Mike Altschul

Covering a variety from piccolo to bass clarinet and baritone saxophone, the reed mastery of Mike Altschul appears well-established within the West Coast, his telephone ringing from probably the most challenging of employers. This list offers included the Seaside Boys and its own producer-cum-genius Brian Wilson, in addition to big band innovator Don Ellis, whose graphs carry period signatures with an increase of numbers inside them then the mixed ATM rules of a whole town. Altschul graduated from California Condition University in LA in 1967 and continued tour with Stan Kenton soon thereafter — possibly the on-the-job teaching necessary for this task alone ready him for just about any and everything maestros to check out. After departing Kenton in 1969, he collaborated with trumpeter Nat Adderley and soulful pianist Bobby Bryant before dealing with two challenging arrangers, these Ellis as well as the less-flamboyant, even more tasteful Gerald Wilson. With regards to interest, Altschul appears tilted toward the second option man, a minimum of with regards to frequency of participation. Alternatively, the reedman’s eventual participation with Frank Zappa’s huge band projects such as for example Waka/Jawaka throws the complete discussion away from stability. He could took on that project simply to end up being remembered, since virtually every shred of details concerning Altschul originates from the camp of Zappa supporters. The bottom series appears to be that he’s a specialist sessionman, prepared to undertake any project. He turns up on recordings by vocalist/songwriter Carole Ruler, played in lots of television orchestras, and it has been involved with several fine tasks aimed by composer, arranger, and vibraphonist Terry Gibbs.