Mike Zilber, described as “one of the best players and composers around anywhere. Period!” by NEA JAZZ MASTER and jazz legend David Liebman, is a saxophonist and composer. All About Jazz enthuses “Zilber is one of the true masters of the modern jazz saxophone, his prodigious talents evidenced by his recordings and live performances are truth.” After almost 15 years in Boston, then New York, and then over 30 years in SF-Bay Area, Recently, Mike and his wife relocated to LA to be near his son and daughter-in-law, as well as to explore the LA music scene.
On this website, you can find out about and get Mike’s many recordings, learn about upcoming performances, and much more.
Available now, Mike’s new collaboration with legendary drummer Mike Clark: Standard Deviations. Take a listen and buy a copy here:
Since I started composing music, I have written over 2000 pieces for everything from duo to big band. Probably over 250 of them have been reimaginings of jazz and pop standards, a number of which have been featured on recordings featuring such superb musicians as Steve Smith, Bruce Barth, James Genus, Clarence Penn, Dave Liebman, John Stowell, Doug Beavers, Mike Holober, Jon Benitez among others. Most recently, several found their way onto Mike Drop, the Sunnyside Records release from Mike Clark and me in 2021.
For Standard Deviations, 8 of the 9 pieces are my reimaginings of some favorite jazz and songbook standards. (Blues For Chambers is my tribute to the great late bassist Jeff Chambers.) My approach varies from tune to tune, but the main idea is to find new takes on these songs where the melody is clearly recognizable, but everything else from harmony to form to rhythm to groove to meter is on the table. The goal is to put my own language in these wonderful pieces while honoring the spirit of the originals.
I am profoundly grateful to the musicians who have helped shape and workshop these pieces on Standard Deviations, especially Mike, Jon and Alex.
— Mike Z
