Michael Herring's Vertigo

Michael Herring's Vertigo

The “unusual instrumental colours, carefully composed rhythmic structures and catchy-but-offbeat melodies” (J.D. Constidine, The Globe and Mail) of Michael Herring’s Vertigo have been amped-up by the addition of New York saxophonist David Binney, enabling Vertigo to transcend standard jazz fare. Binney, called “something brand-new — a wind stirring up the status quo of the current jazz scene” (Thomas Conrad), adds the fire of the Downtown scene to Vertigo’s mix of groove-driven composed and improvised elements. Herring’s compositions for Vertigo are “forthright, well-organized ventures with tight horn arrangements, ensemble colors and rhythmic buoyancy” (Jay Collins, SIGNAL to NOISE), and naturally possess the voice of the younger Downtown scene. While Herring tips his hat to Dave Holland, Scott Colley, Drew Gress, David Binney and Chris Potter, the compositions have much of the classic sixties sextet sound about them, respectively recalling Wayne Shorter and Booker Little at their height — an engaging and freshly innovative blend is the happy result.

Vertigo has made a splash on the North American Jazz scene with it’s debut release, “Coniferous Revenge”, featuring eleven of Herring’s originals. A collaboration born at downtown Toronto’s Rex Jazz and Blues Bar in front of a sold out crowd and refined in the studio, this album blends the excitement of new found synergy with focused performances. “Coniferous Revenge” was picked as one of the Top 5 Debut Albums of the year by All About Jazz New York, and was selected on many other best of the year lists, including Irwin Block’s at the Montreal Gazette and Geoff Chapman’s at the Toronto Star r(“one of the most exciting and interesting [albums] to arrive this yea… the boss's bass soars and swoops and the overall impact is tremendous).

Vertigo is comprised of some of Toronto's most exciting young jazz musicians: Quinsin Nachoff - tenor saxophone and clarinets (“one of the truly bright jazz minds hereabouts” Mark Miller - The Globe and Mail), William Carn - trombone (“William Carn is a charter member of the impressive new generation of players that is making an impact.” Geoff Chapman - Toronto Star), Don Scott - guitar, Nick Fraser - drums (“Fraser not so much plays the drums as hurls himself whole body and soul against skin and metal…truly talented.” Bill Stunt - CBC Radio), and Michael Herring (double bass)

“one of the most exciting and interesting [albums] to arrive this year… The ensemble passages are all rich in texture, catchy hooks relieve the aura of intellectual rigour, the boss's bass soars and swoops and the overall impact is tremendous” Geoff Chapman - Toronto Star

“[a] Toronto bassplayer with a penchant for contemporary grooves, colours and energy… cutting-edge but accessible sounds inspired by New York's downtown jazz innovators” Doug Fischer - The Ottawa Citizen

"Michael Herring has established himself as one of the most creative musicians on the Canadian scene... A triumph!" Joseph Blake - Times-Colonist

“..smartly arranged set of 11 originals for sextet” Downbeat - Jazz - John Ephland

“quite an auspicious debut.” Laurence Donohue-Greene - Managing Editor - AllAboutJazz New York

Michael Herring’s Vertigo, Coniferous Revenge, featuring David Binney
release date: March 7, 2006

Michael Herring’s Vertigo’s debut album, Coniferous Revenge, featuring David Binney (alto saxophone - New York), is the perfect blend of high energy solos and Herring’s artful and groovy modern jazz compositions. A collaboration born at downtown Toronto’s Rex Jazz and Blues Bar in front of a sold out crowd and refined in the studio, this album blends the excitement of new found synergy with focused performances.
Coniferous Revenge boasts eleven Herring-penned compositions, with Binney heavily featured throughout, as well as a final good-bye with Jesse Winchester’s My Songbird, arranged by Herring to capture the lyrcal beauty of Emmylou Harris. The compositions groove hard, and while they stay true to their jazz roots (listen to Nachoff on Clancy’s New Belt Free Home), you can hear the influences of reggae, electonica, 20th Century classical, folk and even grunge rock.
Drawing on the influence of New York's Downtown Jazz Scene, Michael Herring’s Vertigo mixes composed and improvised elements – both of which are driven by rhythmically sophisticated grooves. Herring’s work naturally possesses the voice of the younger New York Downtown scene – Herring tips his hat to Dave Holland, Scott Colley, Drew Gress, David Binney and Chris Potter – yet the compositions have much of the classic sixties sextet sound about them – respectively recalling Wayne Shorter and Booker Little at their height – an engaging and freshly innovative blend is the happy result. One other note of interest – the work is packaged in Steve Byram’s original art.
Michael Herring’s Vertigo features the strongest voices in the next generation of Canadian Jazz: William Carn (trombone), Jesse Baird (drums), Quinsin Nachoff (tenor and clarinets), Don Scott (guitar), anchored by Michael Herring (double bass).