Michael was born in New York City in 1960, but grew up in the San
Francisco Bay area. His musical career began as therapy, when at the age of 15 he took up
strumming the guitar to strengthen his wrist after a skateboard accident. Following his
graduation from Berkeley High School when he was 15½, he moved to Seattle and frequented
local jam sessions, keeping his fingers on the guitar strings and his mind on making his
music reach a wider audience. Says Powers, “I learned how to play by sitting in at
as many places as I could, developing eclectic tastes by playing with all types of bands:
Jazz, Rock, Blues, R&B, and Top 40. I wanted to learn how to play any kind of music
that featured a guitar as a solo voice.” As Michael’s musicianship
progressed, his interests broadened to include music theory. He enrolled at Seattle’s
prestigious Cornish College of the Arts where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor
of Fine Arts in Composition and Performance in 1982. While at Cornish, Powers studied
under composers Gil Evans and Sam Rivers, bassist Gary Peacock, pianist Art Lande, and
trombonist Julian Priester. His style was also influenced by a diverse group of musicians
which includes Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana, Charlie Parker, George Benson, Stanley
Jordan, Miles Davis, and Kevin Eubanks. On stage, Michael has shared
performed with, recorded with or shared billings with piano
giant Herbie Hancock, classic Jazz saxophonist Eddie “Clean Head” Vinson,
B3 master Dr. Lonnie Smith, Ronnie Cuber, Gil Scott Heron, Keiko Matsui, Nancy Wilson, Les McCann, Najee, Tommy Davidson, Dr. Cornel
West, the
legendary Ray Charles, Afro-pop star King Sunny Ade, Grammy award-winning vocalist Diane
Schuur, R&B greats Gladys Knight and the Pips and Atlantic Starr, contemporary Jazz
artists Ronny Jordan, Tom Grant, David Benoit, sax great Ernie Watts, the Yellowjackets, and the duo of Tuck
& Patti. “It’s hard to categorize my music, although it usually ends up
in the Jazz record bins,” says Michael. “If I had to put a label on it, I
would call it contemporary instrumental music. It’s a sound rooted in the Jazz
tradition that keeps pace stylistically with Pop, R&B, and Blues; with Blues being at
the core of my inspiration.” His powerful performances have regularly commanded
standing ovations.""Michael Powers' music seamlessly and simultaneously honors the past, celebrates the present, and fearlessly reaches into the
future!
Michael 'Patches' Stewart (legendary trumpet man for Labelle, Al Jarreau, Quincy Jones and Marcus Miller, featured on my "SOUL SCHOOL", "20 Songs for 20 Years", "Cinco de Michael" and "New Jack Jazz" releases)
Doug Reynolds (Graphics Guru and Designer who did the CD graphics and layouts for my "SOUL SCHOOL", "20 Songs for 20 Years", "Cinco de Michael" and "New Jack Jazz" releases)
Lee Oskar (legendary Harmonica man for WAR, featured on my "20 Songs for 20 Years" and "Live at the Moore Theater" releases)
Dr. Lonnie Smith (World's funkiest Hammond B3 Organ player. I got to tour Europe as part of his band, and also played a Seattle area Jazz Festival with him as well)
Mark Hussein (photographer who took my "SOUL SCHOOL" CD photos)
Davis Freeman (award winning portrait photographer who took my "Blues You Can Use" CD photos)
Rob Mullins (Great pianist & keyboardist featured on my "FULL CIRCLE" and "FROSTY THE BLUESMAN" releases. He is always cranking out some fabulous new CD's!
Tim Tyler (Award Winning Cinematographer who directed and edited my "Live at the Moore" DVD release, and also shot CD covers for "Live at the Moore", "20 Songs for 20 Years", "Cinco de Michael" and "New Jack Jazz" releases)
Susan Scott (photographer who took my "Smith Tower" promo photo!)Michael Shrieve (Hall of Fame Santana founding member drummer who has played in our group)
Garey Williams (Great Drummer featured on my "COVER TO COVER" release)
Frameworks Guitar (custom builder of my wonderful 'Modern Classic with MIDI' guitar based in Frankfurt Germany. Have Frank Krocker make you one!)
Tony Gable and 206 (Featuring a great group of musicians from the 206 area code, spotlighting Tony, who is featured on my "Full Circle" release!)
Mark Isham (film composer, trumpeter. I studied with him at Cornish Institute)
Ged Brockie (Brilliant guitarist and Composer from Scotland, member of the Scottish Guitar Quartet and fellow FRAMEWORKS Guitar user)
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Copyright ©, 2010 Michael Powers Music