Michael Formanek

A widely acclaimed bassist, composer, and educator, Michael Formanek is a major presence in the modern creative jazz scene. By the time of his 1990 debut, Wide Open Spaces, Formanek had already proven himself a skillful sideman working with Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson, and Dave Liebman, among others. Throughout the '90s, he developed a partnership with saxophonist Tim Berne, recording in duet and in Berne's Bloodcount quartet. In the new millennium, Formanek recorded for ECM, releasing The Rub and Spare Change and Small Places. He moved to Cuneiform for 2014's Thumbscrew, introducing his group of the same name with guitarist Mary Halvorson and drummer Tony Fujiwara. Along with teaching at Baltimore's Peabody Institute, he also leads other vital groups, including Drome Trio and the Elusion Quartet. In 2018, he was back with Thumbscrew for Ours and Theirs, followed by 2026's New Digs.