Recipient Information
Location
Ellsworth, Minnesota
Year of Award
2026
Grant or Fellowship
Jazz Road Tours Grant
Grant Amount
$14,985
Michael Janisch is a bassist, composer, and producer working comfortably within the wide expanse of modern jazz and all its incarnations. He is also the founder of Whirlwind Recordings, one of the world’s premier independent jazz labels of the last two decades. Now based back in his native Midwest after twenty years in London, Janisch has spent the past 26 years forging a dynamic international career at the intersection of contemporary jazz, experimental music, and improvised performance. His work spans countless recordings, global tours, and collaborations with many of the most acclaimed artists in jazz and beyond.
A MOBO Award-nominated solo artist and a first-call double and electric bassist on both sides of the Atlantic, Janisch has performed or recorded with the likes of Joe Lovano, Ingrid Jensen, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Shirley Horn, and countless others. His discography as a leader has earned acclaim from DownBeat, Jazzwise, The Guardian, NPR, WDR, and BBC Radio, with multiple award nominations and global airplay.
His most recent album, Worlds Collide (recorded at Abbey Road Studios), pushed boundaries with its fusion of multi-metered grooves, lush harmony, free improvisation, and a sound world influenced by Fela Kuti, Aphex Twin, and both the London and NYC jazz scenes. Now, Janisch is forming a new chapter with the Michael Janisch Band, a U.S.-based ensemble that bridges New York and the Midwest.
Leading from the back on bass, Janisch is joined by a powerhouse lineup of globally recognized musicians, each an established player and bandleader in their own right: Patrick Cornelius (alto sax), Jason Palmer (trumpet), Zacc Harris (guitar), and Pete Hennig (drums). While each has performed with Janisch over the past 20 years in various settings, this marks the first time they will come together as a distinct unit.
They will premiere a brand-new body of work, currently in development, written specifically for this group. The music builds on the sonic world of Worlds Collide, utilizing the same sax/trumpet-led quintet format, and expands into new rhythmic, textural, and emotional territory. This tour marks the band’s debut as an ensemble and will lead directly into the recording of a new studio album that reflects Janisch’s return to the Midwest and a bold new phase in his artistic trajectory.