In our very first podcast, Angelique speaks with pianist Mike del Ferro. He has been traveling around the world for years and gives concerts in many special and remote places. In the English Podcast Mike talks about some of his experiences and cultural influences from Norway, Indonesia and Mongolia to Afghanistan.
Listen to the Podcast with Mike del Ferro below
Mike del Ferro in brief
Mike del Ferro has been in the music industry for many years. Del Ferro is an internationally awarded pianist and composer, born and based in Amsterdam. He is the son of opera singer Leonard del Ferro, who collaborated with the great Maria Callas and Leonard Bernstein. Music is in his DNA. Mike started playing classical piano from the age of nine and then discovered jazz music, which became his greatest love.
After studying jazz at the Conservatory of Amsterdam and winning several prizes, his reputation as a soloist, accompanist, composer and arranger grew rapidly and Mike was asked to perform with great musicians such as Toots Thielemans, Branford Marsalis, Erik Truffaz, Jack DeJohnette, Randy Brecker and many others.
In 2016, Mike won an Edison Jazz Award (the Dutch Grammy) for the albumItalian Opera meets Jazzwith the great Metropole Orchestra and soprano Claron McFadden.
During his career, Mike released many albums, such as the series of ten (!) CDs by label Challenge Records, called Songs Inspired by Wandering the Globe.
Distinctive place
Over the years, Mike del Ferro has carved out a distinctive place in the jazz world by combining his classical training with a deep appreciation for improvisation. His piano playing is characterized by virtuosity, sensitivity and the ability to transcend musical boundaries. He effortlessly navigates through different styles, incorporating elements from Latin American, African and world music in his compositions and performances.
Musical collaboration
One of the defining characteristics of Mike’s career is his relentless pursuit of musical collaboration. He has worked with a wide range of musicians from all corners of the world, from African percussionists to Indian classical musicians, and from jazz legends to contemporary innovators. Through these collaborations, he has created a body of work that celebrates cultural diversity and interconnectedness.
For more info on Mike del Ferro, see HERE
Would you like to read more about music and travel? Then look HERE.
Mike del Ferro also gives piano masterclasses all over the world, sometimes combined with his successful Clinic “Self Management for Musicians”. Listen HERE to Mike’s own podcasts.
And look HERE for more Culture Road stories with other artists.
Read HERE the interview below that I in 2012 with Mike for Jazzism about his many concerts abroad and the special people he met during them.
