Intimate Concerts: Michael Sarian

“Sarian’s trumpet literally speaks” Karl Ackermann, All About Jazz
Trumpeter and composer Michael Sarian has been praised for his “unique compositional and instrumental voice” (Friedrich Kunzmann, All About Jazz) and his “endlessly renewable strain of lyric improvisation regardless of context or material.” (Peter Margasak, Downbeat Magazine).

Born in Toronto and raised in Buenos Aires, Michael relocated to New York City in 2012. Michael has performed at some of the most iconic international stages, including the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, Getxo Blues Festival in Spain, Teatro Colón in Argentina, and at some of New York City’s most beloved venues such as the Blue Note Jazz Club, Jazz at Lincoln Center, BRIC JazzFest, The Beacon Theater, and Central Park SummerStage. He has appeared on WNYC’s Soundcheck with John Schaefer, NPR’s World Cafe, and many more.

Michael’s artistic output is as diverse as his background: he has released several records with his quartet, “a must-listen for fans of innovative and captivating jazz” (Matt Micucci, JAZZIZ Magazine) which “create[s] alternatively forceful and haunting sounds that dwell outside of the jazz mainstream in their own realm of beauty” (Jerome Wilson, AllAboutJazz). He has also released free improvised duet recordings with pianist Matthew Putman on 577Records, electronic avant-garde music with Barcelona based pianist Olec Mün on piano and coffee records, and several albums with his septet Michael Sarian & The Chabones, crafting a “remarkably strong foundation for some thrilling group improvisation and interplay.” (Brian Zimmerman, JAZZIZ Magazine)

In 2023/24, he joined the Jonas Brothers on their world tour, performing at Yankee Stadium, Wrigley Field, Dodger Stadium, and over 100 sold-out stadiums and arenas around the globe. He is a stable member of The NYChillharmonic, the Bette Smith band, among other collaborations and projects.

Michael was selected to join the 2024 Art Omi: Music Residency cohort, was a semifinalist at the prestigious DCJazzPrix in ’20, ’23 and ’24, artist in residence at Culture Lab LIC in 2022, and a 2020 Performer-Composer in Residence at Westben Centre for Connection + Creativity.

Michael is a Del Quadro Trumpets Artist, performs on his signature ‘SARIAN’ custom line of mouthpieces made in France by Atelier Donat, and is endorsed by Applied Microphone Technologies (AMT).