- Michael Wolff
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This article is about the musician. For other uses, see Michael Wolff (disambiguation).
Michael Wolff 
Michael Wolff, May 2011Background information Birth name Michael Blieden Wolff Born July 31, 1952
Victorville, CaliforniaOrigin New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. Genres Jazz Occupations Jazz pianist
Composer
Bandleader
Educator[1]Instruments Piano Years active 1975–present Labels Columbia Records,[2] Fantasy Records,[3] Verve,[4] Capitol, A&M Records Website michaelwolff.com Members John B. Williams
Victor Jones
Badal Roy
Mike ClarkPast members Alex Foster
Terri Lyne Carrington[5]Notable instruments Accordion Michael Blieden Wolff[6] (born July 31, 1952)[6] is an American jazz pianist, composer, producer,[7] actor,[7] and jazz educator.[1] He was the bandleader and musical director of The Arsenio Hall Show.[8] He also co-starred on Nickelodeon's The Naked Brothers Band with sons Nat and Alex Wolff, which was a mock documentary created and produced by his wife, actress Polly Draper.[9]
Contents
Biography
Early life
Wolff was born at George Air Force Base in Victorville, California.[6] His father was a U.S. Air Force medical doctor. He was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana and Memphis, Tennessee. At age nine his family moved to Berkeley, California.[6] He began studying classical piano at age eight, and drums at age 12. He attended Berkeley High School. After graduation, he attended U.C. Berkeley, where he had begun playing piano with the University of California Jazz Ensembles under the direction of Dr. David W. Tucker while still at Berkeley High School, and then U.C.L.A.[8]
Career
In 1972,[10] Wolff left college[10] to begin his music career, joining Cal Tjader's band.[11] In 1975, he joined Cannonball Adderley's band.[11] In 1977, he formed the band Answering Service with saxophonist Alex Foster.[12] Wolff worked with other famous musicians/bands including Warren Zevon, The Thad Jones/ Mel Lewis Orchestra, Sonny Rollins, Wayne Shorter, Jean-Luc Ponty,[10] Children On The Corner,[13]Terri Lyne Carrington[5] Tony Williams, and Christian McBride.[11] In 1979, Wolff composed and played original music—and served as host—for the Riverside Shakespeare Company production of The Mandrake in New York City, featuring Tom Hanks.[14]
In 1978, Singer Nancy Wilson chose Wolff as her musical director.[8] Arsenio Hall was Wilson's opening act. When Hall was given his own talk show, The Arsenio Hall Show, in 1989, Wolff was chosen as his bandleader and musical director.[15] He met his wife, actress Polly Draper, when she appeared as a guest on the show.[8] In 1995 he released Jumpstart featuring Christian McBride and Tony Williams[16] and in 1997 the trio released 2AM.[17] Wolff is the leader of a jazz band, Michael Wolff and Impure Thoughts, which features Indian tabla player Badal Roy, drummer Mike Clark, percussionist Frank Colón and electric bassist John B. Williams.
He wrote music for the films Who's the Man? and Made up,[18] as well as writing for and performing in other films.[7] A movie released on video in 1999—The Tic Code starring Gregory Hines as a saxophone player with Tourette syndrome who befriends a young boy with Tourette's—was written by Draper and is loosely based on Wolff's life. Wolff contributed the music score and Draper co-stars in the film.[19] Wolff co-starred in The Naked Brothers Band on Nickelodeon with his sons, Nat and Alex. The show was created, executive produced, written, and directed by Polly Draper. Wolff was the co-executive producer and music supervisor of the show.[9]
Wolff oftens plays in various nightclubs in Manhattan, including the Knickerbocker Bar and Grill, performing with members of the Michael Wolff Trio, such as drummer Victor Jones and bass player John B. Williams. He is on the faculty at The New School For Jazz And Contemporary Music.[1]
Personal life
Wolff is married to actress/writer Polly Draper. They have two children, Nat Wolff and Alex Wolff. His family is culturally Jewish.[20] Wolff has Tourette syndrome;[20] he serves on the Board of Directors of the Tourette Syndrome Association (TSA),[21] and is involved with mentoring children with Tourette's through the chapters of the TSA.[18] He lives in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, NY, and Los Angeles, CA.
Discography
As leader
- 1993 – Michael Wolff (Columbia Jazz)
- 1995 – Jumpstart! (Jimco/Cabana)
- 1996 – 2AM (Cabana)
- 1998 – Portraiture: The Blues Period (Fuel 2000/Varese Saraband)
- 2000 – The Tic Code Soundtrack (Razor And Tie)
- 2001 – Impure Thoughts (Indianola Music)
- 2003 – Intoxicate (Indianola Music)
- 2003 – Christmas Moods (Artemis)
- 2003 – Getting Into Heaven Soundtrack
- 2004 – Dangerous Vision (Artemis Records)
- 2005 – Sexual Healing (3D)
- 2006 – Love & Destruction (Wrong Records)
- 2007 – jazz, JAZZ, jazz (Wrong Records)
- 2009 – Joe's Strut (Wrong Records)
As sideman
With Cal Tjader
- 1972 – Live At Concerts By The Sea (Fantasy)
- 1999 – Last Bolero In Berkeley (Fantasy)
- 2008 – Best Of Cal Tjader: Live At The Monterey Jazz Festival 1958-1980 (Monterey Jazz Festival)
With Cal Tjader and Charlie Byrd
- 1973 – Tambu (Fantasy)
With Cannonball Adderley
- 1975 – Phenix (Fantasy)
- 1975 – Volume One: Montreal 1975 (Essential Media Group)
With Tom Harrell
- 1975 – Aurora (Adamo/Pinnacle)
- 1976 – Bird Gets The Worm (Adamo/Pinnacle)
With Sonny Rollins
- 1977 Live At The Village Gate (Bootleg)
With Nancy Wilson
- 1979 – Live In Munich
- 1982 – At My Best (ASI)
- 1991 –With My Lover Beside Me (Columbia)
With David Axelrod
- 1993 – Requiem - The Holocaust (Liberty)
- 2003 – The Big Country (Stateside)
With Warren Zevon
- 1995 – Mutineer (Giant)
- 2002 – My Ride's Here (Artemis)
With Children On The Corner
- 2003 – Rebirth (Sonance) [13]
With Alex Foster
- 1997 – Pool Of Dreams (Truspace)
With Dave Samuels
- 1998 – Tjaderized (Verve) [4]
With Pastiche
- 2001 – Pastiche (Summit)
With Sam Morrison
- 2005 – Miles Away (Convalian)
Filmography
Film
Year Film Role Notes 1987 Magic Sticks Bob [22] 1999 The Tic Code Engineer #2 Also co-producer and wrote original music score[23] 2005 The Naked Brothers Band: The Movie Dad A mock documentary. Starring his sons Nat and Alex Wolff, who both wrote and performed all the film's songs. Written & directed by his wife, actress Polly Draper. Music produced/arranged by Michael Wolff. Indie film-turned TV movie pilot; Musical/family film.[24] 2007 The Girl In The Park Jazz Club Piano Player [25] Television
Year Program or series Role Notes 1989–1994 The Arsenio Hall Show Himself, Band leader 1990 Beverly Hills, 90210 Duane [26] Episode: "Every Dream Has Its Price (Tag)" 2007–2009 The Naked Brothers Band Dad/Mr. Wolff/Sonny Wolff 34 episodes. Also co-executive producer [27] Honors and awards
Wolff was honored as a Steinway Artist in June 2006. The Tic Code won awards at the Berlin International Film Festival, the Giffoni Film Festival and the Hamptons International Film Festival.[28] Wolff and sons won the 2007 BMI Film and TV Award for the music on The Naked Brothers Band (TV series).[11]
References
- ^ a b c list Of New School Instrumental department faculty. Retrieved 23 May 2011
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ Cal Tjader - Tambu CD. CD Universe. Retrieved on 20 May 2011
- ^ a b [2] Retrieved on 21 May 2011
- ^ a b Terri Lyne Carrington Discography Retrieved 24 May 2011
- ^ a b c d Michael Wolff / Impure Thoughts Biography. Oldies.com. Retrieved on 20 May 2011.
- ^ a b c Michael Wolff (I) Filmography. IMDb.com. Retrieved on 20 May 2011.
- ^ a b c d Michael Wolff. Retrieved on 12 January 2006.
- ^ a b "Nickelodeon's New TEENick Series The Naked Brothers Band to Bow With Star-Studded TV Movie on Saturday, January 27, and 'Rock On' With Weekly Episodes Starting February 3.". Digital Media Online. 27 January 2007. http://digitalproducer.digitalmedianet.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=95771.
- ^ a b c Houston Press Impure Thoughts bio Retrieved on 24 May 2011
- ^ a b c d Michael Wolff, Pianist. MichaelWolff.com. Retrieved on 25 March 2008.
- ^ [3] Retrieved in 21 May 2011
- ^ a b Rebirth Sonance Records website
- ^ Review by Jann Racquoi, Heights/Inwood Press of North Manhattan, March 14, 1979.
- ^ [4] Jazz Times article Sept. 2007 Retrieved on 22 May 2011
- ^ Michael Wolff Discography CD Universe. Retrieved on 26 May 2011
- ^ Michale Wolff Discography CD Universe. Retrieved on 26 May 2011
- ^ a b Jazz Musician Michael Wolff (PDF). Tourette Syndrome Association. Retrieved on 4 January 2007.
- ^ The Tic Code. IMDb.com Retrieved on 9 May 2006.
- ^ a b Smason, Alan (2006-11-02). "Cleveland set to enjoy smooth jazz stylings of Michael Wolff". Cleveland Jewish News. http://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/articles/2006/11/03/features/arts/barts1103.txt. Retrieved 2007-02-16.
- ^ Finances and Leadership. Tourette Syndrome Association. Retrieved on 4 January 2007.
- ^ Magic Sticks IMDb.com Retrieved on 21 May 2011
- ^ The Tic Code IMDb.com Retrieved on 21 May 2011
- ^ "A TV Family Bound by Blood and a Band" NY Times Retrieved on 21 May 2011
- ^ The Girl In The Park IMDb.com Retrieved on 21 May 2011
- ^ "Every Dream Has Its Price IMDb.com Retrieved on 21 May 2011
- ^ Naked Brothers Band IMDb.com Retrieved on 21 May 2011
- ^ Awards for The Tic Code (1999). IMDb.com. Retrieved on 10 July 2006.
External links
- Michael Wolff's website
- Michael Wolff at All About Jazz
- Michael Wolff at the Internet Movie Database
Topics related to Tourette syndrome (F95.2, 307.23) Main Terms Coprolalia · Copropraxia · Echolalia · Echopraxia · Palilalia · PANDAS · Sensory phenomena · Tic · Tic disorder · TourettismHistory Organizations Media Front of the Class · I Have Tourette's but Tourette's Doesn't Have Me · John's Not Mad · "Le Petit Tourette" · Maze · Motherless Brooklyn · Quit It · The Tic Code · Tic Talk: Living with Tourette SyndromeNotable people Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf · Howard Ahmanson, Jr · Basshunter · Pete Bennett · Brad Cohen · James Durbin · Jim Eisenreich · Tim Howard · Samuel Johnson · André Malraux · Tobias Picker · Nick van Bloss · Michael WolffThe Naked Brothers Band Band · List of episodes Soundtracks Filmography The Movie (pilot) (2005/2007) · Battle of the Bands (2007) · Sidekicks (2008) · Polar Bears (2008) · Mystery Girl (2008) · Operation Mojo (2008) · Naked Idol (2009) · The Premiere (2009)Cast Nat Wolff · Alex Wolff · Thomas Batuello · Allie DiMeco · David Levi · Qaasim Middleton (series only) · Cooper Pillot · Jesse Draper · Michael Wolff · Joshua Kaye (pilot only) · Cole Hawkins (pilot only)Creator Executive producer Polly Draper (showrunner/head writer) · Albie Hecht (Founder/CEO, Worldwide Biggies) · Michael Wolff (co-) · Bob Mittenthal (co-) (season 3)Related Categories:- 1952 births
- Living people
- American jazz composers
- American jazz pianists
- American television actors
- Jewish American musicians
- People from New Orleans, Louisiana
- People with Tourette syndrome
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