Mike Carson- is a melodic, jazzy , traditional approach to
Contemporary Smooth Jazz . . . .exactly what the doctor and
worldwide audiences have ordered!Michael Anthony Carson was born and raised in Gary,
Indiana. Mike is one of the pioneers of what is commonly
known as contemporary jazz. A combination of traditional
jazz improvisation and R&B, this genre forms a bridge from
the jazz fusion of the late 60s to the jazz pop of the mid 80s.
As a child, Mike was introduced to music through his father's
purchase of a Ukulele. In the 4th Grade Mike started his love
for the wind instruments by playing the clarinet in the
Philadelphia public schools. At age 11, Mike performed at the
White House Conference on Music and played for Former
President Richard Nixon, this was air on NBC in 1969. At age
15, Mike Carson's first gigging band was called, Steel Dagger
and they opened up for Stevie Wonder in 1972. In High
School studied with Odean Pope and played in the Model
Cities Band, and also studied at the Settlement School of
Music in Philadelphia. After spending six weeks in India while
in high school. Mike Developed a new perspective on music .
While in College at Southern University in Baton Rouge, La.,
he studied jazz with the famed clarinetist Alvin Batiste which
started the love affair for the sax and later the flute in his
hometown Gary, Indiana. At Berklee College of Music, in
Boston, he studied with Bill Pierce, Steve Grossman, Andy
McGee and Composer/Arranger Mike Gibbs. In Chicago he
studied with famed tenor sax player Joe Daly. Mike has
played in numerous bands such as AJacks with whom he
toured with in Japan in 1992, Hoosier Blues, Together, Bobby
Lewis Quartet and was a member of a backup band behind
Phil Perry. Mike Carson's first professional gig was with "The
Dells" at the Argo Ballroom in Philadelphia. This Gig
professional is constantly on the road performing and has
finally decided to slow down to give his audience an album
project of his own, "Signature". Mike has played on
numerous album projects such as "Millenaire", "Circular Soul",
"Relations 1", "Hoosier Blues", "Kicking it Old School-Hoosier
Blues" and "Language of Love" to name a few. Mike's first
recording was with a Haitian Band called Volo-Volo and their first project was called ,"Volo-Volo". Most recent project is with a band, " Positive Energy", who are well known in the Chicagoland area for Jazz and Poetry. Mike's upcoming project is a collaboration with singer/songwriter Nichelle Colvin. Mike has worked on numerous project with Nichelle and finally Mike's Debut album, "Signature" will introduce Mike's extrodinary talent for musical compositions.[LOVEMYFLASH]
