Always Going West by Misha Tsiganov

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John Stevenson / ejazznews

"Tsiganov drives his band into the fast lane amid a string of rapidly-flowing and vivacious bop workouts, while sustaining a group-centric vibe throughout... demonstrates great sensitivity due to his moments of restraint and penchant for executing dynamics when it counts... crafty arrangements and impressive technique sparks a prismatic musical vista...

No doubt, Tsiganov is one to watch."

Glenn Astarita / allaboutjazz

"...Tsiganov picks up the musical baton and raises the bar even higher with his dazzling bebop style."

Michael P. Gladstone / allaboutjazz

"Tsiganov’s latest advance is “Always Going West,” a forward-looking session combining bop and latin influences with tasteful execution...

He drives the piece with his flashy keyboard technique... plays with admirable restraint and subtlety... wonderful keyboard exploration..."

Tom Ineck / Berman Music Foundation

"Misha Tsiganov displays dexterity and beauty... making the piano keys

dance and sing."

Dee Dee McNeil / Cadence Magazine

"Its fabulous and classy (Always Going West). Reminds me a lot of Miles's quintets with Tony Williams, Hancock, Shorter, and Carter....."

John Stevenson

MISHA TSIGANOV was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, into a family of artists, with his father a sculptor and his mother, a music teacher. He began playing piano at the age of six and graduated from Mussorgsky College of Music. Over the years Misha has studied piano with Valentina Nikiforova, Basya Kapustianskaya, Alexei Istrashkin, Evgeni Gashkov, Ella Volpe, Eugene Maslov.

In 1989 Misha was invited by Melodiya record label and recorded an album “To My Friends”.

In 1990 Misha received prize-winner-diploma of the All-Russia Jazz Competition.

In 1991 he was invited to study at the Berklee College of Music in Boston by legendary vibraphonist Gary Burton and two years later he moved to New York.

Since 1998 Misha is working with Norman Hedman`s Tropique, with whom he performed at:

- Festival Jazz At The Plaza – summer 1998, summer 1999, New York,

- Kansas City International Jazz Festival (open up for Chick Corea & Origin) – June 1999,

- Blue Note (broadcasted by radio CD 101.9) March 22, 1999, NYC,

- The Jazz Bakery – May 23-28, 2000, Los Angeles,

- BET (Black Entertainment Television) – June 13, 2000, Washington DC,

- The Second Annual Festival Of Creative Communities At The World Trade Center – June 27, 2000, New York,

- Barbados Jazz Festival – January 12, 2001,

- Jazz Standard – April 24-26, November 6, 2001, New York,

- Scullers – April 2001, Boston, MA,

- Sweet Rhythm – March 21, 22, 23, 2003, November 21, 22, 2003, New York,

- Topika Jazz Festival - May 26-28,

- American Museum of Natural History – Starry Nights

(broadcasted by WBGO Jazz 88.3) – October 6, 2006, New York

and others.

In 2000 with Norman Hedman`s Tropique Misha recorded an album “Taken By Surprise” on Palmetto records (#6 on JazzWeek.com).

Since 2003 Misha is working with Chico Freeman, with whom he recorded an album “Out Of Many Comes The One” 2003 on Arabesque records and performed at:

- Sweet Rhythm – October 16-18, 2003, New York,

- Zing Bar – January 13-15, 2004, New York,

- Cecil’s Jazz Club – January 30, 31, 2004, New York,

- Half Note Jazz Club – March 19-25, 2004 Athens, Greece,

- Jazz Standard – June 3, 2004, New York

and others.

In March 2004 Misha recorded an album “NGFOOT” (Nine Guys From Out Of Town), produced and directed by Stu Gardner, with Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker and Dave Valentin.

Since 2004 Misha is working with Joe Chambers with whom he performed at:

- American Museum of Natural History – Starry Nights, featuring Gary Bartz (broadcasted by WBGO Jazz 88.3) – April 2, 2004, New York,

- Half Note Jazz Club, featuring Gary Bartz – February 18-24, 2005, Athens, Greece,

- Kitano – November 4, 5, 2005, New York,

- New School For Jazz And Contemporary Music - February 28, 2006, New York,

- Minton's Playhouse – October 27, 28, 2006, New York,

- Smoke Jazz Club - May 11, 12, 2007, New York

and others.

In 2005 Misha recorded an album "The Outlaw" with Joe Chambers Group on Savant records, SCD 2069.

Misha Tsiganov can be heard weekly as the featured pianist on the Bill Cosby television cartoon Little Bill, where Misha worked 1999-2002, which currently airs Monday-Friday on Nickelodeon on weekends on the CBS television network, which soundtrack features voice-overs by Phylicia Rashad, Rosie Perez, Gregory Hines, the late Madeline Kahn and Bill Cosby. His identifiable Little Bill piano sounds are also featured in Paramount Pictures / Viacom’s newly released Little Bill videos, now available in stores throughout the country.

In 2003 Misha recorded an album “Tsiganov Brothers” as a co-leader with his brother Alexei Tsiganov. The personnel on this record are Misha Tsiganov - piano, Alexei Tsiganov – vibes, Alex Sipiagin – trumpet, Boris Kozlov – bass, Antonio Sanchez – drums.

In 2007 Misha released an album “Always Going West”. The personnel on this record are Misha Tsiganov – piano, Alex Sipiagin – trumpet, Boris Kozlov – bass, Gene Jackson – drums, Samuel Torres - percussion.

Throughout the past ten years, Misha Tsiganov has performed and recorded with such musicians as Clark Terry, Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, Wynton Marsalis, Dave Valentin, Joe Chambers, Gary Bartz, John Faddis, Claudio Roditi, Richie Cole, Chico Freeman, Bobby Watson, Victor Lewis, Norman Hedman, Vincent Herring, Johnny Colon, Ray Vega, Valeri Ponomarev, Bobby Porchelly, Willie Martinez, Bobby Sanabria, Joe Lock, Graig Handy, Adam Rogers, Ira Coleman, Antonio Sanchez, Gene Jackson and others.

Listen to Misha's music and meet Misha's friends on MySpace:

www.myspace.com/mishatsiganov

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