[1] His debut album as a leader was 1990's Wide Open Spaces, featuring saxophonist Greg Osby, violinist Mark Feldman, guitarist Wayne Krantz, and drummer Jeff Hirshfield.

[1] Following this, Formanek led the septet of himself, Berne, trumpeter Dave Douglas, reed player Marty Ehrlich, trombonist Kuumba Frank Lacy, drummer Marvin Smith and pianist Salvatore Bonafede.

[1] That same year, Formanek began playing with Berne's ensemble, Bloodcount, through the end of the decade, on the albums Lowlife, Poisoned Minds, Memory Select, Discretion, and Saturation Point.

[1] Formanek has done extensive work as a session musician, appearing on albums by Jane Ira Bloom, Uri Caine, James Emery, Lee Konitz, Kevin Mahogany, the Mingus Big Band, Scott Fields, the New York Jazz Collective, Daniel Schnyder, and Jack Walrath.

[1] As leader With Tomas Fujiwara [de] and Mary Halvorson as Thumbscrew With Franco Ambrosetti With Chet Baker With Tim Berne With Jane Ira Bloom With Uri Caine With Baikida Carroll With Tony Malaby With Mark Murphy With Art Pepper With Gary Thomas With Jack Walrath