TRAVERSE CITY — Acclaimed trombonist Michael Dease can play most anything.
Not only is the Michigan State University jazz professor an accomplished virtuoso on trombone and bass trombone, he’s equally conversant on baritone sax, trumpet, flugelhorn, bass and piano.
He also loves teaching, so much so that two jazz students from Michigan State will be part of his band when he performs at The Alluvion on Saturday, Jan. 10. Saxophonist Paloma Ximena and bassist Langston Kitchen will join Dease, celebrated drummer Billy Kilson and multi-faceted pianist Geoffrey Keezer as the Michael Dease City Life Quintet.
Advance tickets, $30, for the 7:30 p.m. show are available online at thealluvion.org. Admission is $35 at the door for this fully seated, listening room-style show.
The concert will focus on music composed by Lansing jazz musician Greg Hill.
“He’s become very inspirational for my music-making over the last three years,” Dease said. “I heard it (Hill’s music) with Rodney Whitaker’s ‘Outrospection’ and I was interested in checking out more of his music.”
A sought-after composer, Hill’s music has been recorded by a number of jazz and world music artists. Dease said he enjoys the fact that performing Hill’s compositions allows him to free his imagination when playing.
Dease also enjoys the fact that there are so many active jazz musicians of all ages nearby, from Detroit through Lansing to Grand Rapids.
“There’s access to a lot of music. The benefit of being a professor is it’s really great to have gotten to interact with the next generation of rich musical minds. It’s a two-way street. I learn so much as I teach students.”
Dease credits Whitaker, the head of the jazz program at MSU, with inspiring him as well as students.
“I couldn’t imagine moving from New York City to the middle of Michigan,” he said. “Rodney’s the guide … his depth and musicianship.”
He also praised James Forger, the dean of the College of Music at MSU.
“He had the vision to hire Rodney and place him as the head (of the jazz program). Rodney wasn’t sure about taking the position. I’m so glad he did.”
Dease has not stepped back from recording or performing. The five-time winner of the DownBeat Magazine Poll for Trombonist of the Year and multi-Grammy Award winner has performed with a who’s who of artists, including Christian McBride, Roy Hargrove, Nicholas Payton on the jazz side, as well as pop musicians such as Alicia Keys, Paul Simon, Paul Schaffer and the CBS Orchestra, Elton John and Neil Diamond.
The Georgia native and 2025 Guggenheim Fellow has recorded 18 albums as a leader, with a variety of band members.
His 11th album for the Posi-Tone label, “Flow,” was released last September. Among the 11 tracks are five Dease originals, including “The Rodfather,” a nod to Whitaker on which Dease walks the blues on upright bass, a tune by Keezer and one by Dease’s former employer, the late trumpeter Claudio Roditi.
Yet another album, “MSU Jazz Trombones: Spartan Strong,” will be released Jan. 16 on Origin Records and features a host of special guests.
He’ll also participate in Christian McBride’s “World at Sea” cruise embarking from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., on Jan. 20 — a star-studded affair with top-shelf performers, including Ledisi, Samara Joy, Cecile McLorin Salvant, Angelique Kidjo and others.
Whatever the set list for any particular concert, Dease and company will showcase their virtuosity and will always swing.
“With this group, I’m really excited about the way the band is going to gel and react to each other. My life is about connecting different generations and different backgrounds,” he continued.
He cited Kilson’s experience with the likes of George Duke, Steps Ahead, Michael Franks, Bob James and Dave Holland and the fact Keezer was the last pianist and the youngest-ever member of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers (he and Wynton Marsalis were both 18 when they joined the legendary drummer’s band). Then there are the upcoming talents balancing out the group.
“I’m in the middle. I work as a catalyst,” Dease said. “We react authentically and appropriately. There’s so much experience and enthusiasm.”