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Michel Reis created a very clear concept for the album “A YOUNG MIND”. Not to feature their musical technique (as is so common today), but rather to feature the music itself. To put everything there that is necessary for each composition, and not one note more. His chosen trio partners share a similar musical philosophy and this is evident in the recording. The compositions and the performances show a depth and a purity that are as refreshing as they are unusual.
In speaking of the compositions on this album Michel Reis says "they came rather naturally from my improvisations, and the work I've done at Berkley has made me more aware of what I'm doing as a composer and opened up some interesting ideas."
"The arrangements came organically from our playing" he continues, "not over-arranged, but with some wonderful spontaneous moments occurring."
Michel Reis (piano)
A native of the Grand Duché of Luxembourg, Europe, Michael Reis began playing the piano at 8. When, in his early teens, he began improvising and making up his own compositions, his father suggested he enter the jazz department of the Conservatoire of Luxembourg.
There he spent the next four years studying jazz theory, harmony, composition improvisation and ensemble. He earned not only his Prize Superior in Jazz Piano, but also a First Prize in Classical Piano.
Michel knew pretty much from the start that he had found his profession.
In Paris 2002, he auditioned for and was awarded a scholarship to The Berklee College of Music in Boston Massachusetts, where he is currently finishing his studies.
When asked to record for WPR, he created a very clear concept for the album. Not to feature their musical technique (as is so common today), but rather to feature the music itself. To put everything there that is necessary for each composition, and not one note more. His chosen trio partners share a similar musical philosophy and this is evident in the recording. The compositions and the performances show a depth and a purity that are as refreshing as they are unusual.
In speaking of the compositions on this album he says "they came rather naturally from my improvisations, and the work I've done at Berkley has made me more aware of what I'm doing as a composer and opened up some interesting ideas."
"The arrangements came organically from our playing" he continues, "not over-arranged, but with some wonderful spontaneous moments occurring."
Michel has been gigging as a sideman since he was 14 years old (too young to enter some of the venues as a customer!) and began his experience as the leader of a trio when he was only 16.
Michel also performed on the Warner Jazz album of Gast Waltzing titled: "Fables of Lost Time" released in 2003. He has toured with this group and some of the notable performances were at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, and at the Chet Atkins Festival in Nashville Tennessee.
On the 22nd of March 2005, Michel participated in the first International Jazz Competition in Moscow, where out of several hundred pre-selected participants from around the world, he won the 4th place.
Michel was invited to participate in the 2006 Montreux Jazz Competition and from 250 excellent jazzmen was awarded second place.
He graduates from Berklee School of Music in the same year (2006).
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