Michael William Gilbert

Michael William Gilbert grew up in Connecticut and Brussels, Belgium. While living in Europe he first encountered the music of Varese, Stockhausen, and Pierre Henry, as well as music of India, Africa, and Japan. After studying electrical engineering at MIT, he continued studies in music at the Boston School of Electronic Music, later as a teacher and designer of synthesis systems. He graduated with a degree in music from Hampshire College, and shortly thereafter became the technical director of electronic music studios at Amherst College, Smith College, Hampshire College, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He has since taught electronic music at Hampshire College, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and Holyoke Community College. 

MW Gilbert has been composing and recording actively from the 1970's through the present. In 1978 he released his first LP, "Moving Pictures" (1978) with the goal of humanizing electronic music, using wooden flutes, percussion, and voice to complement synthesized sounds and textures. "The Call" (1980) grew out of a desire to set jazz-influenced solo lines against a backing of drone, percussion, and soundscapes. "The Call" marks MW Gilbert's first work with multi­-wind and reed player Tim Moran, experimental percussionist/vocalist David Moss, and acoustic bassist Salvatore Macchia. The LP "In the Dreamtime" (1982) features work with Moran, Moss, and Macchia, as well as master drummer Royal Hartigan. 

Moving to compact disc as one of the first indies to do so, MW Gilbert released "The Light in the Clouds" (1987), and "Point of Views" (1988). A collaboration with master percussionist Tony Vacca, bassist Salvatore Macchia, and synthesist Roy Finch, “The Light in the Clouds" brings together African, Jewish, Christian, and Shinto music traditions and melds them with crystal clear sounds and rhythms. "Point of Views" is a solo recording "an ethereal and beautiful blend!" "Point of Views" received 4 stars in Downbeat Magazine. It successfully creates the sound of an ensemble yet is a purely solo work, with only percussion by Tony Vacca on one track. Music from this repertoire was released in Canada by Penta Disc Recordings (WEA).

After a few breaks from recording, two new CD projects were released. "Other Voices" (2000), with more collaboration with Tony Vacca and Roy Finch. This was followed by "I Can See from Here" (2010), a complex weave of jazz, folk, electronic soundscape, world music, and electro­acoustic ambience. It features a track with guitarist and friend Peter Kaukonen (Black Kangaroo, Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship, Johnny Winter). MW Gilbert's first three LP recordings, "Moving Pictures", "The Call", and "In the Dreamtime" were remastered and re­released on CD, making the complete catalog to date available again, on both disc and digital.

"Secret Stories" (2015) is a complex work encompassing many faces of electronic music old and new, jazz, contemporary classical, and influences from multi­cultural folk music. This was followed by“Radio Omnibus” (2018), with cutting edge electronic music, two acoustic chamber pieces, and features collaborations with Adam Holzman (Miles Davis, Steven Wilson) and Mark Walker (Oregon, Lyle Mays). 

The next release was "Voice Ping Strum", including a limited edition vinyl release. It has two extended suites, one on each side. It was realized in the studio using Eurorack modular, voice, and piano. It comes on the 40th anniversary of the release of his first album, "Moving Pictures".

Since then, over the past year and the challenges of COVID, he has released a series of digital-only releases, including "The Outside Inside - ep" (2020), "She Looked Back - single" (feat. Adam Holzman) (2020), "Miles to Go - single" (feat. Adam Holzman) (2020), and "Moving On - single" (2021). Followed by "The Vanished Day - single" (2021), classic electronic music in the tradition of the great studios of the 50s - 70s. The sounds come from the Eurorack & Aries systems; plus voice, percussion, and musique concretè. New collaboration with Adam Holzman: "The Light That Wraps Me and All Things" (feat. Adam Holzman) (2022), for virtual electric chamber orchestra and piano. His most recent release "Samsara" (2022), is a new release showcasing two new tracks featuring Adam Holzman, which are part of this compilation with tracks all featuring Adam, from recent singles and albums.

MW Gilbert's music has been played in concerts and festivals in North America and Europe and has been used by choreographers in conjunction with modern dance works, including Susan Waltner, Valerie Feit, Jan Wodynski, and Paula Josa-Jones. 

MW Gilbert retired from an almost 30-year career as Adviser for Technology Initiatives and Services for the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He is now able to work full time on music and is a co-principal with his son Daniel of Tall Dog Electronics, which has a growing line of Eurorack modules, all used on MW Gilbert's music and recordings.