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Mike De Souza

Mike De Souza grew up in Hertfordshire (UK), where he first picked up the guitar at the age of 12, marking the start of a life-long obsession with music. Since graduating from the Royal Academy of Music in 2014, he has completed multiple UK jazz tours, has performed festivals internationally in Krakow (Jazz Juniors 2021), Graz (Jazzwerkstatt 2017) and Northern Spain (Ni CaJazz! and EGA Jazz festivals 2022), and regularly performs at many of the UK’s most prestigious jazz clubs including Ronnie Scott’s, and Pizza Express.

Since moving to London in 2012, he has worked with internationally renowned musicians including Terence Blanchard (2016), Martin Speake, and Byron Wallen, and has featured on numerous recordings as a side-man: Reflector (Twospeak), Beware of the Bear (Phil Meadows), and Music for Bosch People (Alex Paxton).

In 2017, he co-released the album ‘Pond Life’ as part of the group Big Bad Wolf, which was ranked 3rd in Jazzwise Magazine’s top 10 albums of the year, and received many positive reviews: “The title track affirms how inventively the quartet juggle tone colour, constantly renewing sub-themes, and subtly shifting grooves”- John Fordham, The Guardian.

As a leader, Mike has released 2 recordings to date: an EP entitled ‘Road Fork’(2018), and his debut album ‘Slow Burn’(2019). “Slow Burn is an impressive show of musical innovation and displays the guitarist’s knack for experimentation as well as his roots in jazz tradition”- All About Jazz.

Currently, Mike leads his new project ‘Chrysalis’ performing original music composed during the pandemic. The band name alludes to the emergence from a state of isolation, having changed in a positive way, just as a butterfly emerges transformed from its chrysalis state. The band features some of the most distinctive improvisers on the London Jazz scene including Tom Barford (Sax), Rick Simpson (Keys), Huw V Williams (Bass) and Jay Davis (Drums).


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7
Album Review

Mike De Souza: Chrysalis

Read "Chrysalis" reviewed by Neil Duggan


For many musicians, the silver-lining of enforced isolation during the pandemic was the time to write and refine new compositions. The event enabled guitarist Mike De Souza to explore concepts for the six tracks that make up his second album, Chrysalis. This follows on from his debut, Slow Burn (Self-produced, 2019). Added impetus came from forming a new quintet, adding two new members to his existing trio. The music on the album is a rock/jazz hybrid that melds ...

4
Album Review

Mike De Souza: Slow Burn

Read "Slow Burn" reviewed by Friedrich Kunzmann


While making his way to reputation in the world of jazz guitar, British composer Mike de Souza was lucky enough to have been able to play with contemporary greats such as Terence Blanchard while receiving his education on the guitar by leading players John Parricelli and Gilad Hekselman, among others. The guitarist co-leads the young British group Big Bad Wolf, whose debut outing Pond Life (Bigbad records 2017) was released to great critical acclaim. On his debut effort under his ...

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The Jazz Mann ★★★★

“an impressive début…the writing is intelligent and multi-faceted with the trio embracing a variety of moods and musical styles.”

 

All About Jazz 

“Slow Burn is an impressive show of musical innovation and displays the guitarist’s knack for experimentation as much as his roots in jazz tradition.”

 

London Jazz News

“Each composition has a twist to it that comes unexpectedly and invents a story for the listener.”

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Chrysalis

Fresh Sound Records
2023

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Slow Burn

Self Produced
2019

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Videos

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