‘Mike’s sound on the guitar is rich and beautiful, and his compositions are thoughtful, colorful, sensitive and dynamic. He has assembled a quartet of young, like-minded and gifted players that also share his sensitivity, subtlety, and appreciation of tonal shadings and rhythmic variety. It is unusual to hear a debut recording from a young musician that has this level of lyricism, maturity, and is this well recorded.’ – John Patitucci, The Desert and the City liner notes. Born into a musical family, Mike has always been immersed in music. He has been playing guitar since he was 7 and his early influences include Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimi Hendrix. Mike also studied classical piano for 13 years, performing in dozens of recitals and competitions. He won the Nicolas Flagello piano competition in 2000 and 2001. Drawn to improvised music from an early age, studies with legend John Patitucci during late high school sparked Mike’s interest in jazz. A self-t