Mike Block - Cellist Extraordinaire

Yowee, it is hard to categorize cellist, singer-songwriter Mike Block! He opened a show for the Bee Eaters and dazzled the audience with his energetic and humorous style. A wiry guy with bright eyes and quick fingers, he began with some Appalachian folk tunes, a Bach piece and then, with a fine, tenor voice sang, “I’m not scared”, a complex, original song. He continued with some of his other zany compositions, such as “Have You Ever Been?” and “Concert Teeth”.

He twirled his bow like a cowboy twirling a six-shooter and took us on a tour of the possibilities of sounds that can come from a cello. Zings, slides, rub-a-dubs, pluckings and sawings and finger tap dancing all over the neck. Really, it was hard to fathom how he could keep his fingers going, juxtaposed like scaffolding, and then sing a tune over the whole thing.

He performed a medley of gorgeous Arabic folk tunes and did a cover of Fats Waller’s “Aint Misbehavin’”, making a funny horn sound by blowing his lips.

Mike was educated at Julliard and has played with Yo Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble, Darol Anger’s Republic of Strings and Mark O’Connor’s Appalachia Waltz Trio. Holy sheep gut Mike, you’re a genius! Many blessings to you and your fingers, you have a long, successful career ahead of you!

You can hear Mike at http://www.myspace.com/blockcello.

Find out more about him at http://blockblockblockblock.com.