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Michael Brook

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Michael Brook
Born1951 (age 72–73)
OriginToronto, Ontario, Canada
Genrespost-rock, folk rock, electronic rock, experimental rock, soundtrack
Occupation(s)Musician, inventor, film score composer
Instrument(s)Guitar, Infinite Guitar, sequencer, keyboards, bass guitar, djembe, surdo, percussion
LabelsReal World, E.G., 4AD
Websitewww.michaelbrookmusic.com

Michael Brook (born 1951) is a Canadian guitarist, inventor, music producer, and film music composer.[1] He plays in many genres, including rock, electronica, world music, minimalism and film scores. His collaborations with musicians around the world have made him "one of the most sought-after producers in the music industry."[1] Born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Brook lives in Los Angeles. He is the creator of the Infinite Guitar.[2]

Career

Brook studied music and electronics at York University and worked as an engineer at the Grant Avenue studios, then owned by the Lanois brothers.[2][3] Here he worked with Brian Eno, The Edge, Jon Hassell and Harold Budd. In 1985 he released his first solo album Hybrid, containing instrumental tracks with Indian and African elements.[2]

Another notable collaboration was Sleeps with the Fishes with Clan of Xymox member Pieter Nooten (4AD, 1987). He worked on the album Set by Youssou N'Dour, Miss America by Mary Margaret O'Hara and collaborated with Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan on the album Mustt Mustt.[2]

He toured as a member of the Sylvian and Fripp tour group, with the final concert at the Royal Albert Hall in December 1993 documented on the album Damage: Live.[4] He also opened the concerts with a solo set, featuring the Infinite Guitar with effects and sequencer backing. In 1998, he produced the album "Volcán: Tributo a José José", a tribute album to singer Jose Jose. In 2006, the solo album RockPaperScissors was released, with an ambient remix version following in 2007. Brook toured small venues in Canada and the United States in late January/early February, 2007. In writing about his score for the film 2015 film Brooklyn, Variety said the film was "buoyed along by a beautiful Michael Brook score[5] and The Hollywood Reporter praised his "evocative scoring."[6]

Awards and honors

He was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1996 for his production work and as a co-artist on Pakistani singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's album Night Song.[7]

Brook's soundtrack to Into the Wild was nominated for a Golden Globe Award in 2008.

He also contributed a track to The Edge's soundtrack for the film Captive (1986). Brook's Infinite Guitar was later utilized by The Edge on U2's The Joshua Tree (1987).[2]

Two films that he scored, Brooklyn and Aloft, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2015.[8]

He won ASCAP awards in 2011 for The Fighter and 2013 for The Vow. He won the Havana Film Festival award for best music in 2011 for El Infierno.[9]

Selected discography

Studio and live albums

Year Artists Title Details
1985 Michael Brook with Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois Hybrid
  • Released: 26 July 1985
  • Label: Editions EG (EGED 41)
  • Formats: LP, CD
1986 Jon Hassell Power Spot
  • Released: 29 September 1986
  • Label: ECM (ECM 1327)
  • Formats: LP, CD
 Brook plays infinite guitar on three tracks
1987 Pieter Nooten and Michael Brook Sleeps with the Fishes
  • Released: 12 October 1987
  • Label: 4AD (CAD 710)
  • Formats: LP, CD
1990 Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Mustt Mustt
  • Released: 14 February 1990
  • Label: Real World (RW 15)
  • Formats: LP, CD
 First collaboration with Khan; credited only to Khan
1992 Michael Brook Cobalt Blue
  • Released: 1 June 1992
  • Label: 4AD (CAD 2007)
  • Formats: CD
 Reissued together in 1999 as a 2-CD set titled Cobalt Blue & Live at the Aquarium
Live at the Aquarium - London Zoo 21 May 1992
  • Released: 21 September 1992
  • Label: 4AD (TAD 2011)
  • Formats: limited edition CD
1994 David Sylvian and Robert Fripp Damage: Live
  • Released: 1 October 1994
  • Label: Virgin (DAMAGE 1)
  • Formats: CD
 Featuring Michael Brook
1995 U. Srinivas and Michael Brook Dream
  • Released: 29 August 1995
  • Label: Real World (RW 47)
  • Formats: CD
 Featuring Trey Gunn
Michael Brook Shona
  • Released: 1995
  • Label: Sine (SIN002)
  • Formats: CD[10]
 Unofficial release, recorded live during the Lanzarote Music Festival, December 1989
1996 Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Michael Brook Night Song
  • Released: 20 February 1996
  • Label: Real World (RW 50)
  • Formats: CD
 Second collaboration with Khan
1997 Iarla Ó Lionáird with Michael Brook The Seven Steps to Mercy (Seacht gCoiscéim Na Trocaire)
  • Released: 22 September 1997
  • Label: Real World (RW 67)
  • Formats: CD
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Michael Brook Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Michael Brook Remixed: Star Rise
  • Released: 6 October 1997
  • Label: Real World (RW 68)
  • Formats: CD, 2LP
 Last collaboration with Khan; features remixes of tracks from Mustt Mustt and Night Song[11]
1998 Djivan Gasparyan and Michael Brook Black Rock
  • Released: 7 September 1998
  • Label: Real World (RW 73)
  • Formats: CD
2001 Hukwe Zawose and Michael Brook Assembly
  • Released: 29 October 2001
  • Label: Real World (RW 100)
  • Formats: CD
2006 Michael Brook RockPaperScissors
  • Released: 18 July 2006
  • Label: Canadian Rational/bigHelium Entertainment (CRBHE002)
  • Formats: CD
2007 BellCurve
  • Released: 23 October 2007
  • Label: Canadian Rational/bigHelium Entertainment (CRBHE010)
  • Formats: CD
 Remix album of RockPaperScissors by James Hood
2008 Djivan Gasparyan and Michael Brook Penumbra
  • Released: 23 September 2008
  • Label: Canadian Rational (CR 1011)
  • Formats: CD
 Second collaboration with Gasparyan

Soundtracks

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Brook, Michael. "Michael Brook's Eclectic Rock Tribute". NPR. Archived from the original on 2018-08-18. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
  2. ^ a b c d e Kane, Peter (5 March 1991). "Stories". Q Magazine. 55: 11.
  3. ^ "40 years of musical history at Grant Avenue". The Hamilton Spectator. 2016-10-21. ISSN 1189-9417. Archived from the original on 2021-11-14. Retrieved 2021-11-14.
  4. ^ Biography by Jason Ankeny. "Michael Brook | Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2016-01-31. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
  5. ^ Peter Debruge (2015-01-30). "'Brooklyn' Review: Saoirse Ronan Embodies Immigrant Experience". Variety. Archived from the original on 2018-01-13. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
  6. ^ "'Brooklyn': Sundance Review". The Hollywood Reporter. 2015-01-27. Archived from the original on 2019-03-28. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
  7. ^ Ahmad, Salman. Rock & Roll Jihad: A Muslim Rock Star's Revolution. New York: Free Press, 2010. 127.
  8. ^ "Michael Brook". Ascap.com. 2014-06-25. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
  9. ^ "Michael Brook". IMDb.com. Archived from the original on 2013-02-21. Retrieved 2020-03-04.
  10. ^ "Michael Brook - Shona (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs. 1995. Archived from the original on 9 January 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  11. ^ Reighley, Kurt B. "Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan & Michael Brook: Remixed" CMJ New Music Monthly 55 (Mar 1998): 40.
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