Home » Jazz Musicians » Mike Casey

Mike Casey

Saxophonist, songwriter, and teaching artist Mike Casey has been a fixture on the Hartford jazz scene and beyond since 2011, when he began attending the acclaimed Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz at the University of Harford’s Hartt School. In 2015, Mike was one of 24 young jazz composers worldwide chosen by Jason Moran to participate in the prestigious “Betty Carter Jazz Ahead” Program at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC where he studied with an all-star faculty including Eric Harland, JD Allen, Eric Revis, Cyrus Chestnut, and Jason Moran.

After a sold out NYC debut at the Minton’s in Harlem in September 2016, Mike went on to accomplish an incredible feat: the crowdfunding campaign for his debut album "The Sound of Surprise: Live at The Side Door" (due for a February 2017 release) reached 111% funded in under 30 days. His resume includes appearances with Charles Tolliver, DJ Logic, Brandee Younger, Zaccai Curtis, Tarus Mateen and Marc Cary, whose project “The Harlem Sessions” features Mike as an original member.

Mike has enchanted audiences young & old alike, performing a unique blend of upbeat, accessible, original music and exciting arrangements of jazz standards with a mature lyricism and a sound that commands the attention of the audience.

Awards

Betty Carter Jazz Ahead, Class of 2015


Tags

2
Take Five With...

Take Five with Mike Casey

Read "Take Five with Mike Casey" reviewed by Mike Casey


About Mike Casey Saxophonist, songwriter, and teaching artist Mike Casey has been a fixture on the jny: Hartford jazz scene and beyond since 2011, when he began attending the acclaimed Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz at the University of Hartford's Hartt School. In 2015, Mike was one of 24 young jazz composers worldwide chosen by Jason Moran to participate in the prestigious “Betty Carter Jazz Ahead" Program at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC where he studied with ...

8
Album Review

Mike Casey: The Sound of Surprise: Live at the Side Door

Read "The Sound of Surprise: Live at the Side Door" reviewed by Edward Blanco


Making his recording debut with much anticipation, saxophonist Mike Casey delivers an inspiring performance on The Sound of Surprise: Live at the Side Door featuring four re-imagined standards from the likes of John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, Kurt Weill and Jackie Mclean as well as three originals from the band. A graduate of the University of Hartford, Hartt School of Music, Casey, drummer Corey Garcia and bassist Matt Dwonszyk have been performing regularly for three years prior to this recording.

Read more articles
1

Career

Can Jazz Help You Be More Organized?

Can Jazz Help You Be More Organized?

Source: HypeBot

In this piece Jazz saxophonist Mike Casey explain the concept of mental flow in his music, and how getting into a deep zone of focus can positively impact both compositional and performative aspects of music. Guest post by Anthony Bartlett from the Evernote blog The night in early 2016 was cold and clear, but inside the small jazz club in Old Lyme, Connecticut, the atmosphere was warm and inviting. Standing on the low stage at one end of the room, saxophonist Mike Casey ...

4

Recording

Rising Saxophonist Mike Casey Releases Debut Album "The Sound Of Surprise: Live At The Side Door”

Rising Saxophonist Mike Casey Releases Debut Album  "The Sound Of Surprise: Live At The Side Door”

Source: Mike Casey

Saxophonist and composer Mike Casey is proud to announce the February 7, 2017 release of his debut album The Sound of Surprise: Live at the Side Door. Splitting his time between alto and tenor saxophone, Casey and his longtime trio present a fresh approach to the chordless saxophone trio format over the course of seven first-takes. To present The Sound of Surprise, Casey will be touring throughout Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and beyond. See tour details below. While ...

1

Career

How To Crowdfund A Jazz Album

How To Crowdfund A Jazz Album

Source: HypeBot

Here jazz saxophonist & songwriter Mike Casey details how he successfully raised over 100% of the money needed to record his latest album exclusively through the use of crowdfunding. Guest Post by Mike Casey on JAZZFUEL Hello fellow artists! My name is Mike Casey and I am a passionate jazz saxophonist & songwriter. My debut album, “The Sound of Surprise: Live at The Side Door” comes out in February 2017 and I recently used PledgeMusic (and a few strategies I outline ...

“Enjoyable from first to last note, the Mike Casey Trio certainly take the chordless saxophone trio format to a new level.” — Sammy Stein, Jazz in Europe

“Using a Janus-like vision simultaneously encompassing both the past and the future, Mike filters his ideas through his own musical and life experiences, honing his own voice to create his uniquely original brand of glorious saxophone madness and gladness, well-honed, accessible, and joyful.” — Owen McNally, WNPR

“Although I’ve only heard it in fledgling form, his new album The Sound of Surprise: Live at the Side Door is astounding in many parts. It’s an album worth waiting for, and our review will follow next year. For now, Mike is playing, developing and continuing to amaze new people. He has something pretty special, and it only takes one listen to hear it. Mike Casey is one to watch, for sure. ”

Read more

Primary Instrument

Saxophone

Location

New York City

Credentials/Background

http://mikecaseyjazz.com/education

Clinic/Workshop Information

http://mikecaseyjazz.com/education

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

The Beauty of...

Self Produced
2024

buy

The Sound of...

Self-released
2017

buy

Single Release

Self Produced
0

buy

The Beauty of Everyday Life

From: The Beauty of Everyday Life
By Mike Casey

Remote (WPAA TV Session)

From: Public Access: WPAA TV Session
By Mike Casey

Mack The Knife (Live)

From: The Sound of Surprise: Live at...
By Mike Casey

Videos

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.