Band Leader
The Junktet
7 piece groupThe Junktet will rouse your body to move to rhythms from Brazil to West Africa and spin your head with melodies from Charlie Parker to John Coltrane to Stevie Wonder, telling the story of time.
The instrumentation is Drumset, West African Djembe and Dun-Duns, Brazilian Repinique and Surdo, Saxophone, Vocals and Dance.
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The Wailing Disciples Quintet
5 piece groupIn this context, Micha composes more freely and seeks to create a small ensemble sound that moves the mind and the heart. This group is featured on his new album, In the Fullness of Time, and uses Jazz as a reference point to explore Micha's compositions and new arrangements of Jazz idiom compositions from the likes of John Coltrane and Thelonius Monk. The instrumentation is Vocals, Trumpet, Rhodes, Upright Bass, and Drumset.
The Wailing Junk Symphony, for the Most High
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Wailing: adv., a long cry, a persistent sound or utterance
Junk: n., discarded material, trash, anything regarded as useless or of little value
Symphony: n., a long elaborate musical composition for a full orchestra
For: prep., intended to be received by or belong to
Most: adj., the greatest in quantity or intensity, in the greatest degree
High: adj., extending far upward above the 'normal' level; noble, virtuous; fully reached
This project in its general scope has always been in the mind and heart of Micha Patri, first super-consciously, then sub-consciously, and finally consciously; however, the impetus for the formation of the band in its current configuration came from Micha Patri and Jessica Ezra's engagement party in May of 2005. Brazilian drummers from the group Samba do Coracao, and drummers from the West African, specifically Guinean, drumming scene, convened at Micha's house in Berkeley. The drummers played together for the first time, each in their traditional Brazilian and West African style, and a secret beauty emerged....
The two bands The Junktet and the Wailing Disciples Quintet, come together to form the Wailing Junk Symphony for the Most High, a "world music garage big band" performing Micha's original compositions over a literal fusion of traditional West African and Brazilian rhythms and dance, jazz and reggae vocals and harmony, and a general junk aesthetic. In addition to original material, the band performs Micha's arrangements of John Coltrane, Bjork, Peter Gabriel, Stevie Wonder, and Thelonius Monk. The music is dubbed "Brazilian/West-African, Gospel Junk-Jazz."
Mission Statement
To strengthen a community of diverse audiences with a live educational performing arts experience that is accessible and firmly positive, and layered and multi-cultural. Concerts are divided into two basic parts:
1. a concert Jazz and performing dance experience
2. an audience-wide percussion and dance immersion and participation
Every performance involves the audience in special ways using discussion, yoga, blindfolds, written response, community pledges, and collective junk. WJS performances also seek to heighten peoples awareness of special causes with community announcements from non-profits. So far, the Wailing Junk Symphony has collaborated with non-profits Critical Resistance and The RAEL UV-Tube Project
Compositions are thought-provoking and inspirational, written for the purpose of raising consciousness and strengthening spirits. Jazz and Reggae, poetry and storytelling, African and Brazilian drums, and dance and junk percussion join together in this unique life-changing experience.
"I have always loved playing junk ever since I started playing drums my junior year in high school. Junk means that the world of music is at everyone's fingertips and 'eartips,' and that joy and beauty is not something that we need to spend money to have, nor something that has to actually appear beautiful. Junk is a child of time, worn and experienced, with real scars and with the hidden potential to be reborn; Junk is an open canvas, and junk is universal. It is a tool to bring people together in community, to break down our defenses, and to release our suffering through self-loving sound."
"I feel I have had a spiritual awakening in my life. There is sense behind the turning of the world, and there is help for us in spheres wider than our consciousness. We need not be afraid, we need not feel alone, and we need not be trapped in our lower selves. The true reality around us is love and more love. Each day we must learn to love a little more than the day before. How can I speak of anything else but this reality? How can I waste any time on any message that does not try make this abundantly clear?"
"Jazz is the teacher, funk is the preacher." (James Blood Ulmer) Jazz opens the door to a certain voice of freedom that informs the 'American' creative soul. I live on the backs of my ancestors. They are me in a real sense. I have spiritual ancestors, artistic ancestors, and familial ancestors. They inform me of my next step and without them I cannot walk. They also need me; they live through me, waiting for me to walk to a new place where moments pregnate and the intangible appears."
"I feel I have had a spiritual awakening in my life. There is sense behind the turning of the world, and there is help for us in spheres wider than our consciousness. We need not be afraid, we need not feel alone, and we need not be trapped in our lower selves. The true reality around us is love and more love. Each day we must learn to love a little more than the day before. How can I speak of anything else but this reality? How can I waste any time on any message that does not try make this abundantly clear?"
"Jazz is the teacher, funk is the preacher." (James Blood Ulmer) Jazz opens the door to a certain voice of freedom that informs the 'American' creative soul. I live on the backs of my ancestors. They are me in a real sense. I have spiritual ancestors, artistic ancestors, and familial ancestors. They inform me of my next step and without them I cannot walk. They also need me; they live through me, waiting for me to walk to a new place where moments pregnate and the intangible appears."
Wailing Junk Disciple Pledge
Take the pledge and you will get two dollars off on our next show.
WJS Testimonials
Eric Garland: "I came in feeling down, but I stayed for the whole concert, and when I left I realized a burden had been lifted—I felt happier and lighter."