Alan Michael Braufman

Alan Michael Braufman (performing as Alan Braufman and Alan Michael); born May 22, 1951 in Brooklyn, New York, United States), is an American jazz saxophonist, flutist and composer.

Alan Michael Braufman
Alan Michael Braufman
Background information
Birth nameAlan Michael Braufman
Born (1951-05-22) May 22, 1951
Brooklyn, New York, United States
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • composer
Instruments
Labels
Associated acts
Websitewww.alanbraufman.com

Early career

Braufman graduated from Boston’s Berklee College of Music where he met Cooper-Moore (then Gene Ashton) and other musicians who moved to New York City in 1973 and occupied a vacant building at 501 Canal Street in lower Manhattan.[1] The building, where the total rent came to $140 for four floors,[2] became a hub for musicians to practice and perform and its occupants played a seminal role in New York City's early-seventies loft jazz scene.[3] In 1974, Village Voice jazz critic Gary Giddins wrote a review of Braufman’s performance called "Taking Chances At 501 Canal," stating “The fact is, these are the musicians who are taking the chances today and their gifts and commitment ought to be attended.”[4]

In 1975, Braufman's debut album Valley of Search was released on the India Navigation record label. The album was recorded live in the performance space at 501 Canal Street by Bob Cummins, the owner of India Navigation and was the label’s second release.[5] Cooper-Moore (who made his recorded debut on the album[6]), Cecil McBee, David Lee and Ralph Williams performed as Braufman's band.[7]

Valley of Search reissue and The Fire Still Burns

On June 29, 2018, a remastered version of Valley of Search was reissued on vinyl and digital formats. The reissue is a project of Braufman and his nephew, Nabil Ayers.[8] To celebrate the reissue, Braufman performed music from Valley of Search in a string of New York shows in August 2018.[9][10][11]

In September 2019, Alan Braufman and Cooper-Moore performed at the Basilica Soundscape Festival in Hudson, NY, and announced plans to record a new album together with a full band. [12] The new album, The Fire Still Burns is to be released on August 28, 2020 via the Valley of Search label.[13] The Fire Still Burns includes Cooper-Moore on piano, James Brandon Lewis on tenor saxophone, Ken Filiano on bass, Andrew Drury on drums and Michael Wimberly on percussion.[14] He recorded the album at The National's Long Pond Studio in upstate New York. [15]

Alan Michael

In the 1970s and 1980s, Braufman spent his time touring as a saxophonist with Carla Bley, The Psychedelic Furs and Philip Glass. Braufman later dropped his last name and began to record and perform as Alan Michael.

In 1988, he released the album Lost In Asia on the Passport Jazz label. The album included performances by Bill Frisell and Sid McGinnis as well as a cover of the Psychedelic Furs song "Sister Europe. In 1995, he released the album As Daylight Fades, on which Omar Hakim played drums.[16]

Personal life

He currently lives in Salt Lake City, UT where he performs regularly. In 2016, the Alan Michael Band was nominated for Best Jazz Artist by the Salt Lake City Weekly.[17][18]

Discography
Title Release date Notes Label
Valley of Search 1975, Reissued June 29, 2018 as Alan Braufman India Navigation, Valley of Search
Lost in Asia 1988 as Alan Michael Passport Jazz
As Daylight Fades 1995 as Alan Michael Collective Fruit
The Fire Still Burns August 28, 2020 as Alan Braufman Valley of Search

References
  1. "The New York City Jazz Record" (PDF). Nycjazzrecord.com. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  2. "Hear Alan Braufman's Valley Of Search - The Wire". Thewire.co.uk. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  3. Heller, Michael C. (2017). Loft Jazz: Improvising New York in the 1970s. Oakland, CA: University of California Press. ISBN 978-0520285415.
  4. "The Village Voice - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  5. "India Navigation Records List". www.jazzdiscography.com.
  6. Pareles, Jon; Caramanica, Jon; Russonello, Giovanni (22 June 2018). "The Playlist: Paul McCartney's Smooth Tunes, and 13 More New Songs (Published 2018)". Nytimes.com. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  7. "Valley of Search - Alan Braufman - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic.
  8. "How I Reissued My Uncle's 1975 Free Jazz Album". Discogs. 9 July 2018.
  9. "Alan Braufman – National Sawdust". nationalsawdust.org.
  10. "Cult 'Valley of Search' Reissue Show with Alan Braufman and Cooper-Moore | New Sounds Live | New Sounds". Newsounds.org. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  11. "Alan Braufman performs "Valley of Search" with special guest Cooper-Moore". Archived from the original on 2018-06-25. Retrieved 2018-06-25.
  12. "Basilica SoundScape 2019". Basilica Hudson. Retrieved 2019-08-23.
  15. Hussey, Allison. "Alan Braufman Announces New Album, Shares New Song "Sunrise"". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  16. "As Daylight Fades - Alan Michael - User Reviews - AllMusic". AllMusic.
  17. "Alan Michael Band". Salt Lake City Weekly. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  18. Staker, Randy Harward, Kimball Bennion, Westin Porter, Gavin Sheehan, Brian. "Best of Utah Music 2016".
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