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Hackdaddy
In the 80's and 90's Mike was based in Champaign-Urbana Illinois and could be seen in a number of groups around the area in addition to work as a soloist, in the theatre pits and in local recording studios. The main focus at that time was the group Champaign Brass, a brass quintet founded by Mike in 1986 that is still active today. Mike’s ability to play in a variety of styles has him currently playing with a diverse set of groups, including the Lakes Area Swing Band (www.lakesareaswingband.com), tropical band Orquesta Veneno (orquestaveneno.com) and the Lake Geneva Symphony Orchestra (lakegenevaorchestra.org). As Hackdaddy, Mike collaborates with other musicians globally.
Mike's main influences are smooth jazz, latin beats and progressive rock, with some baroque, classic and new age thrown in as well. He has been accused of never finding an added-note chord he didn't like, and is fond of complex rhythms and time signatures. With Hackdaddy, these creative projects (some are years old, some are months old, some are only weeks old) from Mike are finding a wider audience for listening and enjoyment.
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"Your playing is beyond what I normally enjoy when it comes to horns in arrangements. I get this fantastic vibe every time I do hear your creations. You have a flow that is completely original yet echoes some of the pioneers who more than likely made you want to to play to begin with. I hear your own unique style & then I also hear raindrops from Bacharach to early Procol Harum arrangements. Damn fine playing "Hack." - Richie Auriemma, Independent Recording Artist
"REFLECTIONS" takes me to one of the big ballrooms of fancy hotels in La Havan, Cuba in the 50's. - Carlos Mongrut/CMongrooves - Mongrooves Productions, International Recording Artist