About the Microscopic Septet

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The Microscopic Septet: Richard Dworkin (drums), David Hofstra (bass), Phillip Johnston (soprano saxophone), Mike Hashim (tenor saxophone), Dave Sewelson (baritone saxophone), Don Davis (alto saxophone), Joel Forrester (piano)

The Microscopic Septet are widely agreed to be one of the most important and unique bands to come out of the New York Downtown scene of the 1980s. Never sufficiently contained by a single category, the Micros—co-led by by soprano saxophonist Phillip Johnston and pianist Joel Forrester (who both also composed most of their music)—formed during a remarkable period of musical experimentation and quickly distinguished themselves as a raucously fun, musically adept, and wickedly clever jazz band.

Originally active from 1980–1992 and reunited annually since 2006, the Micros mix a reeds-and-rhythm texture similar to those of the Swing Era with influences from the entire continuum of jazz. The result is a brilliant blend of fresh-sounding orchestration, ideas, compositions, and inspired soloing topped by a unique combination of swing, energy, and humor that DownBeat Magazine recently described as “seminal, brilliant post-modern jazz.”

But their inspiration is by no means limited to jazz alone. The Micros reward even casual listeners with tasty bits of klezmer, Latin, R&B, tango, and tributes to pop entertainment ranging from silent comedy through big-screen melodrama with occasional stops at Warner cartoons and B-movie camp. Audiences, unencumbered by the humorless purism of uptown jazz critics, quickly recognized what would take many of the latter decades to realize: music this eclectic and original doesn't require a cap and gown to appreciate it.

In 2008 the Micros released their first new recording since 1996 to raves from audiences and critics alike. Their most recent release, 2010's Friday the 13th: The Micros Play Monk, finds the band circling back to its roots with a retrospective on the tunes of Thelonious Monk mixed liberally with that distinct Microscopic flavor. Critical acclaim agrees: With the 20th century as the ingredients list, the Microscopic Septet mix a very fine cocktail indeed.


Read more in the Macroscopic History of the Microscopic Septet.

Meet the band.

Read more about the Micros’ latest uncommon release, Friday the 13th: The Micros Play Monk.