Michael Palma at Tuesday Nite Jazz

Michael Palma, center, chatting up host Robert Swann.

Michael Palma

St Paul United Methodist Church

Dallas, TX

April 14, 2015

The long-anticipated solo piano show of Bernard Wright was not to be as Bernard unfortunately had to cancel. But the capable and talented Michael Palma stepped in to woo the Tuesday Nite Jazz crowd at St Paul United Methodist Church.

After the show, the celebrated 29-year-old pianist received rave reviews for his rendition of Giant Steps, the John Coltrane tune. He told the crowd he played “some improvisational music, some American songbook and some original compositions.” Among them were Mal Waldron’s Soul Eyes; and he turned to the artist whose music drew him to the piano, Herbie Hancock (Dolphin Dance).

He urged the audience to visit Itunes to get his latest work Lazy Lover which he recorded with vocalist Chloe Demetria under the band name of Xayide.

Palma attended the acclaimed Booker T. Washington High School in Dallas and went on to the Berklee College of Music. He went on to be one of the youngest instructors in the celebrated jazz program of the University of North Texas.

At his young age, he has performed with Wynton Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, Greg Osby, Mark Turner, Jimmy Cobb and others. He has performed in numerous countries, recognized by publications like Downbeat magazine and his compositions has been performed on numerous networks and shows like Dancing with the Stars.

Palma had everyone glowing after his solo performance with music lovers saying, I have heard this guy before but nothing like this!

One can only imagine that Michael Palma was inspired, honored to get the call to fill in for a Miles Davis alumnus Bernard Wright. It was like a homecoming for Palma, literally across the street from his old high school.