Neighbor Michael Oien On His Debut Jazz Album, Wandering The Streets Of Ditmas Park & More

Neighbor Michael Oien has, since graduating from Berklee College of Music in 2004, been a fixture in the city’s jazz scene, and you’ve likely seen the man working his music magic in our neighborhood at Sycamore. His list of accomplishments is an extensive one, from playing at festivals around the globe to touring with numerous acclaimed artists, from pianist Michael Reis to drummer Yotam Rosenbaum. Now, he has another exciting achievement to add to that list: Michael has just released his debut album, And Now, which just came out yesterday on Fresh Sound’s New Talent Label.

Before Michael celebrates his release gig on July 21 at Barbès in Park Slope, we wanted to catch up with our neighbor about about the new album, where he goes to be inspired in Ditmas Park, his newfound love for cooking elaborate breakfasts, and more.

So many congratulations on your new album! What was it like to record this first album? Was there anything that particularly surprised you about the process?

Thank you so much! It was a long process, but it was a really great one. It was amazing to collaborate with a band of not only some of the top musicians on the scene today, but who are also some of my closest friends. We recorded it at Systems Two Record Studio, on the corner of Ditmas and MacDonald, so it was also fantastic to have a world-class studio in the neighborhood.

What’s the story behind the album’s title, And Now?

There isn’t much of a story really. I had been kicking around a few different titles, but finally decided that I wanted a title that reflected that this was the time in my life that I needed this project to happen.

What is the song writing and recording process like for you? Do you go to specific places to be inspired? Is there anywhere in Ditmas Park that brings you inspiration? How about other places in the city?

I tend to write very slowly in the sense that I will go for months without writing anything and then end up writing a tune in one day. I don’t think there is any doubt that New York is unbelievably inspiring. I love our neighborhood, and while I don’t really know if one moment was that directly connected to anything that happened musically, I love to wander around. I love to look at the Victorian housesl I love to watch random baseball games and practices at the Parade Grounds; I love to eat in the restaurants.

Is there a song — by you or someone else — that most reminds you of our neighborhood?

Honestly, all the tracks on the record remind me of Ditmas Park. Since it took me so long to write much of the music, I can think back to what I was doing, and where I was living while working on it. Certain tunes really remind me of different apartments where I have lived.

What brought you to Ditmas Park? What’s your favorite thing about living here/where’s your favorite place to go in the area?

I moved from Boston with three of my friends in 2005, and our plan was to move to Park Slope. We quickly realized that we could not afford to live in the Slope and started looking elsewhere. We were knocked out by the tree-lined streets and found an amazing place on the corner of Cortelyou and Westminster Roads. The Farm on Adderley was one of my favorite places when it first opened, and I still love it.

We want to hear about your guitar-playing days as a teenager! What kind of music were you playing? Did you imagine yourself becoming a guitarist professionally at that point in your life?

I played mostly rock guitar, but I got into jazz as well. I definitely thought that guitar would be my instrument, and considered bass to be more of a hobby. When I was 16, the cover band I was in played quite a bit in Northern Wisconsin (where I grew up) but eventually I wasn’t allowed to do it because you needed to be 18 to be employed by a bar. My mom made a deal with me that she would accompany me on those bar gigs (which would make it OK) if I played bass in the community symphony. I think it was a pretty fair deal.

Where are some of your favorite places to see jazz in the city?

The Village Vanguard, 55 Bar, Barbès, ShapeShifter Lab, and The Jazz Standard are all wonderful. I loved playing at Sycamore and Solo Kitchen Bar when they had live music, so hopefully we can get a few more music venues in Ditmas Park.

We saw on your website that you’re a fan of cooking — what are some of your favorite things to make/wines to drink?

I just recently, in the last couple of years got into eating as well as cooking breakfast, which was never my thing. My wife Kim taught me to love eggs, which were the only food I think that I truly did not like. But now in my old age I really enjoy getting up early and cooking elaborate breakfasts.

What’s the best and worst thing about being a musician in New York City?

New York is an amazing place to be a musician. The quality of the musicians here is absolutely mind-boggling. And the same holds true for all forms of art, whether it be dance, painting, cooking, theatre etc. The trick is to figure out how to pay your bills and still manage do it.

As the manager of South Slope wine shop Big Nose Full Body for the past seven years, what are some things you’ve seen change in that neighborhood (aside from the shop’s new space!)?

Aside from our space, quite a bit has changed. There are plenty of new additions, such as Hugo and Sons, as well as Talde a few years back. Before that, Union Market coming to the neighborhood was a huge addition. But I’ve been fortunate to see some of the same great people over the years. Mr. Lee from The Bad Wife is one of the greatest guys I’ve ever met, and I still cross the street regularly to harass him!

What wine do you have in stock now that you think best represents South Slope? And one for Ditmas Park?

Philippe Mao, a longtime South Slope resident started an amazing line of inexpensive yet delicious French wines called Maison CUBI. They are also available in 3L bag-in-boxes, and they have been extremely popular this spring. We really love having a great product, that is really popular in the hood, from a South Slope resident and neighbor. As far as Ditmas Park wine goes, I’ll leave that to my buddy Adam who just bought T.B. Ackerson on Cortelyou (now called Kings County Wines).

What’s your favorite music to play in the shop? Have you ever played yours, and if so, what did your customers think?

I like to listen to all sorts of stuff in the shop. I have not yet subjected them to it yet, but we’ll see!

You can purchase Michael’s album from the label, on iTunes and on Amazon. To follow all of Michael’s musical, food and wine adventures, visit his website.