Michael Formanek: aka the Stinger

By Ludovico Granvassu
April 16, 2026
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An invitation to perform at the 2023 Guimarães Jazz Festival in Portugal gave bassist and composer Michael Formanek the perfect opportunity to explore the sonic possibilities of the organ—an instrument he first loved in the rock bands of his Bay Area youth, and later rediscovered in the visionary works of Olivier Messiaen.

Alexander Hawkins proves an ideal partner on Hammond B3, alongside two longtime collaborators from the trio Thumbscrew—Mary Halvorson on guitar and Tomas Fujiwara on drums—joined by João Almeida on trumpet, as well as John O'Gallagher—now based in Portugal—and Chet Doxas on saxophones. A newly formed septet that knows exactly when to fan the flames—as they do, with relish, on the aptly titled "aka the Stinger."

Contact Ludovico Granvassu on All About Jazz.
I'm the Editor-in-Chief of All About Jazz Italia, host of Mondo Jazz on Radio Free Brooklyn and was once visited by Frank Zappa's ghost.... he was funny too.

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