In the spirit of Ellington and Zappa’s bands, the MLO consists of unique improviser
At age 17, Michael was honored as the youngest Grammy recipient in history, cited as the most outstanding musician in a U.S. high school.
Michael has performed with Steely Dan since 1996, recording two albums with them, including 2000’s Grammy winning Album of the Year “Two Against Nature” on which he was a featured soloist, arranger and conductor. He has performed and/or recorded with music legends James Brown, Ringo Starr, Brain Eno, Paul Simon, Eric Clapton, Levon Helm, Yoko Ono, David Byrne, Dr. John, Steve Winwood, Bill Withers, Bette Midler, Michael McDonald, Boz Scaggs, Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth), Caetano Veloso, A Tribe Called Quest, Raekwon (Wutang Clan), Henry Mancini, John Barry, Steven Tyler (Aerosmith), Bobby McFerrin, Wynton Marsalis, Todd Rundgren and Bonnie Raitt. Michael has also worked with artists such as Mark Ronson, Alicia Keys, Sharon Jones and the Dapkings, Bruno Mars, Antibalas, Sean Lennon, Rufus Wainwright, Martha Wainwright, Charles Bradley and the Menahan Street Band, St. Vincent, Foster the People, Mos Def, Q-Tip, Busta Rhymes, Phish, Cibo Matto, Lenny Kravitz, Scissor Sisters, Aloe Blacc, Natalie Merchant, Slash (Guns and Roses/Velvet Revolver), They Might Be Giants and Jens Lekman.
Most recently, Michael can be heard playing trumpet on Mark Ronson’s #1 hit “Uptown Funk” featuring Bruno Mars.