World Port

World Port explores the world through its music and takes a no-borders approach to style. The roots of World Port's music come from many different styles from around the world and are tied together through the group's unique voice that uses jazz form and improvisation. Paul Micich, founder of the group and composer of World Port's original material, plays the electric horn (the Akai EVI). This unique instrument is perfectly suited for World Port's exploration of world music. Its sounds range from violin to piano, harmonica, mbira, wood flute and many others.

Paul Micich, founder of the group and composer of World Port's original material, plays the electric horn (the Akai EVI). This unique instrument is perfectly suited for World Port's exploration of world music. Its sounds range from violin to piano, harmonica, mbira, wood flute and many others.

When you listen to the amazing sounds, you will hear Celtic, New Flamenco, Smooth Jazz, Classical, Blues, Afro Rhythm, South American and more. They invite you to explore this music with them.

World Port is part of the Iowa arts council and is proud to add their unique music to Des Moines entertainment. Look no further to satisfy your appetite for original Des Moines music.

Paul Micich - Paul Micich's musical roots are in the Midwest, but his music crosses many borders. He started as a trumpet player, then added flute at Drake University. He calls the Midwest a crossroads for performing musicians. You hear music coming from all directions and, as a horn player, play in situations from R & B bands to concert bands, brass quintets to blues and ethnic groups, symphony orchestras to big bands. I developed eclectic tastes; that's where the impetus for WORLD PORT came from. I wanted to have the experience of playing with no borders on the style.? Micich's instrument is the Akai EVI, but he calls it the electric horn. ?It matches my taste,? he says. ?I can express myself on the ?electric horn' in ways never available to me with any other instrument.? Sounds range from violin to piano, harmonica to percussion, mbira to flute. Micich has written the original music for the CDs, taking inspiration from sounds and rhythms from around the world.

Micich is also a visual artist and has received Gold and Silver Awards from the Los Angeles Society of Illustrators. His work has been included in illustration annuals for Communication Arts and the Society of Illustrators (New York). His illustrated edition of "The Littlest Angel" has sold more than 1 million copies and his work has appeared in Atlantic Monthly and other magazines, book illustrations, library murals and limited edition prints.

Mitch Espe - Okay, so the reason Mitch Espe took up guitar isn't all that pure: His high school music teacher thought tough kids would stop beating up on Little Mitch. He cut his teeth on Beatles songs and by the time he attended his first concert ? Chicago ? he was listening to Abbey Road and Santana. In college, he was turned on to George Benson and Pat Martino. ?But I also loved funky R & B like the Brothers Johnson,? he says. After graduation, Espe played R & B with Flipside, then jazz with the Susie Miget Group. He appeared with the Fifth Dimension, the Des Moines Symphony and ?A Chorus Line,? toured with the Department of Defense, then settled in LA. Since then, Espe's played blues, R & B, jazz and, for two years now, nouveau flamenco with Benise. The constant in his career is Paul Micich. The duo began performing in 1980 at a natural foods restaurant ? well before Micich took up electric horn. Despite 2,000 miles, they still work together ? in person and on CDs. Little wonder ? Espe's love of the versatile is what WORLD PORT is all about.