News

Listen to Hollywood Hex, released April 6th.

Bane from Hollywood Hex.

Reviews
The most rewarding of the pieces for toys on the program. A fairground tune unfolded on the toy piano, a bittersweet interlude evoked loss, and a syncopated bluesy melody evolved in a melancholic haze.
The New York Times

A brilliant composer of lunatic cabaret songs.
LES INROCKUPTIBLES - JD Beauvallet

Cajun music and New Orleans jazz are never far. A whimsical, playful world with a few melancholic strokes and carnival-like frenzy. 
Obsküre Magazine (Mai-Juin 2013)

A charming formula with plenty of unique arrangement ideas and the same kind of energy as in Patrick Watson's music. 
France Musique - Vincent Théval - LABEL POP

From string-filled popsongs that could have been composed by Sufjan Stevens to sparkling folk ballads through to darker tones, these songs are flawless!
POPNEWS

American Premiere of Coney Island Sous l'Eau.

The American premiere of Michael's Toy piano concerto was performed in New York at the Washington Square Music Festival on the 16th of July 2013. 

Reviews:

The New York Times - Vivien Scheitzer (in print on July 18, 2013)
Two toy pianos were surrounded by grown-up instruments in Michael Wookey’s “Coney Island Sous l’Eau” (“Coney Island Under the Water”), written after Hurricane Sandy and the most rewarding of the pieces for toys on the program. A fairground tune unfolded on the toy piano, a bittersweet interlude evoked loss, and a syncopated bluesy melody evolved in a melancholic haze.

www.concertonet.com - Harry Rolnick
By far, the most interesting music was Michael Wookey’s Coney Island Under the Sea, originally for two toy pianos and other toy instruments à la Leopold Mozart. But Mr. Wookey’s purpose was far more serious. He had seen the amusement park after our monstrous Sandy hurricane last year, with a result of bitter irony. The little orchestra and piano alternated merry–go-round carousel-style songs along with dissonances and atonal observations. A clever concept that was short, gave its message and left us with a strange sadness.

Photo of the world premiere of the concerto in Paris at Théâtre du Chatelêt. (Photo by Mickagio)