Mike Rodriguez

GRAMMY® Award winningTrumpeter/composer, Michael Rodriguez was born on July 14, 1979 in Queens, New York. Michael was inspired to pursue music as a career by his father, drummer Roberto Rodriguez. Michael studied at the New World school of the Arts in Miami, Florida where he grew up and continued his studies at the University of Miami. After completing two years at the University of Miami, he decided to transfer to the New School University in New York where he received his B.A.  Michael has performed and toured with Clark Terry, Bobby Watson, Quincy Jones, Joe Lovano, Toshiko Akiyoshi Orchestra, Pop Icon Jessica Simpson, Chico O’farill Orchestra, Wynton Marsalis and the JALC, Lincoln Center Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, and is a member of Charlie Haden’s Liberation Music Orchestra. Michael has also performed and traveled with Jon Faddis and the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, Carla Bley Band and Quintet, Kenny Barron’s Quintet, Conrad Herwig Latin Side Projects, Clayton Brothers Quintet, Harry Conick jr., Bob Mintzer, Eddie Palmieri Septet, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea and the Spanish Heart Band,  Smithsonian Jazz Orchestra amoung others. In December of 2003 Michael recorded on Charlie Haden’s GRAMMY® award winning album featuring Gonzalo Rubalcaba and Joe Lovano entitled ¨Land of the Sun¨. Michael has also recorded on Charlie Haden’s Liberation Music Orchestra’s latest album entitled “Not in Our Name” and is featured on “America the Beautiful” and Dvojak’s “Going Home”. In 2008, Michael became a member of the Gonzalo Rubalcaba quintet and recorded “Avatar” under the Blue Note Label. In 2019, Michael joined Chick Corea’s Spanish Heart Band and won a GRAMMY® for best Latin Jazz in 2020.

Michael and his brother, pianist/composer Robert Rodriguez, have recorded four albums together “Introducing the Rodriguez Brothers” ,”Conversations”, “Mood Swing” and their most recent album “impromptu” which was nominated for a GRAMMY® or best latin jazz album 2015.

Michael is currently on the faculty at NYU and travels the globe as a clinician. In March of 2013, he released his debut solo recording under the CrissCross label Entitled “Reverence”. His new recording is entitled “Pathways” under the label Rodbrosmusic which is co-owned by both him and his brother Robert Rodriguez.

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