News:
Recording Piano next week Performing with Joan Jeanrenaud at Great American Music Hall Join me on Facebook Birds
Can Fly Wallpapers: Recording in December LA Radio appearance, 8/7/07 Live Radio Performance taping on Echoes on May 24 (04/27/07) Lucidity
at # 17 on the radio charts (03/21/07)
(04.28.09)
I'll be back in the studio next week recording piano for 3 new pieces, Silhouette, Tailwind and another one that doesn't yet have a name so it's currently just called 093008. I"ll post pictures and possibly audio from the sessions if it all works out well. I've been posting some new drafts on facebook from time to time. If you're interested please join me at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Michael-Halaas/15667825329
(08.15.08)
More photos on Facebook
Joan Jeanrenaud, the incredible cellist who joined me on The Lucidity
Project is releasing a CD of original compositions in June. To celebrate
she will have a CD release concert at Great American Music Hall on
June 25th in San Francisc. I will be joining her on piano and the
evening will feature a great group of musicians including members
of the Kronos Quartet and several other prominent musicians from
the new music community in the bar area. Please join us.
Show: 8pm, $20 (tickets and information)
(02.24.08)
I plan to post updates as I make my way through recording and hopefully
also interact with anybody who's interested.
Join me Here.
(01.05.08)
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Echoes "Resonance" collection
(12.14.07)
A live recording of "Mural" has been included on a sampler CD from
the Echoes program called "Resonance: The Echoes Living Room Concerts
Volume 13". It's
truly an honor to have Joan and I's performance included on this
complation. Check it out: More
Info : Listen (real) : Order
(10.10.07)
Finally have found
a new recording studio in the bay area after the flood at the last place
we were using (pictures left). I'll be recording piano in December and hope
to meet up with Joan to finalize the tracks in the ensuing months.
(07/28/07)
I was on KCSN in
the Los Angeles area on August 7th sometime near 9pm. They played
tracks from Lucidity with interview segments in between.
Looking for a new studio
(07/27/07)
The studio where
I've been recording had a serious flood and is now closing so I'm forced to find
a new studio. This also means finding a new piano. I've been recording on the
same piano (which I love) since 1993 so for me it's a profound change and I'm
aprehensive. Although the next record is written and
ready to record it'll be a bit delayed. Eventually the piano I've been using
will again be available and I can't wait. Funny somehow just how important the
instrument is to me. Relative to all other things in the world I understand
it's irrelevant but for me it really matters.
Interview with Joan and I is now available via the
Echoes Podcast (airs nationwide on July 11th and 15th 2007
(07/13/07)
The interview is available for free by visiting
the Echoes
podcast (will open in iTunes).
Echoes Performance airing on June 13th and 17th Nationwide
(06/11/07)
The
recording of the "Living Room Concert" for Echoes was great fun. John Diliberto
the host is incredibly good at what he does and hosted a great interview.
Joan and I played several pieces as an acoustic duo. It was recorded in the
living room of Dawn Atkinson, longtime producer and A&R person for Windham
Hill Records and many other labels. Her piano and room were fantastic.
To find out airtimes in your area please see the list of stations on the Echoes
website.
Joan and I will be doing a live performance for the
fantastic Echoes radio program on May 24th. The show is syndicated to over
250 affiliate stations across the US. For more information about the show and stations
near you that will carry it see the Echoes website.
Very interesting and happy to see that I"m currently
#17 on the new age radio chart. I'm never quite sure how I fit into the new
age category but then again I've never known quite where I fit in and it's
great to be on the same chart as George Winston, Liz Story, Loreen McKinnet
etc....
http://www.newagereporter.com/charts/top100.asp
"Waiting" used in short film (02/11/07)
A filmaker by the name of "Frank Jackson" sent me a note that he used a track from "The Lucidity Project" as soundtrack to a short film he made called "Crossroads." He used "Waiting" the final track on the CD, composed by Joan and featuring her playing several cellos with me on Piano. I quite like the film and Frank has given me permission to post it here. I of course heard the track many times during the recording of TLP but I heard it in a whole new way as part of this film, so thanks to Frank Jackson. You can view the film here:
http://www.birdscanfly.com/crossroads.htmlBetter way way way way late than... (01/17/07)
I finally joined the myspace throngs. I'll soon be able to sell tracks there and will hopefully put up some unreleased and/or hard to find odds and ends in case anybody is interested:
http://www.myspace.com/michaelhalaasProgress (12/17/06)
I'm honing down drafts for the new recording. I'll be in the studio over the next few months and plan to release a new CD in mid-2007. So far I'm very happy with the shape so hopefully you'll like it when it's done. Not all the drafts will make the final record so I'll make additional tracks available through my website. I'll post pictures from the most recent sessions soon.
Free download of new track. (12/12/06)
Download "Crimson" from the forthcoming CD in the music section
"Stare" and "Face to Face" now widely available
For the first time, these two solo piano CD's are now broadly available. The physical CD's can be ordered through CD baby and the album and individual tracks will soon be available as downloads throuth iTunes and other online retaiers. To order through CD baby use these links: Stare | Face to Face
New Recording:
I'm working on a new release that will once again include the remarkable cello playing of Joan Jeanrenaud. Photos to the left are of these sessions. I can't wait to share this.
"No Disguises" and "12-1-98"
"No Disguises " and "12-1-98" are temprarily out of print. I'd like to remaster them before making additional pressings. Until then they are available as free downloads. Use these links for the full mp3 tracks. Login with username "listen" and password "deeply":