A Montrealer, born and raised, Mike Bruzzese was surrounded by music at an early age, and began playing guitar at the age of 12. An interest and passion for Jazz Guitar emerged at the age of 17, where he studied the art at Vanier College, studying with Montreal guitarist Nick Di Tomaso and winning the J.L Big Band Scholarship. Mike went on to earn a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance from McGill University, studying with Carlos Jiménez and André White. In 2022, he completed his Master’s degree at McGill’s Schulich School of Music, where he continued to refine his craft under the guidance of Michel Lambert.

 

An active figure in Montreal’s vibrant music scene, Mike performs regularly both as a bandleader and a sideman. He has also appeared at prominent jazz venues across Canada. His performance and recording credits include collaborations with acclaimed artists such as Louis Hayes, Ben Solomon, Davis Whitfield, Miki Yamanaka, Emilio Modeste, Adam Arruda, Terry Clarke, André White, Kevin Dean, Ira Coleman, Caity Gyorgy, Laura Anglade, among many others.