Mike Moreno Quartet
@ the PizzaExpress Jazz Club
18 November 2010

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Biography

Originally from Houston, Texas, Mike Moreno began studying music formally at the Houston High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, a school that is renowned for its musical alumni, which include names as Jason Moran, Robert Glasper, Beyonce, Brian Michael Cox, Eric Harland, Chris Dave, and Kendrick Scott.

After graduating High School, Moreno quickly moved to New York City to attend the New School University with the highest scholarship the school had ever given to a guitar player. He soon began playing gigs, working his way into the New York Jazz scene. After several years of paying dues with many bands around town, Moreno gained the recognition needed to be called to perform and tour with some of the biggest names in the jazz world.

The Joshua Redman Elastic Band, Lizz Wright Band, Nicholas Payton Quartet, Terence Blanchard Quintet, Greg Osby 4, Wynton Marsalis and the JALC Orchestra, Jeff “Tain” Watts Quintet, Kenny Garrett Quintet, and Ravi Coltrane Quartet. Moreno has also toured and performed with the rising stars of today including Jeremy Pelt, John Ellis, Gretchen Parlato, Yosvany Terry, Josh Roseman, Aaron Parks and Leonardo Cioglia.

Mike Moreno has also recorded with major artists such as Interscope Records’ “Bilal”, and Universal Motown’s “Q-Tip” Rising star Jazz Artists such as Jeremy Pelt, Robert Glasper, John Ellis, Jimmy Greene, Myron Walden, Sam Yahel, Marcus Strickland, Yosvany Terry, Geoff Keezer, Frank Locrasto, Kendrick Scott, Leonardo Cioglia, Louise Setara, and Bob Reynolds.

Leading his own band, Moreno has recently released his debut CD “Between The Lines” on World Culture Music. The band is a quintet including tenor and piano, playing all his original music. And even more recently has recorded his follow up record for the renowned Jazz Label - Criss Cross Records. His compositions have been called “masterful,” and written with “sophistication that belies his age.” With the attention already received, Mike Moreno is pushing himself to have his voice defined in music, both as a sideman and as a bandleader.