Michael Royal:  

A native Floridian, graduate of Plant High School in Tampa, and former student of Jacques Abram at the University of South Florida, Michael Royal has developed his own idiom for the piano, turning away from the conventional study of music and into his own creative avenues of discovery, adapting the subtle harmonies of Ravel and Debussy into the harmonization¿s and voicings of John Coltrane and Bill Evans. His compositions are redolent of these French and American masters for melodic and harmonic significance. Royal has appeared as a pianist at major jazz venues all over the world with many internationally acclaimed jazz and pop artists including Herbie Hancock, Mel Lewis, Buster Williams, Red Rodney, Clifford Jordan, Ira Sullivan, the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, The Glenn Miller Orchestra, Gordon McCrae, Emily Remler, and Mark Murphy. In addition to his frequent appearances at jazz venues, Royal plays classical music as well. He performed before a full house at Van Wezel, Mozart Piano Concerto #27, in Bb Major, K. 595 with the Sarasota-Manatee Community Orchestra. A pioneer in the establishing of jazz in Florida, Michael Royal introduced the live jazz and classical piano policies at Michael's on East and the Gator Club Private Reserve. Royal introduced and established the first successful straight-ahead jazz policy in Sarasota at T.R. Murphy's in spring of 1978, and the Upper Deck in 1980. Royal continued to build the jazz audience by establishing jazz venues at Charley's Crab on St. Armands Circle, and at 14 West in Bradenton. Royal moved to Hollywood, CA in 1980, where he composed film scores, and performed with many known and unknown jazz greats including Jack Sheldon, Terry Gibbs, Ann Weldon and Jimmy Smith. Moved to Buffalo, NY in 1983 Trio and solo piano work, while d...Expand for more