Michael Wolff to Be Honored as Steinway Artist

Pianist Michael Wolff will join the ranks of Steinway Artists in an invitation-only ceremony at New York City’s Steinway Hall on June 23. Dr. Billy Taylor will host the event, which will feature a performance by Wolff and band mate and tabla master Badal Roy.

Wolff will make a public summer appearance with a performance at London’s Royal Albert Hall with Bobby McFerrin and the Africa Children’s Choir for a live broadcast on the BBC on Aug. 7.

Growing up in Southern California during the 60’s and 70’s, Wolff first entered the limelight on the jazz scene in 1975 when he was hired by alto saxophone legend Cannonball Adderly. He then went on to work with Sonny Rollins, Airto Moreira among others before a five-year stint as the musical director for the popular Arsenio Hall Show.

After leaving television, Wolff dove back into the jazz scene with several popular projects including ‘Michael Wolff, Portraiture-The Blues Period,’ and a pair of piano trio endeavors featuring drummer Tony Williams and bassist Christian McBride. Wolff now records with his band, Impure Thoughts, an amalgamation of jazz and Indian music with Indian tabla master Badal Roy, John B. Williams, Victor Jones and Mike Clark (Headhunters). Their latest release, Dangerous Vision, was released in Fall 2004 on Artemis.

Originally Published June 11, 2005