Michael J. Parlett
Encyclopedia
Michael J. Parlett is an English jazz
saxophonist
producer and radio host.
whose musical abilities were borne of the 1980 jazz music genre. With the end of disco music in the US, a sub-genre of jazz music emerged and later became popular in the UK. Michael plays jazz and gospel in this style which is characterized by R&B, funk, and pop known as pop fusion jazz (or “Smooth jazz
”).
As a young man, Michael first pursued a career in an Accountancy firm in London but later in 1982 realized his passion for music, playing in London pubs and clubs on drums until he found his true calling on the saxophone.
In 1993, he obtained a Bachelor Music degree at Goldsmiths, University of London and thereafter, a PGCE (Post Graduate Certificate of Education) at the Middlesex University
in 1994, where he was nominated for the distinctive Arts Foundation of England award.
Michael’s musical talents include his ability to play all saxophones (soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone) and the blowing of the shofar
. He is also a flautist playing the concert flute, piccolo, and Indian flutes, as well as the WX7 Wind Synthesizer, an electronic musical instrument that is played like a saxophone, recorder, trumpet, and clarinet. Wind synthesizers are often labeled as being significantly more expressive in making music because the volume of the musical notes is controlled by the player's breath. Michael is often seen playing two saxes at the same time ala Roland Kirk.
Dr. Joseph Vento, http://joeventomusic.com/ Conductor, Composer, Musicologist of Joe Vento Music in Las Vegas, California penned the following statement about Michael’s musical abilities. “Michael is an orchestral woodwind specialist and a much sought after musician/performer. His brilliant performance on orchestral woodwind instruments radiate with intense, unusually unique conceptualization and interpretive qualities which commands respect towards all written musical literature.
Michael has played alongside some of the world’s biggest names – artists such as Jeff Lorber
, Roy Ayers
, Lulu (singer)
, The Jones Girls
, Take That
, Jazz Africa
, Simply Red
, Joey Negro
and M People
– but he also runs his own management company, agency and record label, Talented Productions. He has performed and recorded with many top artists around the world, performing at venues such as Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club
, Jazz Café
, Café Royal
, The Royal Albert Hall
, The Hollywood Bowl and many other establishments both in the UK and US
In 2005, Michael recorded and produced his own CD which he titled, “Waiting on You”, featuring many UK session musicians and singers including Incognito’s Joy Rose, UK singer Wayne Hernandez and George Michael
's keyboardist Luke Smith.
While residing in Los Angeles, he has mentored many college sound engineer interns, both at the community college and university levels.
Relocating to the US in 2006, by the following year Michael performed alongside Peabo Bryson
at the Playboy Jazz Festival
in Los Angeles, California. He has since played with Jeffrey Osborne
and Randy Crawford
to mention a few and he continues to work as a session musician and producer, working with such renown artists as grammy nominated Jeff Lorber
, Norman Brown (guitarist)
, Najee
, and Eric Benet
while broadcasting his radio show, The Mike Parlett Show on Solar Radio, via internet to the UK from his own studio in Southern California.
Michaels radio show has gained much prominence over the years featuring special guest interviewees on a weekly basis. Michael will usually have the artists talk about themselves and play with him live on the show.
Such names featured in the programs have included artists such as producer keyboardist George Duke
; guitarist Peter White
; Patrice Rushen
; David Benoit
; Brian Culbertson
and many others.
Michael is also a prominent member of the American Federation of Musicians
and since he has been living in the US has been leading a big band
of fellow members including some of Los Angeles' premier session musicians. The band is called Psych, The Unexpected big Band http://psychbigband.com and has been performing at various Venues throughout Southern California for the last few years. The band also offers composers a forum to have their music played by top pro musicians at rehearsals and performances.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
saxophonist
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
producer and radio host.
Career
Michael J. Parlett (also known as Mike Parlett) is a prominent British saxophonist and bandleaderBandleader
A bandleader is the leader of a band of musicians. The term is most commonly, though not exclusively, used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues or rock and roll music....
whose musical abilities were borne of the 1980 jazz music genre. With the end of disco music in the US, a sub-genre of jazz music emerged and later became popular in the UK. Michael plays jazz and gospel in this style which is characterized by R&B, funk, and pop known as pop fusion jazz (or “Smooth jazz
Smooth jazz
Smooth jazz is a genre of music that grew out of jazz fusion and is influenced by R&B, funk, rock, and pop music styles ....
”).
As a young man, Michael first pursued a career in an Accountancy firm in London but later in 1982 realized his passion for music, playing in London pubs and clubs on drums until he found his true calling on the saxophone.
In 1993, he obtained a Bachelor Music degree at Goldsmiths, University of London and thereafter, a PGCE (Post Graduate Certificate of Education) at the Middlesex University
Middlesex University
Middlesex University is a university in north London, England. It is located in the historic county boundaries of Middlesex from which it takes its name. It is one of the post-1992 universities and is a member of Million+ working group...
in 1994, where he was nominated for the distinctive Arts Foundation of England award.
Michael’s musical talents include his ability to play all saxophones (soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone) and the blowing of the shofar
Shofar
A shofar is a horn, traditionally that of a ram, used for Jewish religious purposes. Shofar-blowing is incorporated in synagogue services on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.Shofar come in a variety of sizes.- Bible and rabbinic literature :...
. He is also a flautist playing the concert flute, piccolo, and Indian flutes, as well as the WX7 Wind Synthesizer, an electronic musical instrument that is played like a saxophone, recorder, trumpet, and clarinet. Wind synthesizers are often labeled as being significantly more expressive in making music because the volume of the musical notes is controlled by the player's breath. Michael is often seen playing two saxes at the same time ala Roland Kirk.
Dr. Joseph Vento, http://joeventomusic.com/ Conductor, Composer, Musicologist of Joe Vento Music in Las Vegas, California penned the following statement about Michael’s musical abilities. “Michael is an orchestral woodwind specialist and a much sought after musician/performer. His brilliant performance on orchestral woodwind instruments radiate with intense, unusually unique conceptualization and interpretive qualities which commands respect towards all written musical literature.
Michael has played alongside some of the world’s biggest names – artists such as Jeff Lorber
Jeff Lorber
Jeff Lorber is an American Grammy Award-nominated keyboardist, composer, and record producer.After leading his own group, The Jeff Lorber Fusion, he went on to pioneer the smooth jazz genre....
, Roy Ayers
Roy Ayers
Roy Ayers is an American funk, soul, and jazz composer and vibraphone player. Ayers began his career as a post-bop jazz artist, releasing several albums with Atlantic Records, before his tenure at Polydor Records beginning in the 1970s, during which he helped pioneer jazz-funk .- Biography :Ayers...
, Lulu (singer)
Lulu (singer)
Lulu Kennedy-Cairns, OBE , best known by her stage name Lulu, is a Scottish singer, actress, and television personality who has been successful in the entertainment business from the 1960s through to the present day...
, The Jones Girls
The Jones Girls
The Jones Girls were an R&B trio of sisters from Detroit, Michigan. They first recorded for GM Records in 1968, then recorded for Philadelphia International Records with Gamble & Huff.-History:...
, Take That
Take That
Take That are a British five-piece vocal pop group comprising Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange, Mark Owen and Robbie Williams. Barlow acts as the lead singer and primary songwriter...
, Jazz Africa
Jazz Africa
Jazz Africa is a live album by keyboardist Herbie Hancock and Gambian kora player Foday Musa Suso. The recording took place in Los Angeles, California's Wiltern Theatre as part of the 1986 concert series Jazzvisions...
, Simply Red
Simply Red
Simply Red were a British soul band that sold more than 50 million albums over a 25-year career. Their style drew influences from blue-eyed soul, new romantic, rock, reggae and jazz...
, Joey Negro
Joey Negro
Dave Lee is a British DJ and house music producer, also known by the stage name Joey Negro. Lee was born on the Isle of Wight. He has released music under a variety of pseudonyms, including the name Jakatta...
and M People
M People
M People are a British house music act from Manchester, who formed in 1990 and achieved success throughout most of the 1990s. The name M People is from the initials of Mike Pickering, who formed the group.-Career:...
– but he also runs his own management company, agency and record label, Talented Productions. He has performed and recorded with many top artists around the world, performing at venues such as Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club
Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club
Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club is a jazz club which has operated in London since 1959.The club opened on 30 October 1959 in a basement at 39 Gerrard Street in London's Soho district. It was managed by musicians Ronnie Scott and Pete King. In 1965 it moved to a larger venue nearby at 47 Frith Street...
, Jazz Café
Jazz Café
The Jazz Café is a music venue in Parkway in Camden Town, London, England. It opened in 1990, in the former premises of Barclays Bank, and has been run by Mean Fiddler Music Group since 1992, now a subsidiary of the MAMA Group.-History:...
, Café Royal
Café Royal
The Café Royal was a restaurant and meeting place on 68 Regent Street in London's Piccadilly.-History:The establishment was originally conceived and set up in 1865 by Daniel Nicholas Thévenon, who was a French wine merchant. He had to flee France due to bankruptcy, arriving in Britain in 1863 with...
, The Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
, The Hollywood Bowl and many other establishments both in the UK and US
In 2005, Michael recorded and produced his own CD which he titled, “Waiting on You”, featuring many UK session musicians and singers including Incognito’s Joy Rose, UK singer Wayne Hernandez and George Michael
George Michael
George Michael is a British musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who rose to fame in the 1980s when he formed the pop duo Wham! with his school friend, Andrew Ridgeley...
's keyboardist Luke Smith.
While residing in Los Angeles, he has mentored many college sound engineer interns, both at the community college and university levels.
Relocating to the US in 2006, by the following year Michael performed alongside Peabo Bryson
Peabo Bryson
Peabo Bryson is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, born in Greenville, South Carolina...
at the Playboy Jazz Festival
Playboy Jazz Festival
The Playboy Jazz Festival is an annual event sponsored by Playboy Enterprises to celebrate jazz as well as feature both established and up and coming musicians of the genre. It was founded by Hugh Hefner and was first held in Chicago, Illinois at the Chicago Stadium in 1959. However, the second...
in Los Angeles, California. He has since played with Jeffrey Osborne
Jeffrey Osborne
Jeffrey Linton Osborne is an American funk and R&B musician, songwriter, lyricist, and former lead singer of the band, L.T.D.-Early life and career:...
and Randy Crawford
Randy Crawford
Randy Crawford is an American jazz and R&B singer. She has been more successful in Europe than in the United States, where she has not entered the Billboard Hot 100 as a solo artist...
to mention a few and he continues to work as a session musician and producer, working with such renown artists as grammy nominated Jeff Lorber
Jeff Lorber
Jeff Lorber is an American Grammy Award-nominated keyboardist, composer, and record producer.After leading his own group, The Jeff Lorber Fusion, he went on to pioneer the smooth jazz genre....
, Norman Brown (guitarist)
Norman Brown (guitarist)
Norman Brown is a smooth jazz guitarist & singer, often compared to his contemporary George Benson.-Overview:...
, Najee
Najee
Jerome Najee Rasheed , known professionally as Najee, is an urban jazz saxophonist and flautist.He attended New England Conservatory of Music in Boston where he studied with George Russell and Jaki Byard....
, and Eric Benet
Eric Benét
Eric Benét, is an American singer. His duet with Tamia, "Spend My Life With You" was a number one song for three weeks on the US Billboard R&B chart and was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2000....
while broadcasting his radio show, The Mike Parlett Show on Solar Radio, via internet to the UK from his own studio in Southern California.
Michaels radio show has gained much prominence over the years featuring special guest interviewees on a weekly basis. Michael will usually have the artists talk about themselves and play with him live on the show.
Such names featured in the programs have included artists such as producer keyboardist George Duke
George Duke
George Duke is a multi-faceted American musician, known as a keyboard pioneer, composer, singer and producer in both jazz and popular mainstream musical genres. He has worked with numerous acclaimed artists as arranger, music director, writer and co-writer, record producer and professor of music...
; guitarist Peter White
Peter White
Peter White, PC was a Canadian parliamentarian.White was born into a family that had established its homestead at the junction of the Muskrat and Ottawa Rivers where the town of Pembroke, Ontario was soon established...
; Patrice Rushen
Patrice Rushen
Patrice Rushen is a Grammy Award-winning African American R&B and jazz vocalist, composer and pianist.-Biography:...
; David Benoit
David Benoit
David Benoit, is an American jazz fusion/smooth jazz pianist, composer and producer from Los Angeles, California. He has been nominated for five Grammy Awards...
; Brian Culbertson
Brian Culbertson
Brian Culbertson is a musician and instrumentalist from Decatur, Illinois, United States. Son of jazz band director and trumpeter Jim Culbertson, Brian's instruments include the keyboard and trombone....
and many others.
Michael is also a prominent member of the American Federation of Musicians
American Federation of Musicians
The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada is a labor union of professional musicians in the United States and Canada...
and since he has been living in the US has been leading a big band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
of fellow members including some of Los Angeles' premier session musicians. The band is called Psych, The Unexpected big Band http://psychbigband.com and has been performing at various Venues throughout Southern California for the last few years. The band also offers composers a forum to have their music played by top pro musicians at rehearsals and performances.
Endorsements
Artists played and recorded with
- Take ThatTake ThatTake That are a British five-piece vocal pop group comprising Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange, Mark Owen and Robbie Williams. Barlow acts as the lead singer and primary songwriter...
- Norman Brown (guitarist)Norman Brown (guitarist)Norman Brown is a smooth jazz guitarist & singer, often compared to his contemporary George Benson.-Overview:...
- Eternal (band)Eternal (band)Eternal were an English R&B girl group formed in 1992. The group featured two sisters Easther and Vernie Bennett, alongside Kelle Bryan and Louise Nurding...
- Jose James
- B J Cole
- Jones Girls
- Najma AkhtarNajma AkhtarNajma Akhtar born in the UK, also known as Najma, is a British singer of Asian ancestry. She was born in 1964 Chelmsford, England.Najma studied chemical engineering at Aston University, Birmingham: her father, brother and sister are also engineers...
- Richard NilesRichard NilesRichard Niles is an American composer, arranger, producer, guitarist, broadcaster and journalist. He has lived in London since 1975. Because of his extensive work across many genres Sound on Sound magazine referred to him as "one of the most versatile men in modern music".-Early years:Niles was...
- Evelyn KingEvelyn King (singer)Evelyn "Champagne" King is an American R&B, disco and post-disco singer. Some of her best-known songs are "Shame", "Love Come Down," and "I'm in Love."-Biography:...
- Soul immigrants
- Roy AyersRoy AyersRoy Ayers is an American funk, soul, and jazz composer and vibraphone player. Ayers began his career as a post-bop jazz artist, releasing several albums with Atlantic Records, before his tenure at Polydor Records beginning in the 1970s, during which he helped pioneer jazz-funk .- Biography :Ayers...
- Gabrielle (singer)Gabrielle (singer)Louisa Gabrielle Bobb is a multi-platinum selling, BRIT Award winning English singer, who records under the name Gabrielle. Gabrielle began her career temping during the day and singing for free in London clubs at night...
- Marion MeadowsMarion MeadowsMarion Meadows is an American tenor saxophonist, soprano saxophonist, composer, and smooth jazz recording artist of Native American, African American and Caucasian descent. Meadows has released a total of 9 albums to date.-Upbringing:...
- Jim MullenJim MullenJim Mullen is a Glasgow-born jazz guitarist with a distinctive style, like Wes Montgomery before him, picking with the thumb rather than a plectrum.-Biography:...
- Simply RedSimply RedSimply Red were a British soul band that sold more than 50 million albums over a 25-year career. Their style drew influences from blue-eyed soul, new romantic, rock, reggae and jazz...
- Darlene ZschechDarlene ZschechDarlene Joyce Zschech is an Australian Pentecostal worship leader and singer-songwriter who primarily writes praise and worship songs. She is the former worship pastor of Hillsong Church and is currently a member of Compassionart, a charity founded by Martin Smith.-Biography:As a young adult...
- Noel Robinson
- YazzYazzYazz is a British pop singer, who remains best known for her successful 1988 dance track, "The Only Way Is Up". Some of her records were credited to Yazz & The Plastic Population...
- Lulu (singer)Lulu (singer)Lulu Kennedy-Cairns, OBE , best known by her stage name Lulu, is a Scottish singer, actress, and television personality who has been successful in the entertainment business from the 1960s through to the present day...
- The FoundationsThe FoundationsThe Foundations were a British soul band, active from 1967 to 1970. The group, made up of West Indians, White British, and a Sri Lankan, are best known for their two biggest hits, "Baby Now That I've Found You" , written by Tony Macaulay and John MacLeod; and "Build Me Up Buttercup" The Foundations...
- Right Said FredRight Said FredRight Said Fred is an English pop band, formed in 1989 by brothers Richard Fairbrass and Fred Fairbrass, later joined by their friend Rob Manzoli. The group is named after a song of the same name which was a hit for Bernard Cribbins in 1962...
- Helen Shapiro
- M PeopleM PeopleM People are a British house music act from Manchester, who formed in 1990 and achieved success throughout most of the 1990s. The name M People is from the initials of Mike Pickering, who formed the group.-Career:...
- Geno Washington
- Abdul Kader Saadoun
- Ron KenolyRon KenolyRon Kenoly is an American Christian worship leader, singer, and songwriter whose expressed mission is "to create an environment for the manifest presence of God". His musical style is one of jubilant praise and individual excellence on musical instruments...
- Adlan CruzAdlan CruzAdlan Cruz is a Christian Puerto Rican pianist, composer and producer.Cruz began playing the piano by ear at the age of three. He released his first album in 1989....
- Joy Rose
- Sunnie Paxson
- Helen BaylorHelen BaylorHelen Baylor is an American gospel singer.Baylor was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma and raised in Los Angeles, where she first performed as a secular nightclub act. She opened for Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, and B.B. King while still in her teens, and performed in the musical Hair...
- Mica ParisMica ParisMica Paris is an English soul singer, radio and television presenter, and occasional actress. Her forename is pronounced Misha.-Beginnings:Paris' roots are in soul and gospel music...
- Andre and Sandra Crouch
- Darwin Hobbs
- Juanita Bynum
- Joyce Meyer
- Randy CrawfordRandy CrawfordRandy Crawford is an American jazz and R&B singer. She has been more successful in Europe than in the United States, where she has not entered the Billboard Hot 100 as a solo artist...
- Ron Jones (composer)Ron Jones (composer)Ron Jones is an American composer who has written music for TV shows, including Star Trek: The Next Generation, Duck Tales, American Dad!, and Family Guy...
- Jeffrey OsborneJeffrey OsborneJeffrey Linton Osborne is an American funk and R&B musician, songwriter, lyricist, and former lead singer of the band, L.T.D.-Early life and career:...
- Jeff LorberJeff LorberJeff Lorber is an American Grammy Award-nominated keyboardist, composer, and record producer.After leading his own group, The Jeff Lorber Fusion, he went on to pioneer the smooth jazz genre....
- NajeeNajeeJerome Najee Rasheed , known professionally as Najee, is an urban jazz saxophonist and flautist.He attended New England Conservatory of Music in Boston where he studied with George Russell and Jaki Byard....
- Eric BenetEric BenétEric Benét, is an American singer. His duet with Tamia, "Spend My Life With You" was a number one song for three weeks on the US Billboard R&B chart and was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2000....
- Larry DunnLarry DunnLarry Dunn is a keyboardist, musical director and one of the founding members of the music group Earth, Wind, & Fire. Dunn, along with other members of Earth, Wind & Fire were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.-Career:...
- Brian CulbertsonBrian CulbertsonBrian Culbertson is a musician and instrumentalist from Decatur, Illinois, United States. Son of jazz band director and trumpeter Jim Culbertson, Brian's instruments include the keyboard and trombone....
- Peter WhitePeter WhitePeter White, PC was a Canadian parliamentarian.White was born into a family that had established its homestead at the junction of the Muskrat and Ottawa Rivers where the town of Pembroke, Ontario was soon established...
- Roy GainesRoy GainesRoy Gaines is an American Texas blues and electric blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. Gaines recorded work includes his self-penned track, "A Hell of a Night", which first appeared on his 1982 album, Gaineling...
- Jeff KashiwaJeff KashiwaJeff Kashiwa is a jazz saxophonist native to Seattle who became known on the music scene in 1989 as a member of popular fusion jazz group The Rippingtons. Kashiwa joined The Rippingtons following Brandon Fields, exit from the group...
External links
- CrossRhythms Magazine - Album Review
- Official Web site
- Ike Turner article
- Cross Rhythms Mike Parlett article
- Myspace site
- CD Baby review
- CrossRhythms Article
- Production Company website
- Solar Radio profile
- Theo Wanne Endorser page
- Larry Dunn/Mike Parlett Earth Wind & Fire Tribute review
- Press article from CBS Radio 94.7 The Wave - Los Angeles
- San Gabriel Valley Tribune Review