Thanks for visiting my site!  

 Appreciate everyone who came out to 503 last Saturday night!  The highlight for me was my 4.75 year old granddaughter's singing debut with an original song about grandpa and fishing! 

 Thursday 6/13 at Ivories with Tom Grant and Anandi!

7:30-10:30  www.ivoriesjazz.com

Sunday 6/23 at Maryhill Winery. 1-5 www.maryhillwinery.com

Thursday 6/27 at Arrivederci 7-10
www.arrivederciwine.com 

Wed. 7/10 at Wilf's  W/Ron Steen and Joe Millward
www.wilfsrestaurant.com 

Just worked on putting vocals on a Chet Baker inspired original tune today.  I actually recorded the track in 2007 but didn't sing it until today.  I will release it as a single and  post a sample here as soon as it is mixed.  Fun!

I have noticed that house parties have become popular and wanted to mention that I would be available to perform at  your next house party with any number of the A List musicians that I am privileged to perform with.

 Check out the video section on this page. A few independent film makers have chosen my music as the sound track for their short films. There is also a clip of pianist Joe Millward and I performing in the KMHD studio on Lynn Darroch's show "Bright Moments.

He said it, I didn't!

"For my money Mike is Portland's finest male jazz singer". Tony Starlight

If you are not familiar with Tony Starlight's, please check it out. Tony offers a nice range of jazz offerings five nights per week. This is a true supper club and the menu is first rate! Tony is one of the "good guys' in our business, is really supportive of local musicians and deserves ours. I know that you can't be everywhere, but if you haven't checked out Tony Starlight's please do so soon. www.tonystarlight.com

It has been brought to my attention that both of my Cd's are still getting quite a bit of air play on KMHD, KBOO and KPSU. Thanks to all of the disc jockeys that help to keep the "dream" alive.

I have been playing at a cool wine bar in Milwaukie called Arrivederci once in awhile with a couple of my Pressure Point band mates Chuck Everett on guitar and Matt Lotz on piano. We pretty much play what we want and hope folks like it! Arrivedeci boasts a casual atmosphere, great food, and one of the best wine selections in the area! http://www.arrivederciwine.com/.

Please check out "Salvation Begins" and "The Prayer" in the audio samples section. Both of these songs are very meaningful and personal to me as one speaks of my own journey in coming to Christ and the other came from an opportunity to be a part of the worship team at Southlake church in West Linn.

If you love Salsa dancing (and who doesn't like salsa and dancing?) you should definitely check out Vie De Bohem on Tuesday nights. My daughter Lynn and her husband Mark have been generating some serious interest for their Tuesday Night Salsa series. Muy bien! Vie de Boheme Winery
1530 SE 7th Avenue, Portland OR 97214
Tel: 503-360-1233
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Swing dancing Wednesdays at Vie de Boheme with Mark and Lynn Stauffer. Check this out! This venue is quickly becoming one of "the spots" to be on Tuesday and Wednesdays due in no small part to the great efforts of Mark and Lynn. See information above and make a reservation for Swing night at the Vie!

Some past highlights!!

My concert trip to Japan in 2005 still rates as a major highlight. I had the pleasure of performing two dates at The Mamo Club in Gifu, Japan. This is a little hole in the wall jazz club that has seen the likes of Sonny Stitt, Howard Roberts, and recently Nicholas Payton, who performed there the weekend after me. I was thrilled to play with a local trio called The Kanpei Trio. The owner was a delightful gentleman who informed me that he used to play guitar in a country western band in Osaka in the 60's. One of the most indelible memories of the trip will be singing Buck Owens songs and drinking Suntory whiskey with the owner of this great little jazz club in Japan. The musicians were first rate and we had a ball despite the language barrier. The audiences were very responsive and we were treated like stars. When I returned to Portland, I had a gig with a great trio where were politely ignored. Back to reality.

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Still makes me chuckle!

On the lighter side, it was brought to my attention that somehow I was brought up in a Kurt Elling blog. The blog started out complimenting my CD and then deteriorated into a name calling session with variations of my name not heard since grade school. I was compared to a bad Justin Timberlake impersonator and a Harry Connick Jr. wannabe. At first I didn't quite know what to think. The obvious question is why would these folks be discussing me in the first place? As the 'discussion' continued, the bloggers turned on each other. It is my contention that drugs, alcohol, and computers don't mix very well. You 'gotta' love it!

Grandpa update: We were blessed on 8/15/11 with the birth of our second grandaughter Emily May Winkle. Her older sister Anna is now four years old! Whoohoo! I'm in the grandpa bidness and bidness is good!!

 

 

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