Born into a musical family, Mike Rood has always been immersed in music. He has been playing guitar since he was 7 and his early influences include Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimi Hendrix. Mike also studied classical piano for 13 years, performing in dozens of recitals and competitions. He won the Nicolas Flagello piano competition in 2000 and 2001. Drawn to improvised music from an early age, studies with legend John Patitucci during late high school sparked Mike’s interest in jazz. |
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A self-taught guitarist for 10 years, during the last several years, Mike has studied primarily with Bruce Dunlap, John Patitucci, Adam Rogers, Vic Juris, Jamie Begian and Ethan Mann, and also with Marc Copland, Kenny Werner, Claudia Villela, John Abercrombie and Oren Fader. Mike recorded original music on multiple occasions with renowned producer Bob Thiele in Los Angeles; those recordings led to his national television debut in 2004. In 2007, Mike performed original compositions at the Pelham Music Festival, at Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie Hall, and at Bruno Walter Auditorium in Lincoln Center. |
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Mike currently leads The Mike Rood Communion, which performs avidly in the New York area and has featured such musicians as Mike Bjella, Colin Stranahan, Rick Rosato, Chris Tordini, Tommy Crane, Alex Spradling, Goh Izawa, Arthur Hnatek, Rogerio Boccato, Glenn Zaleski, Peter Schlamb, and Kyle Wilson. The group has appeared at such New York venues as Iridium, Fat Cat, Tea Lounge, Spike Hill, Sweet Rhythm, The Triad Theater and The Living Room, as well as GiG Performance Space, Vanessie, and Vernon's Jazz Club in New Mexico, and the Bern International Jazz Festival in Bern, Switzerland. Since its formation in 2008, the group has developed a captivating and provocative sound and style, with influences ranging from contemporary jazz, classical chamber music, progressive rock, and an array of world musics. |
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Mike attended Western Connecticut State University for two years and recently graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Music from The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York City, where he studied with John Patitucci, Adam Rogers, Vic Juris & Marc Copland. |
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Hailed as "one of the best and brightest of the new generation" and "a current master" with “a wonderfully fresh approach to the guitar”, guitarist and composer Mike Rood recently released his tour de force debut album of original music, The Desert and the City, to international critical acclaim. Since 2008, his group, The Mike Rood Communion, has been performing avidly around the globe at such venues as New York's Iridium Jazz Club and the Bern Jazz Festival in Switzerland. The group has been defying and defining genres, pushing the envelope in musical expression and technical sophistication, featuring musicians such as John Patitucci, Rogerio Boccato, Colin Stranahan, Mike Bjella, Chris Tordini, Goh Izawa, Tommy Crane, Alex Spradling, Glenn Zaleski, Arthur Hnatek, Peter Schlamb, and Kyle Wilson. A New York City native, Rood was born into a family of classical musicians, and began piano studies at a young age. While continuing his classical training, Rood taught himself guitar during his early teens. He recently received a Bachelor's Degree from The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York City, and currently is a music faculty member at New York University. |
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