About Me
At 29, Toronto-native Michael Shand has already spent well over half his life playing music. He began piano lessons at the age of 13 and progressed quickly through the Royal Conservatory of Musics classical system, completing grade ten after a span of only four years. However like so many young players who define this unique generation, raised in an era of unprecedented musical diversity and accessibility, Michael exhibits a creative energy that encompasses many genres. Blues, reggae, hip-hop, funk, house, R&B, soul and Latin music are the raw elements that form his identity as a performer, writer and arranger. But jazz is the common thread that binds them all together.
Shortly after leaving York University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and the coveted Oscar Peterson Scholarship Award, Michael became pianist and musical director for "Kollage". This jazz quintet features the likes of Archie Alleyne (70) and Doug Richardson(67), two veterans and pillars of Torontos jazz community. To have earned their respect at such a young age was no small feat. Together this group released two albums, "Kollage" (2001) and "Fine Print" (2003), featuring many of Michaels own compositions and arrangements. Destinations and Discoveries Reviews write, "...Michael Shands piano solos are masterful. This is another favourite."
Through music, Michael has been able to perform in all sorts of genres on stages across the world, meeting countless established and up-and-coming artists along the way. He has dazzled audiences in Hong Kong, Paris, Jakarta, Dubais, Amsterdam, London and throughout North America with such artists as Molly Johnson, Divine Brown, Glenn Lewis, Gerald Eaton of the Philosopher Kings, Jacksoul and Kardinal, to name a few. Nowadays you will find Michael touring across, Canada, the U.S, and continental Europe with young crooner Matt Dusk (Universal/Decca, Mark Burnett/Foxs, "The Casino"). It is an impressive band that includes 22-year-old, drumming phenom, Larnell Lewis, bassist Ross MacIntyre (Jesse Cook), guitarist Andrew Thompson (Jully Black), and tenor-saxophonist Steve MacDonald.
Throughout the countless shows and collaborations, the dream of sharing with the world his own musical creations has never waned. Not even for a moment. He has also begun the process of recording his debut solo project, "Contemplation", an album that will undoubtedly reflect his diverse musical influences. Michaels greatest satisfaction comes from the pursuit of fresh and inventive ways to tweak, prod, and flip upside-down the ever-changing music of his mind in an effort to create a sound all his own. A sound he hopes youll think of as simply, good music.
