Thursday, November 6th
Michael Bliss and Mark McIntyre Duo
Michael Bliss currently lives in New York City, and studies at New York University. He is originally from Mattapoisett, Massachusetts, where he began playing the alto saxophone at the age of 7. Displaying an early aptitude for playing by ear, he was soon accepted into his elementary school jazz band. From this point on, he became immersed in music, studying privately and performing in a variety of different settings. In high school, he was a member of the Massachusetts district and all-state jazz bands, through which he was given the opportunity to play at the world famous Newport Jazz Festival. He began his undergraduate studies at NYU in 2013, and has gone on to study with world class musicians such as Chris Potter, Joe Lovano, John Scofield, David Pietro, and Mike Rodriguez, performing at venues such as The Blue Note and Shapeshifter Lab, and recording regularly. In 2014, he joined the New York Youth Symphony Jazz Band as lead alto, a band that he was invited back to in 2015 and is currently a member of. Through this well known ensemble, he has been able to preform with artists such as Luis Bonilla, Lew Tabackin, and Jane Monheit at world class venues such as Dizzy’s Jazz Club and Lincoln Center’s The Appel Room. The band is scheduled in early 2016 for a tour in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He will also be joining the New York Youth Symphony Orchestra at the United Palace as well as Carnegie Hall to perform George Gershwin’s “American in Paris.” He continues to push his limits as an instrumentalist, studying both classical and jazz flute and clarinet, as well as adding bass clarinet and piccolo to his arsenal.
Mark McIntyre is a New York City based guitarist and composer originally from Yorktown Heights, New York where he began playing and writing music at the age 10. In High School, Mark immersed himself in an eclectic network of jazz, funk, and folk musicians, and performed regularly with his trio “Harmonium” featuring Didgeridoo and Percussion. In 2013, he began his undergraduate education at NYU where he has studied with guitar greats John Scofield, Peter Bernstein and Adam Roger and has performed and/or recorded with luminary faculty members Joe Lovano and Alan Ferber. In 2015, Mark was the youngest participant in the prestigious Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead program at the Kennedy Center, under the direction of Jason Moran. As an arranger, Mark has worked with fusion-violinist Daisy Jopling on her world-touring “String Pulse Experience”, which will be featured on a PBS special in winter of 2016. Mark is currently a member of the New York Youth Symphony Jazz Orchestra and the NYU Jazz Orchestra and collaborates frequently with urban folk artist KJ Denhert and will be performing at renowned NYC venues such as the 55 Bar, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola and the Blue Note in the coming months.
Mark McIntyre is a New York City based guitarist and composer originally from Yorktown Heights, New York where he began playing and writing music at the age 10. In High School, Mark immersed himself in an eclectic network of jazz, funk, and folk musicians, and performed regularly with his trio “Harmonium” featuring Didgeridoo and Percussion. In 2013, he began his undergraduate education at NYU where he has studied with guitar greats John Scofield, Peter Bernstein and Adam Roger and has performed and/or recorded with luminary faculty members Joe Lovano and Alan Ferber. In 2015, Mark was the youngest participant in the prestigious Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead program at the Kennedy Center, under the direction of Jason Moran. As an arranger, Mark has worked with fusion-violinist Daisy Jopling on her world-touring “String Pulse Experience”, which will be featured on a PBS special in winter of 2016. Mark is currently a member of the New York Youth Symphony Jazz Orchestra and the NYU Jazz Orchestra and collaborates frequently with urban folk artist KJ Denhert and will be performing at renowned NYC venues such as the 55 Bar, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola and the Blue Note in the coming months.