Mike Prigodich

Mike's jazz fusion compositions have begun attracting attention from many well-known national artists. Becoming a cancer patient in 2008 was the big wake-up call that got him to start writing lots of new music, form a band, start booking gigs, and pursue his dream of becoming a professional jazz musician, inspired by fellow cancer survivor Lance Armstrong. Mike raised over $10,000 on kickstarter.com in 2010 to fund his first studio album “A Stitch In Time” featuring Damian Erskine, Reinhardt Melz, John Nastos, Brandon Woody, Rafael Trujillo, Patrick Lamb, Tim Jensen, and Paul Mazzio, produced by Emmy award-winning David Mathew. This studio album and band is also being featured on the Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) Oregon Art Beat television show. Mike currently resides in Portland, Oregon and enjoys playing with some of the finest musicians in town who are up to the task of performing his extremely challenging but accessible compositions.

The Mike Prigodich Group (a.k.a. MPEG - the Melz/Prigodich/Erskine Group) features the best original jazz fusion to come out of the Northwest with some of the best players in the Northwest. Mike Prigodich on piano is joined by the blow your mind rhythm section of master drummer Reinhardt Melz, bass virtuoso Damian Erskine, along with the superb tenor sax work of John Nastos. If you enjoy the music of Chick Corea, Return To Forever, Yellowjackets, Michael Brecker, Hiromi, etc., you'll love the fusion compositions of Mike Prigodich combining Jazz, Prog Rock, Afro-Cuban, Latin, Brazilian, Flamenco, Funk, as well as world music influences from the Middle East, Africa, Ireland, etc.

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About Mike Prigodich

During his college years, Mike Prigodich performed in the jazz ensemble at Wheaton College (Illinois) led by Larry Panella (Natalie Cole, Phil Collins Big Band). Peers included jazz piano great Deanna Witkowski. Mike also accompanied a black gospel choir conducted by Tanya Egler and co-led a rock band with Dove-award-winning vocalist Nicol Smith Sponberg and keyboardist Joe Bubar. He performed regular at Ginger Creek Community Church in Lombard, Illinois alongside many great musicians including Rich Trelease (Broadway musical national tour “Wicked”) and Dennis Ostermann.

The 1990's saw Mike performing regularly with the Michael Newmark Orchestra, a 9-piece wedding band in the Chicago area. Mike also performed in a jazz quartet, once opening for Lou Rawls. After moving to Portland, OR in 1998, he performed briefly with a live band for Tapestry Theater's 2001 premier production of 1941 Christmas From Home, a WWII- era live radio style show. This was followed by a long hiatus from performing much in public due to the demands of his day job and family life.

Becoming a cancer patient in November 2008 was a big wake-up call and the perfect motivator to get him to stop procrastinating and start writing lots of new music, form a band, start booking gigs, network with other musicians, and most of all, experience the joy of playing great music. He was treated by Lance Armstrong's oncologist, Dr. Craig Nichols. Mike decided that if Lance Armstrong could go on to win the Tour de France as a cancer survivor, then he could pursue his childhood dream of becoming a professional jazz musician.

Mike currently leads the Melz/Prigodich/Erskine Group (MPEG) featuring Reinhardt Melz on drums and Damian Erskine on bass with John Nastos on saxophone making guest appearances on larger gigs. Mike recently recorded and released his debut album “A Stitch In Time”. All of this has been in his spare time, since Mike still works a full-time day job in the software industry to support his family.

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About Damian Erskine

Damian Erskine is not your ordinary bass player. While not touring, Damian hones his chops with some of the best jazz and latin musicians the West coast has to offer. Damian is known for his ability to fit into any musical situation and his extraordinary reading and improvising skills.

Damian has played in the studio or on the stage with the likes of: Peter Erskine • The Jaco Pastorius Big Band • Teri-Lynn Carrington • Gino Vannelli • John Ellis • Shawn Pelton • Sveti w/ Marko Djordjevic • Luis Conte • Brandon Ross • Les McCann • Jeff Lorber • Vardan Ovsepian • Charmaine Neville • Jessy J • Luis Perdomo • Tony Furtado • Kate Schutt • Bobby Torres • Alan Jones • Patrick Lamb • Dan Balmer • Klezmocracy and many others as well as being featured on the GospelChops.com “Shed Sessionz Vol. 1″ DVD.

Whether playing as a sideman or with his own group, he is known for his rock solid bass work, virtuosic solos and thoughtful chordal abilities. Damian is also an adjunct professor at both Portland State University and Marylhurst University. He is also the nephew of drummer Peter Erskine.

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About Reinhardt Melz

Drummer Reinhardt Melz is by far the busiest drummer in the Portland area. While working nearly every night as most people's “first call” drummer, Reinhardt also keeps a busy touring schedule with pop icon Gino Vannelli. Hailed as one of those rare guys that can play any style with authority, Reinhardt really shines in every setting. Having gigged since before he could drive, Reinhardt has worked with Gino Vannelli, Curtis Salgado, Charmaine Neville, Buddy Guy, Lloyd Jones, Bobby Torres, Victor Little, Reggie Houston, Allen Hinds, Patrick Lamb, Ernestine Anderson, Randy Porter, Tony Furtado and many, many more.

Reinhardt Melz has been on the North West professional music scene since 1987. He is a consummate musician and teacher. He is also Bobby Torres’ eldest son.

Reinhardt prefers not to categorize music. Instead, he strives to play what the music calls for. He is a versatile drummer that is recognized for his talent in creating sophisticated rhythmic conversations. He is a “top-call” drummer who is in demand for work with artists of many different genres ranging from Jazz and Afro-Cuban to R&B, Rock-n Roll, Funk and Klezmer.

Experience

Reinhardt has taken lessons from Ignacio Berroa, Jimmy Branley, Alex Acuna, Bob Moses, Graham Lear, Michael Spiro and Cuban master percussionist Miguel Bernal. At a very young age, Reinhardt’s gigs with local musicians Lloyd Jones and Curtis Salgado led to opportunities to share the stage with Steve Miller, Buddy Guy, Earl King, and Delbert Mclinton. Playing with the Bobby Torres Ensemble has allowed Reinhardt to play with many top notch percussionists including Sandy Perez, Miguel Bernal and Regino Jimenez. As a member of the Bobby Torres Ensemble, Reinhardt opened for Tito Puente, Arturo Sandoval and Poncho Sanchez.

Touring

Reinhardt is currently touring with Gino Vannelli. When home in Portland, Reinhardt keeps a busy schedule with freelance work (both live and studio) and private instruction. Reinhardt has performed with James Carter (world renowned jazz musician) and Ernestine Anderson (legendary jazz vocalist). Reinhardt also tours with Tony Furtado (virtuoso guitarist and banjo player).

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About John Nastos

Multi-instrumentalist John Nastos was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, where he found his love of music while exploring the vibrant local music scene.

Before graduating from high school, John enrolled at Portland State University, where he studied with Alan Jones, Darrell Grant, and other Portland jazz luminaries. During that same year, he started performing with the Mel Brown Septet, the Gordon Lee Big Band, and other professional Portland groups.

In 2004, Nastos graduated from high school and moved to New York City on a scholarship to study jazz at the acclaimed Manhattan School of Music. At MSM, John studied saxophone and composition with Dick Oatts (Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchrestra), Bob Mintzer (Yellowjackets), Steve Wilson (Chick Corea), and Mike Abene (WDR Big Band). In 2007, John completed the four-year degree program in just three years.

Since returning to Portland, John has performed with the who’s who of the Portland scene, including the Bobby Torres Ensemble, the Portland Soul All-Stars, the Third Angle New Music Ensemble, Darrell Grant’s On the Territory, and the Damian Erskine Project. He has recorded with Intervision, Ben Darwish’s Commotion, the Drew Shoals Collective, and others.

Recently, Nastos’s composition, arranging, and compositional skills have been commissioned for performances and recordings by Damian Erskine, the Bobby Torres Ensemble, the Art Abrams Swing Machine, and Pink Martini (for performances with the San Francisco Symphony).

Nastos maintains a busy performing, recording, and teaching schedule around the Portland area. He is also currently part of Diane Schuur’s touring group, playing performances around the world.

John Nastos performs on: soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones, Bb and bass clarinets, flute, piccolo, and EWI (Electronic Wind Instrument)