MICHAEL PIGNÉGUY SEXTET
MPS
The Michael Pignéguy Sextet is a dynamic unit of leading West Australian improvisors which was formed in the mid 1990s. Its primary raison d’etre was to give its members the opportunity to explore a range of new composition and arrangement approaches within a classic 6 piece jazz line-up. From the outset the MPS challenged itself and audiences by creating music that was always vibrant, sometimes explosive and often lyrical providing the ideal musical platform for the outstanding group members. Since its inception, the group has performed and recorded around Australia, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New Zealand and in Doha, Qatar.
Chris Greive (trombone) & Ricki Malet (trumpet)
Jayden Blockley (tenor saxophone)
Leader Michael Pignéguy (drums)
Peter Jeavons (acoustic bass)
Russell Holmes (piano)
MPS Live
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Recorded live at iconic club Greenwich in Perth Western Australia, this album was the Michael Pignéguy Sextet's debut CD released in 1998.
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Musicians: Michael Pignéguy (drums), Dale Barlow (saxes), Carl Mackey (saxes), Chris Greive (trombone), David MacGregor (trumpet), Russell Holmes (piano), Marcus Dengate (acoustic and electric basses)
MPS Pure feat. Dale Barlow
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PURE double album featuring and co-produced by Dale Barlow of Art Blakey Jazz Messengers fame.
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Musicians: Michael Pignéguy (drums), Dale Barlow (saxes), Carl Mackey (saxes), Chris Greive (trombone), David MacGregor (trumpet), Russell Holmes (piano), Peter Jeavons (acoustic bass)
MPQ | Au Privave
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Recorded in February 2014 at the Qatar Music Academy, Katara, Doha.
Recording Engineer: Brendan Doherty.
Mixed and Mastered by Trilby Temperley.
Produced by Michael Pignéguy.
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Michael Pignéguy (Drums), Matthew Jodrell (Trumpet), Chris Pattishall (Piano), Philip Kuehn (Acoustic Bass)
SELECTED RECORDINGS
The albums below are available on all streaming services and include:
MPS Live
MPS Pure &
MPQ | Au Privave
Albums feature original and non original compositions arrangemed by Michael and other band members.
The MPS Story
The 90s
The Michael Pignéguy Sextet came to prominence in the late 1990s after a series of shows in WA and in particular at Greenwich, the iconic club which made its home under His Majesty’s theatre. Following the recording of MPS Live, the group’s debut CD, this dynamic outfit toured nationally playing some of the East Coast’s most sought after venues including The Basement and Bennett’s Lane.
Dale Barlow Connection
The group soon teamed up with Australian Sax doyen Dale Barlow of Jazz Messengers fame to record their second album PURE. Barlow co-produced and featured on the album and helped shape a dazzling double CD offering where dynamic originals allowed members to explore modern bop and soul jazz sounds. Following the recording of PURE the group was invited to the US and performed in New Orleans and Los Angeles.
Reaching Out
MPS continued performing in Australia in the early noughties and began a range of collaborations outside the jazz space. The group took a hiatus when Michael moved overseas in 2006 but recorded in quartet format in 2014 which led to the release of Au Privave featuring Mat Jodrell on trumpet along US artists Chris Pattishall (pno) and Phil Kuehn (bs) of Harry Connick fame.
Return to Australia
Michael subsequently returned to Australia in 2018 and in the last 18 months has started to reanimate the larger 6 piece unit with a focus on soul-jazz. In 2023, The group was invited to perform for the Perth International Jazz Festival. This show saw original members Chris Greive, Russell Holmes and Michael joined by Peter Jeavons who became an integral part of the 6 piece in 1998, along with Jayden Blockley (sax) and Ricki Malet (trumpet). The group presented music from the first two albums MPS Live & PURE which saw MPS carve out a path between dynamic bop, soulful selections and soaring ballads.
