Mike Parker, 27, has already toured Europe and America in both rock and jazz bands. He also won numerous international awards and contests. He has also studied with and performed with some of the most renowned musicians and recorded two albums of his own compositions. Mike, a native New Yorker, began playing guitar seriously when he was 14 years old, when his older brother, a musician, gave him an electric bass. He was 17 when he started his own band and was playing in New York City’s funk and rock clubs. He also taught private music lessons. After being inspired by Charles Mingus’ music, Mike started playing double bass. Mike studied Evolutionary Psychology at Skidmore College and then spent a semester studying Jazz Bass at Amsterdam’s Conservatorium van Amsterdam. Mike started playing professionally while studying at Skidmore with some of the best jazz musicians in the area. He was also able to study with Reid Anderson, Scott Colley and Reubin Rogers, as well as perform with some the most renowned jazz musicians, including Eric Harland, Chris Potter and John Scofield. Mike graduated with Highest Honors and received the Joseph Garrison Parker Prize in Science and Arts. He also received a Periclean Award in recognition of his outstanding senior project. This concert featured both original and free improvisation. Mike spent one year after graduating in New York City’s Capital Region, playing with some of the best musicians there. He also recorded his first album as an artist (‘Prelude’), before moving to Europe. After travelling extensively across the continent, Mike settled in Krakow (Poland) where he found a vibrant and young jazz scene. Mike enjoyed many successful collaborations over the next two-years, including the recording of his second album of original music, ‘Embrace the Wild,’ and the winning of 2 international jazz competitions (2012 Tarnow International Jazz Competition, and 2012 Jazz Juniors International Jazz Competition) while a member N.S.I. When he’s not touring, Mike currently calls New York City and Krakow his home. As a member of many touring groups, including the “Nat Osborn Band”, “Arctica”, and Mike Parker’s Unified Theory and Mike Parker’s Trio Theory, Mike plays upright and electric bass. from http://mikeparkerbass.com
