MICHAEL KOCOUR

ABOUT MICHAEL KOCOUR

MICHAEL KOCOUR is an Associate Professor and the Director of Jazz Studies at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. Hailed by the Chicago Tribune as “one of the most sophisticated pianists in jazz,” Kocour has performed at venues around the world and has been a guest on Marian McPartland's internationally syndicated NPR program "Piano Jazz." Among the many artists and ensembles with whom he has appeared with are Dizzy Gillespie, Eddie Harris, James Moody, Eddie Daniels, Randy Brecker, Benny Golson, Ira Sullivan, Carl Fontana, Dewey Redman, Lew Tebackin, and the Chicago Symphony.

His recorded work as a studio musician includes soundtracks to two major motion pictures, and numerous television commercials. He has eight works published by Warner Brothers, which include collections of original compositions and arrangements for piano.

Kocour holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from University of Illinois and a Master of Music in Music Theory from Northwestern University. He was awarded National Endowment for the Arts study grants in 1988 and 1990 and from 1991-94 he was a visiting lecturer in Jazz Studies and Piano Pedagogy at the University of Illinois.

In recognition of excellence in teaching, Mr. Kocour was awarded the Herberger College of Fine Arts Distinguished Teacher Award for the academic year 2004-2005.

MICHAEL KOCOUR: REVIEWS

Click this image to hear the review of "Speaking In Tongues" by Neil Tesser on: ListenHearRadio.com.

Jerome Wilson, Cadence Magazine

“Michael Kocour comes recommended by no less than Benny Golson and lives up to the praise. Kocour delves into the work of two great Jazz composers here, Thelonious Monk and Bud Powell. His playing style is hard driving and flinty. He makes wild roller coaster rides out of Powell compositions and actually finds some original ways to attack Monk. “Think Of One” gets a hard, funky backbeat, “Ugly Beauty” becomes an elegant waltz, and a “Pannonica” and “Epistrophy” medley is a combination of rich balladry and greasy hipness. A Chicago native now teaching at Arizona State University, Kocour displays soul, chops, and style and is a very able mainstream pianist.” May, 2007

Howard Reich of The Chicago Tribune:

“The sheer creativity, tonal plushness and ingenious phraseology of this performance inspired pianist Michael Kocour–a former Chicagoan who has been collaborating with Moody for years–into crafting possibly the most hard-driving solo I have heard from him. Though Kocour, who now teaches at Arizona State University in Tempe, tends to be a comparatively relaxed soloist, the heated nature and harmonically complex vocabulary of his playing represented a new high point for him.” August 19, 2005

“…Kocour has been a significant player on Chicago’s mainstream jazz scene. Listening to him fronting a trio, however, and you’re hearing a serious artist worthy of focused attention.” July 28, 2004

“Kocour, especially, played with a remarkable combination of melodic creativity, textural variety and digital sparkle. Though called upon to work within a fairly restricted harmonic and stylistic range, Kocour provided solos so distinctive in touch, tone and melodic invention as to inspire strong rounds of applause. Each was deserved.

Even (Scott) Hamilton and (Harry) Allen appeared transfixed by Kocour’s pianism, the two at various junctures ogling the keyboard to study Kocour’s solos.” June 29, 2000

“(Kocour is) one of the most sophisticated pianists in jazz.” September 12, 1999

“As always when he is in Chicago, Moody was joined by Mike Kocour, a sophisticated pianist whose tone is as subtle as his harmonic vocabulary is varied.” June 19, 1997

“In addition, the melodic invention and poetic tone of Kocour’s every solo suggested that he is emerging as a major talent in his own right.” March 8, 1995

Neil Tesser, Chicago Reader:

“Now that Kocour runs the jazz program at Arizona State University, we’re missing his Monday-night trio dates at Pete Miller’s, his sunlit soloing behind James Moody or Ira Sullivan at the Jazz Showcase, and his heady, hearty organ playing in the two-keyboard trio Monk’s Dream. Kocour has the requisite technical facility and several things more; a finely honed harmonic imagination, a scratch golfer’s easy swing, and a hair-trigger command of dynamics that lets him suddenly send a line soaring and just as suddenly drop it to a whisper.” May 20, 2005

Kevin Whitehead, Chicago Sun-Times:

“On the blues “Pierre’s Moment,” pianist Mike Kocour took a lean, melodic solo, grounded in pithy soul-jazz gestures that he opened up and stylized, to make them his own and pull them away from any hint of cliché.” December 19, 2002

John Henry, Audiophile Audition:

“The trio demonstrates the amazing facility Kocour has for generating lots of melodic and harmonic interest. Although Kocour's style is extremely sophisticated, it doesn't ignore the swing and beat of things.”

Susan Lozinak, jazzreview.com

"The Mike Kocour Trio consists of world-class musicians including drummer Joel Spencer and bassist Kelly Sill, both highly sought after members of Chicago’s jazz elite. This energetic trio has been together for a long time, which is apparent with the tightness and unmistakable cohesiveness demonstrated throughout this ambitious CD High Standards. They simply resonate." For more...