  9. Fire On the Mountain

  10. Rhapsody On A Theme By Bach

  11. Like Mike

Featuring:

Kyle Sanna, guitar
Mat Fieldes, bass
Damian Bassman, drums

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Words R Words | The Mike Block Band

Words R Words

4th Floor Records (2009)

Buy and/or stream on Apple Music & iTunes | CDBaby

A New York City band led by a cello player, featuring quirky, yet personal songwriting.

  1. Fancier But Not Too Crazy

  2. Get In Line

  3. Have You Ever Been

  4. I Don't Get It

  5. If

  6. Claire

  7. Madcap Laughs

  8. Neverending Story

  9. So Far From Us

  10. The Blue Danube In Budapest

  11. Words R Words

  12. Tortoise Dreams

  13. Two People

Featuring:

Kyle Sanna, guitar
Mat Fieldes, bass
Damian Bassman, drums

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