“Something about the sound Mike DiRubbo elicits from the alto saxophone –deep, dark, immense, with a machete edge that denotes a ready-for-anything urban sensibility – immediately grabs the ear. It’s a sound familiar to the cream of New York’s hardcore jazz community since the mid-‘90’s” writes Ted Panken.
Mike has shared the bandstand and the recording studio with jazz masters including Cecil Payne, Jackie McLean, George Coleman, Harold Mabern, Jimmy Cobb, Larry Willis, Eddie Henderson, John Hicks, Richards Wyands, Ray Appleton, Mario Pavone and young veterans including Peter Washington, Mike LeDonne, Nat Reeves, Steve Davis, Carl Allen, Eric Alexander, Tony Reedus, Steve Nelson, Anthony Wonsey, Jim Rotondi, David Hazeltine, Dwayne Burno, Joe Farnsworth, Michael Weiss, and many others.
"Mike DiRubbo plays with fire and intelligence, and his music dances with life."..
- Francis Davis.., author of “Like Young”
“…a powerful, not-to-be-missed performer."
- David A. Orthmann, AllAboutJazz.com.
"An impressive alto sax quartet -- big sound, bold moves" -Tom Hull, Village Voice
“…unusually rich alto sound.” “There are few people who can play this kind of music this well. A real pleasure.”
David R. Adler, All Music Guide
"He has his own unique sound on the saxophone…his expansive musical vocabulary exhibits a solid foundation in the bebop tradition that has been judiciously elevated through a liberal addition of post-Coltrane modality "
Russ Musto, AllAboutJazz-New York
