The Gift Of Silence

An extraordinarily rich and atmospheric collection of solo music recorded during the first lockdown in July 2020. Michael is a Northern Irish bassist/cellist/composer/improviser born in 1986 and based in Leeds. He first came to Leeds in 2007 to study Jazz at Leeds College of Music and since graduating has worked with a variety of musicians from different disciplines and backgrounds including Shatner's Bassoon, Keeley Forsyth, Matthew Bourne, Dave Kane, Tipping Point, James Mainwaring, Sean Noonan's Pavees Dance, Hiby/ Bardon/ Hession trio, Jaktar, Hassan Erraji, Craig Scott's Lobotomy and Nat Birchall Quintet.

Michael's performance interests lie in pairing both the electronic sonorities of electric bass, DIY effects pedals and synthesizers; with a more traditional acoustic set-up of double bass and cello. All pieces on this album are derived from improvisations experimenting with extended techniques / prepared bass, microtonality and Harry Partch's 11- Limit tonality diamond tuning system, overdubbing and long formless melodies. Discus music recalls that back in the 1970s and 1980s, solo bass albums were relatively common. Today they are a rarity, and so Discus are delighted to make a contribution to that tradition.