Professional Performance Experience

The following is a partial list of non-stop performances and recording sessions since 1973:

2008

• BCC adjunct guitar professor
• Grand Harbor Golf & Beach Club
• Holiday Inn
• Eau Gallie Yacht Club
• Featured artist Sanford Jazz Artist Series
• Vero Beach Classical Guitar Shows
• Private Parties

2007

• 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
• Sun Shoppe Cafe
• 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 entitled 'Christmas 2000' - A thousand years of Christmas music
• Released CD entitled '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'