Jonathan Michel

One of the really special parts of this tour has been finding moments to step away and reconnect with the other parts of my artistry while still on the road with @thewizbway . This memory takes us to Pittsburgh, @pittsburghjazzfest and the always special Jazz Train hosted by @orrin_evans 🎶🚂✨. I’m grateful to continue being part of the Imani Records team helping make another successful Jazz Train experience happen. Truly one of the most unique and joyful experiences in jazz. (Tickets for this year’s train just went on sale and they ALWAYS sell out fast 👀) Once I got to Pittsburgh, I got to just be a fan for a while and take in incredible performances from friends and colleagues across the jazz world alongside the amazing PJF audiences. I also got to play a few trio sets at @conalmapgh with @jevonrushton and @theronbrown , some friends at in, including @johnshannonmusic and @nazir.ebo , whose new album “Beyond” is out now 🎶 Huge shoutout to the Con Alma audience and staff for all the love. It was special to be back in bandleader mode for a night 🪄🪄🪄 And somewhere in the middle of all the music, the village came together to celebrate mine and @derekmwalton ’s birthdays 🥹 Nothing like your people loving on you just because you showed up. This was actually the second time I was able to briefly step away from tour for important collaborations and creative commitments. I’m deeply grateful to everybody who made space for that to happen, including my amazing subs and my flexible fellow Ozians both onstage and in the pit 💚✨ 14 of 31 🎧: Wade in the Water from my album MDR. Arrangement by @cbryanmusic .

This memory is all about the food 😋🤤🍽️🎭 Some favorite plates from the road, from professional kitchens and otherwise… Guess the city each slide is from 👀 Bonus points if you know the restaurant too. I’ll be in the comments confirming the right answers 😅 13 of 31 ✨

Bonus memory from Rochester because I missed posting on Sunday after a two show day + load out 😅🎭🎸 While we were at @houseofguitars , @chris_hanfordii and I had to take a minute to jam a little. A little something to pay homage to the history a place this carries #31DaysOfMemories

Taking it back to the first city of the @thewizbway tour for this one 🎸🎶 Rochester, NY and the legendary @houseofguitars . This place is unreal. One of the world’s largest selections of guitars and vintage instruments, plus memorabilia, collectibles, a full record shop, music school, recording studio, and even a small venue all packed into one spot. @chris_hanfordii and I actually went twice and still didn’t see the whole store 😂 Some personal favorites were the Fender 5-string bass prototypes and seeing the world’s largest Marshall amplifier in person. We also got access to some special rooms at The HOG and it really drove home how one of a kind this place is. Shoutout to the staff too (cover photo is with co-owner Bruce Schaubroeck). Everybody was incredibly welcoming and full of stories about the space and the legendary musicians connected to it. They were more concerned with us falling in love with the shop than selling us anything! Didn’t buy a guitar or bass this time… but this is definitely becoming a regular stop for me whenever I’m upstate 🎸 Day 12 of 31 Days of Memories ✨

I sold my bass I’d had for almost 20 years 😭😭😭😭, then before I could be too sad, I bought a new bass 😂😂😂. This was indeed a day to remember Richmond, VA. This reel starts with footage from 2009 (shoutout to Barbers Hall in Philadelphia) of me playing my 1997 fretless P/J bass, Veronica I’d had that bass since 2007 after bibimcgill suggested I consider playing one, and a few weeks later @sungomatic sealed it with an offer I couldn’t refuse at 8th Street Music. Veronica went around the world and back with me. Not many records, but a whole lot of shows, rehearsals, and shedding. Back then I was bringing it to every gig trying to figure that thing out. Shoutout to all my friends and colleagues who were open to that sound while I was still learning the instrument and my voice on it. Not quite sure I ever fully figured it out, but I really enjoyed trying. The past 10 years I probably played it once or twice, and kept going back and forth on whether it was time to move on. In Richmond, with some advice of my good friend @chris.hanfordii and the good people @guitercenter , that day finally came. Veronica will find a new home, and now I’ve got a new @fender Jazz Bass to discover. Haven’t named this one yet, so drop your ideas in the comments. 11 of 31 @thewizbway tour memories

Today’s memory is from the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis. These are a few moments that struck me, but photos and words can’t fully capture the importance and weight of this space, or what it feels like to stand in a place that commemorates so much history, both told and untold. Sharing these moments to amplify the message and encourage everyone to experience it for themselves. Gratitude to the ancestors, and to the living examples who continue this work every day. Day 10

This tour memory takes us to New Orleans and @jam.nola 🎨🎶✨ Our head of hair and makeup for @thewizbway , @tyreerob , arranged for us to experience this incredible space with @thisisstacie and I’m so glad they did. 🙏🏾🙏🏾 JAMNOLA stands for Joy, Art, and Music New Orleans, and that’s exactly what it feels like walking through the space. Every room celebrates the art, music, culture, and theatrics that make New Orleans so special, all brought to life by over 100 local artists and collaborators. Their belief is that happiness can overcome anything if you immerse yourself in it and share it with others. And that’s genuinely what happened. Walking through the exhibits with our group, laughing, reacting, and taking it all in together… the joy in the space was contagious. So many fun individual memories came from this day, and I’ll keep sharing them as we go. But for now, enjoy the reel and definitely make plans to visit JAMNOLA next time you’re in New Orleans 💜 Day 9 of 31 Days of Memories 🎭

One thing about this @thewizbway tour life, the commute is different almost every week Sometimes it’s a walk, sometimes it’s a drive, sometimes the theatre is basically next door. It’s been kinda cool getting to see each city from a different perspective on the way to work Day 8 of 31 Days of Memories

Day 7 of Tour Memories Early morning trip to @redrocksco in Colorado with some of my fellow @thewizbway company members. For anybody who loves live music, Red Rocks is one of those legendary venues you dream about experiencing one day. So many iconic artists and performances have happened in that space over the years, and being there in person really hit! Part music fan dream come true, part hike, part much needed reset. Spending time outside in nature before the day got going ended up being the perfect way to decompress, refocus, and take in the moment. Definitely one I’ll remember for a long time. #31DaysOfMemories

Day 6 of @thewizbway tour memories ✨✨ From one legendary music stop to another. There were a few cities in between, but the learning and wonder continued at @staxmuseum . I’ve been in love with that Stax sound for years. (Highly recommend Stax: Soulsville U.S.A. on @hbomax .) And the museum fed that love even more. From the sharing signature recording techniques to the artifacts from the studio and offices , every room had something special. My personal favorite was seeing Isaac Hayes’ desk and chair up close. One of my favorite things about the museum lies in the name, The Stax Museum of American Soul Music. There were moments that felt like straight up music history and social studies class, shining light on the culture, the stories, and the moments outside of Stax that helped shape an entire era. 10/10. if you’re ever in Memphis, you MUST #31DaysOfMemories

Day 5 of @thewizbway tour memories Back in Detroit…as promised. Motown Museum 🎶 I’ve got a lot to say about this place… more than fits in a caption. And I know I’m not alone in that. There’s something about this space — and the music that came out of it — that feels personal to so many of us. Being there felt like stepping directly into the roots of the sound that shaped so much of what I hear, play, and create today. A real full circle moment. Sharing these photos knowing they’ve captured only part of the experience. I’m looking forward to sharing the deeper story with you all in person.

31 Days of Memories, Day 4. A moment from “the office” — a rhythm section mix (mostly…had to have @kylasings 🔥🔥🔥) on “No Bad News.” Shoutout to the touring rhythm section, holding it down all tour while we lock in with incredible local horns and percussion in every city. For anyone who thinks playing the same music every night gets boring… not with this band. The orchestrations by @josephjoubert88keys and dance breaks by @adamblackstone keep us right at the edge of our technical skill, and every night we find joy in and rise to the challenge of executing as a unit! Much love to my brothers: 🎸@chris_hanfordii , 🥁 @jay.ray04 , and 🎹 across the tour @olmsteady , @bchristiankeys , @patrickthepianist , and in this clip @patrick.ticecarroll . Inspired by our cast, crew, and the legacy of @thewizbway , we bring fresh energy every single night.