Michael Landau – a great guitarplayer …
To cover Michael Landau´s career takes a long time. He is one of the most used sessionplayers, he is a fantastic musician.
Musician and composer Michael Landau was born and raised in Los Angeles California. He grew up with the music of The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Cream and The Band. His grandfather Ernani Bernardi arranged and played the alto sax and clarinet during the “swing era” with the Dorsey Brothers and Benny Goodman. Michael began playing the guitar at age 11. As a teenager he quickly became very interested in jazz and electric jazz music. Weather Report, Pat Martino and Jaco Pastorius were some of his early obsessions.
In the mid ’70s Michael played in the L.A. dance clubs with an R&B band and toured the west coast with The Robben Ford Band, which included members of the Yellow Jackets, Jimmy Haslip and Russell Ferrante.
At age 19 he joined Boz Scaggs for a world tour and by the age of 20 he started to do session work with the help of Steve Lukather and Jeff Porcaro. Some session highlights over the coming years would include Pink Floyd, Miles Davis, Joni Mitchell, BB King, James Taylor, Seal, Ray Charles and Rod Stewart. There is a complete session discography at allmusic.com with over 500 records and soundtracks listed.
In 1984 Michael toured again and recorded with Joni Mitchell. This tour was called “The Refuge Of The Roads” with Vinnie Colaiuta, Larry Klein and Russell Ferrante.
In 1989 he released his first solo studio album “Tales from the Bulge”, an instrumental record initially released in Japan and on “Creatchy” records in the states. Wayne Shorter, Steve Tavaglione, Vinnie Colaiuta, Carlos Vega, David Garfield and Jimmy Johnson were among some of the players on this release.
In 1990 he formed the blues-rock band Burning Water with his brother Teddy Landau, David Frazee and Carlos Vega. They put out 4 discs of original material and played in Japan and locally in L.A. It was also around this time that he started to record and tour with James Taylor.
In 1993 he won the readers poll for “Best Studio Guitarist” in “Guitar Player Magazine”.
In 1994 Michael formed The Raging Honkies, a spicy rowdy rock band with Teddy Landau and Abe Laboriel Jr. They released 2 discs and toured in Europe and the US.
In 2001 he released a double live album of original material and a studio album “The Star Spangled Banner” on his own label “Unconscious Records”.
Michael has also produced and or mixed some selected artists and side projects including: Scott Henderson, The Jazz Ministry, Stolen Fish and Freak Juice.
He currently tours and performs with The Michael Landau Group, The Wreckers, Robben Ford, The Jazz Ministry, Stolen Fish, Hazey Jane and James Taylor.
Words from Jazz Network.
Discography
Rock Bottom
Mascot Music 2018
Tracks: Squirrels, Bad Friend, Gettin' Old, We All Feel the Same, We're Alright, One Tear Away, Poor Dear, Freedom, Heaven in the Alley & Make Your Peace Speak Now.
Musicians on the Rock Bottom album: Michael Landau, Alan Hertz, Teddy Landau & David Frazee.
Live
Tone Center 2006
Tracks: DISC 1: Worried Life Blues, The Sun, A Peaceful Ride, Underwear, 6/8 Blues & Born In The Rain. DISC 2: The Mighty SB, Ghouls And The Goblins, Widow, Johnny Swing, Good Friend & Untitled.
Musicians on the Michael Landau Group album: Michael Landau, Gary Novak & Jimmy Johnson.
Live 2000
ML Records 2001
Tracks: CD1: That Day, I´m Buzzed, Roddis, Roddis Tones, Up From The Skies, Rascal Balls & Born In The Rain. CD2: Why U Lie, Americana Boy, Oh My. Me/Five Storks, Johhny Swing, Mort´s Deli & Big Bulge.
Musicians on the Live 2000 album: Michael Landau, Toss Panos & Jimmy Johnson.
The Star Spangled Banner
ML Records 2001
Tracks: Old Mind, That Day, Monk, Good Friend, The Star Spangled Guitar, This House, Tacos, Problem, Rascal Balls, The Red Fireplace, Another Day, Indian Man & Born In The Rain.
Musicians on the The Star Spangled Banner album: Michael Landau, Ted Landau, Toss Panos, Jeff Young, Jeff Babko, Tom Keane, Jimmy Johnson, Mike Elizondo, Satnam Ram Gotram & Abe Laboriel Jr.
Tales From The Bulge
ML Records 2000
Tracks: I´m Buzzed, Judy, Chynna, Johnny Swing, Big Bulge, Roodis Tones, Eater, I Don´t Care, My Bulbous Meathead & I´m Hating.
Musicians on the Tales From The Bulge album: Michael Landau, David Garfield, Jimmy Johnson, Carlos Vega, Luis Conte, Wayne Shorter, Lenny Castro, Steve Tavaglione, John Pierce, Ted Landau, Larry Klimas, Vinnie Colaiuta & Steve Lukather.
Tales From The Bulge
Creatchy Records 1989
Tracks: I´m Buzzed, Judy, Chynna, Johnny Swing, Big Bulge, Roodis Tones, Eater, I Don´t Care, My Bulbous Meathead 6 I´m Hating.
Musicians on the Tales From The Bulge album: Michael Landau, David Garfield, Jimmy Johnson, Carlos Vega, Luis Conte, Wayne Shorter, Lenny Castro, Steve Tavaglione, John Pierce, Ted Landau, Larry Klimas, Vinnie Colaiuta & Steve Lukather.