Born: June 16, 1979 Primary Instrument: Guitar
Guitarist Mike Baggetta is one of his generation’s most original jazz improvisors and composers. It has been said that his performances are “totally compelling” (Jazz Journal - UK), “his melodic sense is truly beautiful” (Jazzreview.com) and that “each piece he performs creates new worlds of possibilities” (The Hartford Courant).
Mike Baggetta recently received an ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Award for his compositional talent, and has also released the second album of his works for the Mike Baggetta Quartet, Source Material, on the Fresh Sound New Talent label. This is a follow-up to the first album by the quartet, Small Spaces, also on the Fresh Sound New Talent label. In addition to leading the Mike Baggetta Quartet (featuring Jason Rigby, Eivind Opsvik and George Schuller), Mike co-leads Tin/Bag, a new music duo with California trumpeter Kris Tiner.
Baggetta has had the pleasure of performing and/or recording with Tom Harrell, Conrad Herwig, Ralph Bowen, Adam Kolker, Jeff Hirshfield, Ken Filiano, Jamie Baum, Tony Reedus, Steve LaSpina, Cameron Brown, Bill McHenry, Brad Shepik, Matt Wilson, George Garzone, Ron McClure, Joe Fonda, Kevin Norton, Bucky Pizzarelli and Ruth Brown among many others.
Originally from Agawam, MA, Baggetta's musical studies have been insightfully guided by Ted Dunbar, Vic Juris, Stanley Cowell and Jim Hall. He has performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival, The Kennedy Center, Town Hall and many other leading concert venues worldwide. Mike currently lives in New York City and is an endorsing artist for D'Addario Strings.
“Blessed with a refined approach and solid technique...Mike Baggetta has the potential to break the mold of post-John Scofield plectrists.” - Michael G. Nastos, All Music Guide
“Radiant... there's an open, intensely emotional quality to the duo's playing... spare, haunting, with hints of modernist avant garde gestures.” The Wire (UK)
“Excellent... trumpeter Kris Tiner and guitarist Mike Baggetta explore abstract yet jazz-derived realms of expansive lyricism and liquid melody.” Time Out New York
“His work…often seems spare yet even the low volume can't hide the rich sounds he creates.” Richard Kamins, The Hartford Courant
“26 young musicians were presented as part of The Kennedy Center's annual [Betty Carter] Jazz Ahead residency program....several appealing tunes - by [Allan] Johnson, guitarist Mike Baggetta, drummer Sunny Jain, trumpeter Lee Hogans and others...” Mike Joyce, The Washington Post
“The composer scored with a fluid approach and some zesty chords, and Baggetta, his tone warm and open, swung handily with a wealth of solid ideas.” Zan Stewart, Newark Star Ledger
“Kris Tiner and Mike Baggetta deliver an attractive album of duets and quartet improvisations that resonate with a fragile harmonic maturity typically unheard in the work of such young, occasionally impetuous artists... Never overstepping the other's bounds, they provide subtle contrasts and complements to the others statements. Sparse, melodic and understated, And Begin Again offers a different side of these young and up-and-coming artists talents.” Troy Collins, All About Jazz
“There is a strong balance of written and free sections, intricately put together... both players are well matched, listening and responding quickly and creatively.” Bruce Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery, New York City
Bridges - TIN/BAG (MabnotesMusic, 2011)
Canto - Solo Prepared Guitar (MabnotesMusic, 2010)
Small Spaces - Mike Baggetta Quartet (Fresh Sound New Talent, 2009)And Begin Again - TIN/BAG (Evander Music, 2007)
There, Just As You Look For It - TIN/BAG (pfMentum, 2005)
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Primary Instrument:
Guitar
Location:
New York, NY
Willing to teach:
Beginners
Credentials/Background:
Mike Baggetta currently has openings in his guitar instruction studio! Send an email to mike@mikebaggetta.com to inquire about availability and rates.
