"Being
able to adapt to any musical situation on the spot,"
is how multifaceted guitarist Michael Aarons is best described.
Michael is fast becoming one of the most in demand guitarists
on the scene today.
Over
the years Michael has built an impressive resume playing on
the sidelines with virtually everyone from Issac Hayes, Gloria
Gaynor, Stevie Wonder, Michael McDonald, Ben E. King, LaLa Brooks
of the Crystals, Petula Clark, The 5th Dimension, Deneise Williams,
and Jive recording artist Marc Dorsey. An experienced professional
jazz musician, Michael has also performed or recorded with Lionel
Hampton, The Count Basie Orchestra, Freda Payne, Harry Connick
Jr., Wynton Marsalis, and Blue Note recording artist Rodney
Jones.
Originally
from Washington D.C., Michael has made appearances for Bill
Clinton at the White House
and for Al Gore at the Naval Observatory.
He has also played on the Fox Morning
News and was commissioned to perform at the American
Embassy in Paris, France to represent jazz education
in Washington, D.C.. Michael attended the Duke
Ellington School of the Arts, and later received his Bachelor
of Music (BM) degree at the Manhattan
School of Music where he studied under the tutelage
of Jack Wilkins and Rodney
Jones.
Michael
is currently teaching privately, and building a student-base
throughout New York. He most recently wrote, recorded, produced
and performed all original musical arrangements for the off-Broadway
production of OYL. He can also be heard on the debut recording,
"Sheera Ben-David sings Jacques Brel", as well as performing
as guitarist with the R&B group, Kaliq as well as the funk/R&B
quartet, A.D.D.. Michael is an original member of the Tom
Kitt Band, a popular New York City-based piano driven
pop group and can also be seen playing all the New York City
hotspots, like Mercury Lounge, Bowery Ballroom and Arlene
Grocery. Michael has played for numerous productions for impresario,
David Gest, and has played the Rock 'N Roll Hall of Fame for
the "Holiday Gala: 2000" featuring Michael McDonald. Michael
also works for numerous productions under 2nd Generation and
Sh-K-Boom Records backing up Broadway artists such as Alice
Ripley, Billy Porter, comedian Mario Cantone, and Michael
McElroy.
Michael
Aarons has been described as a "musical chameleon," because
of his stylistic versatility and dedication to reinventing
himself. He is always exploring new and exciting sounds within
the jazz idiom while reaching an audience broader than the
traditional "jazz in-crowd". He has an original approach to
the instrument; one which is innovative yet appealing enough
to capture listeners outside of the jazz guitar faction.
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