Mixing and Mastering
by Rich Breen at Dogmatic, Burbank, California, USA; Additional mixing on “Qin Shi”, “Paranormal Activity”, “The 5th Element”, “Si Kitu” and “Orbit” by Kai Thomsen at Kaiborg studio, Germany
Produced
by Jimmy Haslip and Mitch Forman
Artwork (Booklet)
by LaikArt, Germany using details of a picture © by GEOFON (www.geofon.ru)
Photos (Booklet)
Jimmy Haslip, Jeff Lorber, Brandon Fields, Bob Mintzer © by Carsten Weide | Mitchel Forman, Wolfgang Haffner, Chuck Loeb, Nicolas Fiszman © by Frank Nicolai | Jimmy Haslip © by KVON (page 2) | Charlie Bisharat © by Lars Frazer | Oz Noy © Michael Weintrob | Scott Kinsey © by Curt Bianchi | Vinnie Colaiuta © by Michael Corral | Virgil Donati © by Carl King | Mike Miller © by Mitchel Forman | Luis Conte, Kai Thomsen © by Michael „MSM“ Schmidt | Wolfgang Haffner & MSM Schmidt © by Susanne Tobin
All songs composed by Michael „MSM“ Schmidt, published by Laika Records & Publishing, Germany, except “Orbit”, co-composed by Jimmy Haslip, published by LaViera Music; “Cosmic Swing” and “LV-223”, arranged and co-composed by Mitchel Forman, published by Formanfor Music.
Total Running Time: 73:02 minutes
by Rich Breen at Dogmatic, Burbank, California, USA; Additional mixing on “Qin Shi”, “Paranormal Activity”, “The 5th Element”, “Si Kitu” and “Orbit” by Kai Thomsen at Kaiborg studio, Germany
Produced
by Jimmy Haslip and Mitch Forman
Artwork (Booklet)
by LaikArt, Germany using details of a picture © by GEOFON (www.geofon.ru)
Photos (Booklet)
Jimmy Haslip, Jeff Lorber, Brandon Fields, Bob Mintzer © by Carsten Weide | Mitchel Forman, Wolfgang Haffner, Chuck Loeb, Nicolas Fiszman © by Frank Nicolai | Jimmy Haslip © by KVON (page 2) | Charlie Bisharat © by Lars Frazer | Oz Noy © Michael Weintrob | Scott Kinsey © by Curt Bianchi | Vinnie Colaiuta © by Michael Corral | Virgil Donati © by Carl King | Mike Miller © by Mitchel Forman | Luis Conte, Kai Thomsen © by Michael „MSM“ Schmidt | Wolfgang Haffner & MSM Schmidt © by Susanne Tobin
All songs composed by Michael „MSM“ Schmidt, published by Laika Records & Publishing, Germany, except “Orbit”, co-composed by Jimmy Haslip, published by LaViera Music; “Cosmic Swing” and “LV-223”, arranged and co-composed by Mitchel Forman, published by Formanfor Music.
Total Running Time: 73:02 minutes
tracklist
01. Paranormal Activity 6:25
Vinnie Colaiuta - drums, Jimmy Haslip - bass, Eric Marienthal - alto sax, Bob Mintzer - tenor sax, Randy Hoexter - synths, Scott Kinsey - synths, MSM Schmidt - synths & loops
solo parts by Scott Kinsey - synth, Eric Marienthal - alto sax, Bob Mintzer - tenor sax
02. Qin Shi - The Face on the Wall 9:36
Virgil Donati - drums, Jimmy Haslip - bass, Charlie Bisharat - violin, Oz Noy - guitar, Rick Braun - trumpet and valve trombone, Alan Pasqua - piano, MSM Schmidt - synths & loops
solo parts by Alan Pasqua - piano, Charlie Bisharat - violin, Rick Braun - trumpet, Oz Noy - guitar
03. Orbit 7:34
Vinnie Colaiuta - drums, Jimmy Haslip - bass, Brandon Fields soprano - sax, Oz Noy - guitar, Mitchel Forman - piano, MSM Schmidt - synths & loops
solo parts by Brandon Fields - soprano sax, Oz Noy - guitar, Mitchel Forman - piano, Vinnie Colaiuta - drums
04. LV-223 (Virtual Donati) 9:21
Virgil Donati - drums, Jimmy Haslip - bass, Oz Noy - guitar, Charlie Bisharat - violin, Mitchel Forman - keyboards, Scott Kinsey - synth, Steve Weingart - synth, MSM Schmidt - synths & loops
solo parts by Scott Kinsey - synth, Mitchel Forman - organ, Steve Weingart - synth, Charlie Bisharat - violin, Oz Noy - guitar, Virgil Donati - drums
05. The 5th Element 7:40
Vinnie Colaiuta - drums, Jimmy Haslip - bass, Jeff Richman - guitar, Mitchel Forman - electric and acoustic piano, Till Brönner - trumpet, Charlie Bisharat - violin, MSM Schmidt - synths & loops
solo parts by Charlie Bisharat - violin, Till Brönner - trumpet, Mitchel Forman - piano, Jimmy Haslip - bass, Vinnie Colaiuta - drums
06. Hymn of The Seventh Dwarf 10:26
Vinnie Colaiuta - drums, Jimmy Haslip - bass, Charlie Bisharat - violin, Clark Gayton - trombone, Bob Francescini - tenor sax, Barry Danielian - trumpet, Mike Miller - guitar, Mitchel Forman - piano, MSM Schmidt - synths & loops
solo parts by Mike Miller - guitar, Vinnie Colaiuta - drums
07. The Cosmic Swing Theory (featuring Metro) 7:57
Wolfgang Haffner - drums, Mitchel Forman - keyboards, Chuck Loeb - guitar, Nicolas Fiszman - bass, MSM Schmidt - synths
solo parts by Chuck Loeb - guitar, Nicolas Fiszman - bass, Mitchel Forman - piano, Wolfgang Haffner - drums
08. Si Kitu (Mistress of Entropy) 9:28
Vinnie Colaiuta - drums, Jimmy Haslip - bass, Mitchel Forman - keyboards, Mike Miller - guitar and sitar, Bob Mintzer - tenor sax, Brandon Fields - sax, Walt Fowler - trumpet, Bruce Fowler - trombone, Luis Conte - percussion, MSM Schmidt - synths & loops
solo parts by Bob Mintzer - tenor sax, Mike Miller - guitar, Mitchel Forman - piano
09. Lorber´s Groove 4:30
Vinnie Colaiuta - drums, Jimmy Haslip - bass, Charlie Bisharat - violin, Mike Miller - guitar, Jeff Lorber - piano, Mitchel Forman - keyboards, Luis Conte - percussion, Brandon Fields - sax, Walt Fowler - trumpet, Bruce Fowler - trombone, MSM Schmidt - synths and loops
solo parts by Mike Miller - guitar, Jeff Lorber - piano, Luis Conte - percussion
Vinnie Colaiuta - drums, Jimmy Haslip - bass, Eric Marienthal - alto sax, Bob Mintzer - tenor sax, Randy Hoexter - synths, Scott Kinsey - synths, MSM Schmidt - synths & loops
solo parts by Scott Kinsey - synth, Eric Marienthal - alto sax, Bob Mintzer - tenor sax
02. Qin Shi - The Face on the Wall 9:36
Virgil Donati - drums, Jimmy Haslip - bass, Charlie Bisharat - violin, Oz Noy - guitar, Rick Braun - trumpet and valve trombone, Alan Pasqua - piano, MSM Schmidt - synths & loops
solo parts by Alan Pasqua - piano, Charlie Bisharat - violin, Rick Braun - trumpet, Oz Noy - guitar
03. Orbit 7:34
Vinnie Colaiuta - drums, Jimmy Haslip - bass, Brandon Fields soprano - sax, Oz Noy - guitar, Mitchel Forman - piano, MSM Schmidt - synths & loops
solo parts by Brandon Fields - soprano sax, Oz Noy - guitar, Mitchel Forman - piano, Vinnie Colaiuta - drums
04. LV-223 (Virtual Donati) 9:21
Virgil Donati - drums, Jimmy Haslip - bass, Oz Noy - guitar, Charlie Bisharat - violin, Mitchel Forman - keyboards, Scott Kinsey - synth, Steve Weingart - synth, MSM Schmidt - synths & loops
solo parts by Scott Kinsey - synth, Mitchel Forman - organ, Steve Weingart - synth, Charlie Bisharat - violin, Oz Noy - guitar, Virgil Donati - drums
05. The 5th Element 7:40
Vinnie Colaiuta - drums, Jimmy Haslip - bass, Jeff Richman - guitar, Mitchel Forman - electric and acoustic piano, Till Brönner - trumpet, Charlie Bisharat - violin, MSM Schmidt - synths & loops
solo parts by Charlie Bisharat - violin, Till Brönner - trumpet, Mitchel Forman - piano, Jimmy Haslip - bass, Vinnie Colaiuta - drums
06. Hymn of The Seventh Dwarf 10:26
Vinnie Colaiuta - drums, Jimmy Haslip - bass, Charlie Bisharat - violin, Clark Gayton - trombone, Bob Francescini - tenor sax, Barry Danielian - trumpet, Mike Miller - guitar, Mitchel Forman - piano, MSM Schmidt - synths & loops
solo parts by Mike Miller - guitar, Vinnie Colaiuta - drums
07. The Cosmic Swing Theory (featuring Metro) 7:57
Wolfgang Haffner - drums, Mitchel Forman - keyboards, Chuck Loeb - guitar, Nicolas Fiszman - bass, MSM Schmidt - synths
solo parts by Chuck Loeb - guitar, Nicolas Fiszman - bass, Mitchel Forman - piano, Wolfgang Haffner - drums
08. Si Kitu (Mistress of Entropy) 9:28
Vinnie Colaiuta - drums, Jimmy Haslip - bass, Mitchel Forman - keyboards, Mike Miller - guitar and sitar, Bob Mintzer - tenor sax, Brandon Fields - sax, Walt Fowler - trumpet, Bruce Fowler - trombone, Luis Conte - percussion, MSM Schmidt - synths & loops
solo parts by Bob Mintzer - tenor sax, Mike Miller - guitar, Mitchel Forman - piano
09. Lorber´s Groove 4:30
Vinnie Colaiuta - drums, Jimmy Haslip - bass, Charlie Bisharat - violin, Mike Miller - guitar, Jeff Lorber - piano, Mitchel Forman - keyboards, Luis Conte - percussion, Brandon Fields - sax, Walt Fowler - trumpet, Bruce Fowler - trombone, MSM Schmidt - synths and loops
solo parts by Mike Miller - guitar, Jeff Lorber - piano, Luis Conte - percussion
demos
statements
While the heart of jazz fusion may live in sunny California, USA, it is strengthened by impulses from all over the world. For 15 years and counting, lots of those have been emanating from Bremen, Germany.
This city, located on the river Weser, is the birthplace and home of musician/composer Michael „MSM“ Schmidt. In his day job, Schmidt works at a large insurance firm. At night, he is a passionate music composer whose works regularly make a splash in the US jazz-rock scene.
His latest album - his fifth production - is entitled „Utopia“. A fitting name, seeing that Schmidt is a self-confessed aficionado of science fiction. All the more so since the title summarizes his feelings towards this musical project:
„Musically, I‘m living in a kind of ‚utopia‘ that has come true“, he reveals, „I love and enjoy composing with specific musicians in mind, and creating music together with them.“
„Working on a project of this magnitude is always exciting. Casting all the music with all of the 28 musicians, including myself, was an awe inspiring experience.
The Music, compelling and openly visionary, beautifully written and arranged by composer and instrumentalist, Michael Schmidt.
And along with the expert work and creativity of producer, pianist Mitch Forman, these 9 compositions all came to life.
Utopia is a wonderfully colorful and extraordinary collective of music and musicians. I am humbly honored to have played a part in this production.“
This city, located on the river Weser, is the birthplace and home of musician/composer Michael „MSM“ Schmidt. In his day job, Schmidt works at a large insurance firm. At night, he is a passionate music composer whose works regularly make a splash in the US jazz-rock scene.
His latest album - his fifth production - is entitled „Utopia“. A fitting name, seeing that Schmidt is a self-confessed aficionado of science fiction. All the more so since the title summarizes his feelings towards this musical project:
„Musically, I‘m living in a kind of ‚utopia‘ that has come true“, he reveals, „I love and enjoy composing with specific musicians in mind, and creating music together with them.“
Michael „MSM“ Schmidt
composer, synths & loops
composer, synths & loops
The Music, compelling and openly visionary, beautifully written and arranged by composer and instrumentalist, Michael Schmidt.
And along with the expert work and creativity of producer, pianist Mitch Forman, these 9 compositions all came to life.
Utopia is a wonderfully colorful and extraordinary collective of music and musicians. I am humbly honored to have played a part in this production.“
Jimmy Haslip
producer, electric bass
producer, electric bass
photos
performers
Charlie Bisharat
violin
Rick Braun
trumpet, valve trombone
Till Brönner
trumpet
Vinnie Colaiuta
drums
Luis Conte
percussion
Barry Danielian
trumpet
Virgil Donati
drums
Brandon Fields
soprano, alto, tenor saxophone
Nicolas Fiszman
electric bass
Mitch Forman
producer, piano, synthesizers
Bruce Fowler
trombone
Walt Fowler
trumpet, flugel horn
Bob Franceschini
tenor saxophone
Clark Gayton
trombone
Wolfgang Haffner
drums
Jimmy Haslip
producer, electric bass
Randy Hoexter
synthesizer
Scott Kinsey
fender rhodes, synthesizer
Chuck Loeb
guitar
Jeff Lorber
fender rhodes
Eric Marienthal
alto saxophone
Mike Miller
guitar
Bob Mintzer
tenor saxophone
Oz Noy
guitar
Alan Pasqua
piano
Jeff Richman
guitar
Steve Weingart
synthesizer
Michael „MSM“ Schmidt
composer, programming, synthesizer
buy
imprint
Anbieterangaben gemäß § 5 TMG:
Michael „MSM“ Schmidt
Contrescarpe 125
28195 Bremen, Germany
Telefon Deutschland: 0421‑12381
Telefon international: 0049‑421‑12381
Michael „MSM“ Schmidt
Contrescarpe 125
28195 Bremen, Germany
Telefon Deutschland: 0421‑12381
Telefon international: 0049‑421‑12381