Growing Up With Musicians and Traveling the World with Michael Palazzolo

In today's episode, Michael Palazzolo shares with Carl the story of how he got started in music and playing the bass. Michael performs alongside renowned American Jazz composer Bob James all over the world with their band. He and Carl discuss the Detroit music scene and how it influenced Michael's career by allowing him to work with so many different musicians, as well as Michael's ultimate aspirations regarding original music compositions. He explains the meaning and inspiration of the pieces featured in this episode called "Follery Returns from Time, Dreams Remembered" and "Abbey." Michael is currently teaching Jazz and Pop Bass at the University of Windsor.Tune in to this episode and listen to Michael talk about his preferences between working in the studio versus being on stage, his gig preparations, his relationship with the bass, the time he spends practicing, world travels, favorite places that he's been to while playing music that exposed him to different cuisines, and his serious wine-making hobby and love for gardening and cooking.Episode Highlights 19:06 - I have actually recorded a whole album that isn't released yet. So, I'm in the mixing, mastering process of it. But I definitely have some original music. And I want to be like Bob. That's my goal. I want to have all kinds of gigs, with my own music, with my own band, and have just those world experiences.32:57 - I think it was Ray Brown who said, learn your instrument first and then when you when you're about to perform, kind of like forget all of it." 33:29 - It's honestly a meditative moment every time I play. It brings me to a state where it's just hyper focused, you know, for quite some time. And that's why I say it's meditative because that's what you're doing when you're meditating. You're focusing on not focusing or whatever it is you're meditating on.47:18 - So, I really enjoy teaching. In terms of scheduling my students – I have a lot of freedom. So, I tell my students ahead of time like, "hey, this semester, I got, like, a lot of touring dates. So, I'm going to give you these dates. You mark them in your calendar in stone.54:33 - I'm in the process of composing more music. That's my intention to, you know, eventually be like a Bob James, get to a point where I can have my own gigs, and hire people and travel the world with my music and reach a lot of people with my music because that's, I mean, that's what we're here for.ContactFresh Coast Jazz FestivalMichael Palazzolo