Performance

Welcome to Michaels Performance Page. Along with Concerts, Festivals and Clubs, over the course of the year Michael plays quite a number of Private events. Parties, Dinner, Dances, Fundraisers, Art Show Openings, Yoga Classes, Weddings, Funerals, Memorials, Birthings, Proposals, or any other number of reasons to "Celebrate Life"! He is notorious for performing unique renditions of every tune that he touches.

So, from a Classical Wedding Ceremony to the Cocktail Jazz Set, and on through to the Dance Party, any part of, or the whole of is available to you. Michael's band "Tropic Gypsy" can range from a Duo all the way to an Octet complete with a Caribbean World Dance Troupe!

Michael works with some of the best and most renown choreographers & dancers available. Want to add a little Zest to your occasion? Add some Fire-Dancers!

References :

Michael and his band has repeatedly been an entertainment feature for the likes of.... Volvo, Pfizer, Pepsi-Cola, Smith-Barney, BMI, AMA, The International Society of Astrological Research AT&T, Yves Saint Laurent, Gap, Nike, Prudential, The Senatorial Fundraising Committee, Exxon, Wachovia, Salvador Dali Art Show... and many many others. He has also been a "House Band", or "First Call" entertainer for many of the best and most prominent hotels on the eastern seaboard of The United States, from Boston to Key West... as well as working consistently with some the most notable and qualified entertainment agencies.

(Dancing palms also available!)

Sample Song List

Jazz

Last Train Home - Pat Methany Group
This Masquerade - Leon Russell
Breezin' - George Benson
Take 5 - Paul Desmond
Ain't Misbehavin' - Fats Waller
God Bless The Child - Billie Holiday
Birdland - Weather Report

Classical

The Wedding March - Handel
Ode To Joy - Beethoven
Bouree - Bach
Simple Gifts - Traditional
Lady Greensleeves - Traditional
Canon in D - Pachabel

Tropic-Island

Volcano - Jimmy Buffet
Jamaica Farewell - Harry Belafonte
Sitting In Limbo - Jimmy Cliff
Girl From Ipanema - Jobim
St. Thomas - Sonny Rollins
Stir It Up - Bob Marley
Manhã de Carnaval - Luis Bonfa

Misc.

Change The World - Eric Clapton
Killing Me Softly - Roberta Flack
When I'm 64 - The Beatles
Imagine - John Lennon
Don't Be Cruel - Elvis
Fragile - Sting
etc. etc... from Sambas to Swings, Reggaes to Rags, and back to riches again.

R & B

How Sweet It Is - Four Tops/James Taylor
Let's Stay Together - Al Green
What's Goin' On - Marvin Gaye
You Are The Sunshine Of My Life - Stevie Wonder
Nick o' Time - Bonnie Raitt
Have A Good Time - Paul Simon
Don't Know Why - Nora Jones

Performance Sampler

This is a collection of live performance excerpts in various styles to show the wide range of performance options available. These styles can be featured individually or segued together.

For selections that have sound samples attached:

click on the icon for a high resolution sound file

or the icon for a lower resolution sound file (slower connections.)

Photo by All Media Pro

Contemporary Jazz	MP3s
Isn't She Lovely - Stevie Wonder
Corcovado - Jobim
Birdland - Weather Report
Classic Jazz
What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
Makin' Whoopee - Fats Waller
Island - Reggae
Stir It Up - Bob Marley
Leaving The Island - M. Oakland
R&B
How Sweet It Is - James Taylor/Four Tops
Don't Let Me Be Lonely - James Taylor
Classical
The Wedding March - Handel
Bouree - J.S. Bach
Blues
Don't Think Twice - Bob Dylan
Blueswalk - Clifford Brown
Flamenco
Buenos Suenos - M. Oakland
Hotel California - Don Henley
New Age
The Invocation - M. Oakland
Almost Home Again - M. Oakland