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Click play to hear 'For Orchestra'; an original orchestral composition

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Professional Performance Experience

The following is a partial list of non-stop performances and recording sessions:

  2008
  • Remastered CD '2nd View Of An Ocean' with legendary saxophonist and composer Sam Rivers
  • Michael Leasure Jazz Trio with Doug Mathews & Doug Grover at Moonstruck, Melbourne, FL
  • Premier of composition 'A Cold Wind At Night' by Central Florida Winds
  • Sanford Jazz Series - Guest Artist
  • BCC Adjunct Guitar Professor
  • Grand Harbor Golf & Beach Club
  • Holiday Inn
  • Eau Gallie Yacht Club
  • Vero Beach Classical Guitar Shows
  • Private Parties
  2007
  • Jazz Concert - Orlando Arts Factory
  • Grand Harbor Golf & Beach Club
  • Duran Golf Club
  • Beach Shack
  • The Moorings Golf Club
  • Brevard Museum of Art and Science
  • Melbourne Arts Festival
  • Captain and Cowboy Restaurant
  • Murdock's Bistro
  • Private Parties
  2006
  • Brevard Museum of Art and Science
  • Melbourne Arts Festival
  • Eau Gallie Yacht Club
  • Galaxy Restaurant
  • Crown Plaza Hotel
  • Live Professional Video Performance/Recording: Dexter’s with Doug Mathews (bass) and Anthony Cole (drums)
  2005
  • Released 4 CD collection entitled ‘The 3 Mikes Live’
  • Remastered CD ‘Christmas 2000’, released as ‘Christmas of Yore’
  • Gained international distribution of CD’s released under ‘MTL Productions’
  1998 - 2005
  • Over 1500 performances as a featured jazz artist for Carnival Cruise Lines
  2003
  • Released 3 CD collection entitled 'The Michael Leasure Trio'
  2001 - 2002
  • Released 4 CD collection entitled 'Ethereality' for solo jazz guitar
  • Released CD entitled 'Live '88 - '90 Edge of Success'
  1999 - 2000
  • Released CD 'Christmas 2000' - A thousand years of Christmas music
  • Released CD 'Collection No.1'. A collection of recordings and styles ranging from jazz and classical to new age and avant garde
  1998
  • Winter Park Autumn Art Show
  • Nominated 'jazz artist of the year' at the Orlando Music Awards
  • Starbuck’s Coffee Sponsorship
  • Solo guitar sponsorship at Barnie's Coffee and Tea Co.
  • Rollins College Art Show
  1997
  • Daytona Beach Jazz Festival
  • Residency at Dexter's of Winter Park, Florida - 'The Michael Leasure Trio' - (specializing in avant garde music)
  • Many micro brewery sponsorships
  • Featured with the Dan Jordan Quartet for a 3 month residency at The Crowbar
  • Selected for the PBS show 'On the Verge'
  • Jazz guitarist for the Evelyn Stone CD - produced by Michael Anthony for Atlantic Records
  • House band at Monoco's - retro swing with Danielle Gasparro
  • House duo at Cool Beans Coffee House
  1996
  • Gainesville Jazz Festival
  • Musical Director for 'Mickey Swingerhead and the Earth Girls'
  • Solo, duo, trio and big band performances at Disney's entertainment parks and hotels throughout the year
  • Solo guitar synth concert for the 'Micronesia Art Show'
  • Solo classical guitar performance at the Maitland Art Center
  1992 - 1995

Michael Leasure solo, duo, trio and quartet performances at the following venues:

  • Clearwater Jazz Festival
  • Dexter's avant garde trio performances featuring Doug Mathews and Anthony Cole
  • Gianni's Italian Restaurant
  • LOQ radio sponsored 'Concert in the Park'
  • LOQ radio sponsored 'Sunset Serenade'
  • WPRK live radio broadcasts 'Free Jazz'
  • Downtown Jazz and Blues (2 concerts)
  • Pinkie Lee's Jazz Club
  • Lakeridge Winery jazz concert
  • Otter's Jazz Club
  • Bucket's Wine Club and Restaurant
  • Go Lounge avant garde concerts
  • Lazy Bean Coffee House
  • Peabody Hotel Jazz Lounge
  • Harry Leu Botanical Gardens
  • Epcot Center 'Dedication of Innoventions'
  1987 - 1991
  • Management/publishing contract with Callico Productions
  • CBS artist development - 300 pieces composed
  • Composed and recorded '1st View of an Ocean' for solo guitar synthesizer
  • Composed and recorded '2nd View of an Ocean' featuring Mark Piszczek
  • Composed and recorded '3rd View of an Ocean' featuring Sam Rivers
  1986

Leader of the following bands:

  • Big Bang Theory
  • The Spliff Brothers
  • The Michael Leasure Jazz Ensemble

    Performed with the above bands at:

  • Statewide concerts and club dates
  • Residency sponsorship at the Melbourne Oceanfront Holiday Inn
  • Triple T Properties
  1983 - 1985
  • 'The Spliff Brothers' weekend beach concerts at Cocoa Beach, Florida
  • The Sundeck Classic Surf Festival
  • Composer for 'Country Miami Jewish Federation TV'
  • Talk show 'Pillow Talk'

    Opening act for:

  • Spyra Gyra
  • Atlantic Rhythm Section
  • Jeff Lorber Fusion
  1981 - 1982
  • 'Sketches' at Gillies club, Dayton, Ohio
  • Midwestern college dates
  • Ohio State Fair
  • Bob Hope, Phyllis Diller, and Bucky Trent shows
  • Columbus Arts Group
  • West Virginia Jazz Fest with Carmen McRae and Lionel Hampton
  1973 - 1978
  • Guitarist, arranger and musical director for variety shows, stage shows and night club acts at the Culvermere Resort, Branchville, New Jersey

Education

  • Early studies in piano, violin, flute and alto sax
  • Composed music at an early age
  • Marietta College, Ohio - Studied piano, flute and composition for 1 year
  • Berklee College of Music - Graduated Magna Cum Laude with diploma in composition and performance
  • Selected for Boston Composition Festival (Motif & Variation for piano, strings & voice)
  • Selected as Berklee College of Music's film department composer
  • Composed 'Motif and Variation' for strings and voice for senior composition recital
  • Postgraduate studies at Ohio University in electronic music and orchestral studies
  Private studies:
  • Guitar - Mick Goodrick
  • Improvisation - Gary Burton
  • Arranging - Michael Gibbs

Miscellaneous

  • Played 37 benefit concerts during the last 23 years for Toys for Tots, Aids, Cancer and the Homeless
  • Professional composer for the film 'We are the Wind and the Stars'