Alan Michael Braufman

Alan Michael Braufman (performing as Alan Michael); born May 22, 1951 in Brooklyn, NY), is an American jazz musician, saxophonist, flutist and composer.

Loft Jazz

Braufman graduated from Boston’s Berklee College of Music where he met Cooper-Moore (then Gene Ashton) and other musicians who moved to New York City in 1973 and occupied a vacant building at 501 Canal Street in lower Manhattan.^[1] The building, where the total rent came to $140 for four floors,^[2] became a hub for musicians to practice and perform and its occupants played a seminal role in New York City's early-seventies loft jazz scene.^[3] In 1974, Village Voice jazz critic Gary Giddins wrote a review of Braufman’s performance called "Taking Chances At 501 Canal," stating “The fact is, these are the musicians who are taking the chances today and their gifts and commitment ought to be attended.”^[4]

Valley of Search

In 1975, Braufman's debut album Valley of Search was released on the India Navigation record label. The album was recorded live in the performance space at 501 Canal Street by Bob Cummins, the owner of India Navigation and was the label’s second release.^[5] Cooper-Moore (who made his recorded debut on the album^[6]), Cecil McBee, David Lee and Ralph Williams performed as Braufman's band.^[7]

In the decades to follow, the out-of-print album became sought after by record collectors around the world and, on June 29, 2018, a remastered version of Valley of Search was reissued on vinyl and digital formats. The reissue is a project of Braufman and his nephew, Nabil Ayers.^[8] The New York Times featured the album's closing track, "Destiny" and news of the reissue in a notable new songs roundup^[6] and Bandcamp named it among "essential releases."^[9] DownBeat awarded the album 4.5 stars calling it "ripe for rediscovery" and "chance-taking, jaw-dropping music" ^[10]

Alan Michael

After Valley of Search, Braufman spent much of the seventies and eighties touring as a saxophonist with Carla Bley, The Psychedelic Furs and Philip Glass. Braufman later dropped his last name and began to record and perform as Alan Michael.

In 1988, Alan Michael released the album Lost In Asia on the Passport Jazz label. The album included performances by Bill Frisell and Sid McGinnis as well as a cover of the Psychedelic Furs song "Sister Europe. In 1995, Alan Michael released the album As Daylight Fades, on which Omar Hakim played drums.^[11]

He currently lives in Salt Lake City, UT where he performs regularly. In 2016, the Alan Michael Band was nominated for Best Jazz Artist by the Salt Lake City Weekly.^[12][13] To celebrate the reissue, Braufman performed music from Valley of Search in a string of New York shows in August 2018^[14][15][16]

Discography

References