Toronto-native Michael Shand has already spent well over half his life playing music. He began piano lessons at the age of 13 and progressed quickly through the Royal Conservatory of Musics classical system, completing grade ten after a span of only four years. However like so many young players who define this unique generation, raised in an era of unprecedented musical diversity and accessibility, Michael exhibits a creative energy that encompasses many genres. Blues, reggae, hip-hop, funk, house, R&B, soul and Latin music are the raw elements that form his identity as a performer, writer and arranger. But jazz is the common thread that binds them all together.
Shortly after leaving York University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and the coveted Oscar Peterson Scholarship Award, Michael became pianist and musical director for "Kollage". This jazz quintet featured the likes of Archie Alleyne (72) and the late great Doug Richardson(1938-2007), two veterans and pillars of Torontos jazz community. To have earned their respect at such a young age was no small feat. Together this group released two albums, "Kollage" (2001) and "Fine Print" (2003), featuring many of Michael's own compositions and arrangements. Destinations and Discoveries Reviews write, "...Michael Shands piano solos are masterful. This is another favourite."
Through music, Michael has been able to perform in all sorts of genres on stages across the world, meeting countless established and up-and-coming artists along the way. He has dazzled audiences in Hong Kong, Paris, Jakarta, Dubais, Amsterdam, London and throughout North America with such artists as Molly Johnson, Divine Brown, Glenn Lewis, Gerald Eaton of the Philosopher Kings, Jully Black, Jacksoul and Kardinal, and currently plays with jazz-crooner Matt Dusk (Universal/Decca, Mark Burnett/Foxs, "The Casino"), the new R&B diva everyone is buzzing about from Edmonton, Kreesha Turner and powerhouse jazz-vocalist, DK Ibomeka for whom Michael also serves as musical director. Added to his resume most recently were recordings with Shannon Butcher for her new-release, "Words We Both Can Say" and a piano and arranging credit for Ibomeka's newly-released sophomore album "I'm Your Man" .
Throughout the countless shows and collaborations, the dream of sharing with the world his own musical creations has never waned. Not even for a moment. He will be in studio June 6-8, 2008 recording his debut album; a mix of his originals and arrangements that will undoubtedly reflect the diverse flavours at the core of his musical identity. Michael's greatest satisfaction comes from the pursuit of fresh and inventive ways to tweak, prod, and flip upside-down the ever-changing ideas floating around his brain and, in the process, to somehow create a sound of his own; a sound he hopes you'll think of simply as good music.
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