Mike Cunningham started playing piano at age 5. He also learned a lot about music as a choirboy growing up in Chicago. At age 13 he heard a recording by Oscar Peterson quite by accident. That fortuitous experience began Mike’s love of jazz piano. The ebullient & swinging joy of Oscar’s playing was a revelation to the youngster.
After playing in garage rock bands in high school, Mike eventually returned to playing jazz piano & studied music at the University of Illinois. In college, Mike listened to many recordings of jazz pianists. At this time, he also discovered the playing of Bill Evans. Oscar Peterson & Bill Evans became to him the twin Gods of jazz piano.
In 1986 Mike attended Ball State University. He earned a Masters of Music degree and studied for a year with pianist, Frank Puzzullo. In the summer of 1987, Mike attended the Eastman School of Music Arranger’s Workshop & had a chance to study & meet arrangers Ray Wright, Manny Albam, & Bill Dobbins. He also got a chance to hear a professional ensemble play his music for the first time.
In 1993 Mike began to record his own music. In that year he traveled to New York City to have guitarist, Mike Stern, play on tracks of his first CD, The Road Home. That CD was released in 1995. By 1998 Mike was back in the studio recording Mike Stern, Jimmy Haslip, Bob Mintzer, Richard Patterson along with several Chicago musicians on his next CD. That CD, “City of Sound”, was commercially released in 2003 on Rhythm & Groove Records.
In 2001, Mike recorded the CD “Entering the Stream” over a long weekend. That project brought together musicians from Chicago & Indianapolis. It features clarinet player, Frank Glover, and guitarist, Dale Prasco from Chicago. “Entering the Stream” will be released in 2007.
In 2003, Mike began work on his next project, “There Was A Time”. That projects features Mike in various groupings that include a 12-piece string orchestra. The rhythm section is made up of Richard Drexler & Danny Gottlieb & also includes Chicago musicians, Art Davis, Janice Borla & Rick Vitek. Mike also delves deeply into the Gershwin standard, “I Love You Porgy”, with his arrangement for solo piano.
From 2004 through 2006 Mike recorded a CD of violin & piano duos with Bloomington, Indiana violinist, Sara Caswell. The project recorded in 4 sessions over 3 years is a collection of 16 classical & popular pieces arranged for the recording. That CD will be released in 2007.
In December 2006, Mike began work on 3 more pieces for guitarist Mike Stern. These pieces feature a 20-piece string orchestra, a 4-man “super-sax” styled section of Chicago horn players, and a rhythm section of Yellowjackets bass player, Jimmy Haslip, and legendary drummer, Vinnie Colaiuta.
Over the years Mike has played jazz piano in Indianapolis & in Chicago. He was music director of Lucianos on Rush Street for 2 years & also at the Knickerbocker Millennium Hotel for a year. He is active as an arranger & conductor & has written shows for big band & orchestra. He has also written music for plays & television.
In his own words Mike says, “I feel fortunate to have worked with so many wonderful musicians over time”. Mike also has several new music projects in the works & looks forward to new experiences as a pianist, arranger, conductor and producer.
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