Listen and React: Michael Rodriguez Speaks

Photo courtesy of the artist.

by Sarah Thomas

This Friday at the Gallery, trumpet player Michael Rodriguez presents music from his 2021 album, Pathways. We caught up with Michael about growth as an artist, revisiting music after the pandemic, and working with his bandmates.

The Jazz Gallery: What will you be playing at The Jazz Gallery next week?

Michael Rodriguez: Next week, I’ll be playing music from my CD called Pathways that came out in 2021. We might play a couple of new things that I've written over the past few months, but the majority of the repertoire will be from that record. I haven’t gotten a chance to play this music as much as I’d like, and I feel like there's a lot more to be explored. So this is a good opportunity to jump in there and do that.

TJG: What has it been like exploring that music more deeply a couple years later?

MR: I feel like I'm in a different place musically than I was when this album was recorded. I'm hearing in a different way. So with where my ears are at the moment, I’ve been diving into the repertoire to see what can be explored using the accumulated experiences of the last three years.

I feel like my listening has grown in the sense of exploring other types of harmonic avenues. I also have more patience. I’m able to make a statement, but also listen more and be more comfortable in a reactive role. Patience has been big for me as I'm developing as an artist—having patience and being able to react even more to what's happening around me musically.

TJG: Who are your bandmates, and how has it been revisiting this music with them after recording the album a few years ago?

MR: I feel very fortunate that I've had this opportunity to work with the same guys for the past five or six years now. Every time I play with them, I feel like I grow musically and learn more about them and the way they hear music. 

Someone I always had in mind was saxophonist John Ellis, because his approach is very similar to the way I think. He's super melodic and has such a big sound and great tone on the instrument. I'm drawn to that kind of playing, so John is someone I always wanted to have as a partner in the front line. Over the years of playing with him a lot, his melodic sense and the content he brings to the music has really inspired me to bring that out even more in my own playing. Our sounds have blended even tighter over the years. 

John and I have played in different musical configurations, from big band to other small groups. In fact, tonight and tomorrow at Smalls we’re the front line for Jeb Patton's quintet. So I find myself having John as a frontline partner in other situations as well. It's cool. We really are growing this thing that's really nice. 

I feel the same exact way about pianist Gary Versace. He and I have been playing together with Maria Schneider's orchestra since 2012. I've always loved his approach. He has a very unique sound and voice on the instrument. He's so free. He's definitely pushed me to just go and not think too much. He goes for stuff. It really pushes me, and I love that. He's not afraid to go wherever it is I'm trying to go. In fact, he aids and enhances that road that I try to go on. I really love how he accompanies and how he plays solos.

For Joe Martin, I think the first time I heard Joe was on a gig that he and I were both playing. I was immediately impressed with his melodic sense and his note choices. Besides being a great bassist and swinging really hard, he can play great solos, so he’s a double threat. Usually bass players can walk really hard and play great bass lines. But Joe’s soloing is on another level. He’s a great improviser. I love him and his sound. 

Then you have Obed, who's not going to be at the Gallery gig because he's busy with Wynton Marsalis. But Obed is someone I've known since I was in high school, so I've seen him grow as a player. He’s one of the most in-demand and versatile drummers on the scene right now and I love what he brings to the music. 

He definitely orchestrates, and he's very passionate about that. He’s very studious and extremely well-informed in different styles and genres. He brings it all into the music and brings it to life. That’s what he does for my music and for everyone's music that I've been able to play with him in other musical situations. He raises the level of everything—makes everything better. 

But for the Gallery gig, I'm going to have Jimmy Macbride, who's another young voice on the drums who I feel is very much on the road to being one of the more in demand and versatile drummers on the scene. He can really do anything. 

TJG: Do you have any other projects going on you’d like people to know about?

MR: The most recent thing is that I have a project with my brother that started in 2002, and we just released our fifth album as co-leaders on July 21st. This album is celebrating our return to the stage and playing together. It's a live recording we did at Dizzy’s. 

During the pandemic, he and I couldn't really play together or even see each other physically because he lives in Los Angeles. So this record was our chance to get back together and play. It’s also been 20 years since our debut record, so we decided to commemorate and celebrate that by calling this record Reunited. 

I’m also a member of the SFJAZZ Collective and am starting to write some new music for the upcoming season, so that's going to be keeping me busy. Otherwise, I’m performing around in New York and I have some performances that are taking me out of town. I've been very fortunate to be involved in several other projects that people have me on—recordings and whatnot. So I’m trying to bring my voice to other people's things and practicing every day and trying to get better and better. I’m rolling with the punches and having a good time doing it.

Michael Rodriguez plays The Jazz Gallery on Friday, August 11. The group features Michael Rodriguez on trumpet, John Ellis on tenor sax, Gary Versace on piano, Joe Martin on bass, and Jimmy Macbride on drums. Sets are at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. ET. $30 general admission ($15 for members), $40 cabaret seating ($25 for members), $20 Livestream ($5 for members). General Admission & Livestream: Free with SUMMERPASS. Purchase tickets here.