ZRP explores musical contrasts and commonalities inherent in four distinct genres; Persian traditional and classical music, Jazz, Flamenco and Western Art practices. Michael says that he senses “that the musics of Central Asia, the Middle-East, southern Europe and North Africa share a spiritual ancestor. Though there was no saffron road in these areas, I hear variations on a theme in their approaches to nuance and idea, as if the path each had taken had had a common origin. Even Jazz with its roots in Africa seems to refer back to some of the arab modes through its “blue notes”.”
ZRP takes these perceptions as its raison d'être. It seeks to interweave the varied strands of these and Western musics into a new aesthetic entity. There are four band tracks and two solo guitar pieces. The track Esfahan , was awarded first prize in the Allan Zavod Classical-Jazz Fusion Performance Award in September 2010. It features electronic music, Persian song, and Jazz and Western Classical conventions in a new aesthetic that melds these into a broader musical experience.
Track Listing
Zafron Road (mahur)
Rajalucia (rhumba)
Genesis ( Khamaj/mixolydian)
Neda (shur-dashti)
Zagros (chahargah)
Esfahan (esfahan)
Michael Knopf 'Guitar Chant' 2009
Since the early 1980’s guitarist/composer Michael Knopf been interested in developing a melodic guitar style based on vocal chant and was particularly influenced early on by Flamenco and by Persian formal poetic and spiritual chants. He has subsequently modeled improvisations and compositions for solo guitar (and for orchestra, chorus and other solo instruments) on Flamenco, Persian, Arab and Hindu musical styles. These approximations have made possible the enshrining of diverse practices in new, original music. The pieces in this collection often use alternate tunings which provide the guitar with a unique resonance, sometimes ostensibly sounding like the Persian tar or the Arabic Oud, and at other times like a classical guitar but with an expanded range.
Track Listing
Ancient Beauty
Lament for Terra
Inner Landscape
The Caspian
Desert Song
Na’mayn
Gregoriana
Al Andaluz
Awen
Chant
Michael's Guitar Chant CD is available in these Brisbane outlets:
Rocking Horse Records - Albert Street Brisbane
The Library Shop - Queensland State Library Southbank
New Farm Editions - Merthyr Shopping Centre New Farm
Mary Ryan Books -Merthyr Shopping Centre New Farm
Michael Knopf 'Life' 2008
This collection of original music for guitar conveys a personal musical history for it presents musical styles and genres that I have performed and composed with through many years of music making. I am a self-confessed multi-stylist. Some pieces are composed and written - others are improvised or spontaneously composed. My music is of many worlds in the sense of its being a distillation of experience. It is music of this world and of the spiritual realm too, for music,at times, comes from somewhere else. Because of this, my hope is to convey not only stylistic adaptations in an original way, but to impart a sense that transcends craft and thus communicates through the human spiritual reality.
Track Listing
A Consolation For My Love
Nearing Midnight
Lament for Terra
Na’mayn
Brunswick Street Blues
Rain Outside
Bamboo and Running Waters
Renaissance
{3 Latin American Pieces}
Homage
Muhajer
The Green Light Expedition
7th Heaven
Al Andaluz
A Life
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Michael Knopf 'Solo' 2006
"Solo" is a distillation of his catholic philosophy. It's a record on which tastefully revamped jazz standards sit snugly beside original compositions informed by sources as diverse as classical Iranian song and passing airplanes.Michael's innate sense of spirituality is reflected in the raga-like 'Ancient Beauty'. Elsewhere, he goes decidedly earthy with a blues written for two old friends and bandmates. On Chick Corea's 'Spain', a personal favourite, the maestro skillfully unites three of his great loves - jazz, classical and flamenco. 'Nature Boy' and 'Close To You' you've probably heard a hundred times before, but not quite like this. Michael manages to imbue these timeless tunes with admirable freshness. Duke Jordan’s “Jordu” (best known as rendered by trumpeter Clifford Brown) translates surprisingly well to guitar - at least in Knopf's hands. But that's Michael's art, and that's why he rates so highly among Australian guitarists.
Tony Hillier Reviewer for The Weekend Australian & Rhythms Magazine
"Still" is an album of contemporary art music on themes of nature, art and spirituality delivering evocative and entrancing sound-scapes. From the ravishing ballad Maleny and the Moon (Centauri Ensemble) to the haunting On The Beach at Night for soprano, cello and gongs this CD explores the world of melody, colour, sound & silence.
Earthshine is a solo cello piece that reverberates a poignant otherworldliness, while Nightskyeyes (Centauri) displays a curious & emotive joining of jazz and contemporary pointillism. The title track Still, inspired by the art of Andy Goldsworthy is a palatial work for piano, crafted to force the listener to hear not only the sounds of the notes, but their continuing vibrating harmonics and the delicious silence between.
With the composer on the guitar (solo on Early Mists & Inner Landscape) and piano (on Still), and featuring cellist Louise King, soprano Louise Kennedy, percussionist Giuseppe Vizzone, bassist Giles Smith and saxophonist Craig Hanicek, this album is for those who want to listen to music with mind and heart.
Track Listing
Maleny And The Moon
Early Mists
Earthshine
NightSkyEyes
On The Beach At Night
Inner Landscape
Still
Purchase Download Now $6.99 AUD
Michael Knopf 'CARACAS'
7 Original modern jazz pieces ranging from the Latin title track to hard bop (Dodecabop) to the funky Lay it Down and to the Coltrane dedication Heart-light.
Track Listing
Caracas
Lay It Down
Nocturne
Dodecabop
It's That Time Again
Bluesology
Heartlight (Tribute to John Coltrane)
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Michael Knopf & Acoustica 'Live At The Rondo'
Standards such as Round Midnight,, Autumn Leaves and My Favorite Things all rendered with the unusual sounds of a classical/flamenco guitar in a jazz trio. Original fusion works Majmin, Spiritual Tu, and the raga-like Acoustica display the unique crossover sound of this dynamic trio.
Track Listing
Autumn Leaves
Majmin
My Favorite Things
Acoustica
Round Midnight
Spiritual Tu
Purchase Download Now $6.99 AUD
Events
Michael has recently been notified of of receiving the Zavod Jazz Classical Fusion Composer's Award administered by Melbourne University. Last year, Michael also received first prize in the Zavod Jazz Classical Fusion Performer's Award in September 2010 and is the only musician to have received both awards. The performer's award was administered by Monash university and funded by Dame Murdoch.
The awards were given based on work that Michael had prepared and submitted for his professional doctorate at the Queensland Conservatorium. The composer's prize was for his composition The New Earth - Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra and the performer's prize was for Michael's recording of Esfahan a work for an ensemble of traditional Persian, Jazz, and Classical musicians and pre-recorded sounds with Michael on guitars. Michael and his ensemble flew to Melbourne to perform Esfahan at Blackwood hall.
Michael's new choral work Be Silent was also recently performed by the Brisbane Chamber Choir under the direction of Graeme Morton as part of the Brisbane Contemporary Church Music Festival at St. John's Cathedral in Brisbane.
Zafron Road Project 