Mike Casey

Biography

Mike Casey, a Connecticut native born and raised in Storrs, began playing the saxophone in fifth grade (around age 9-10), initially inspired by a passion that led him to pursue music over basketball after high school hoop dreams faded. He split his high school years between E.O. Smith High School in Storrs and the Greater Hartford Academy for the Performing Arts, where he immersed himself in jazz, gigging in Hartford clubs as a junior and committing fully to music. Casey earned a full scholarship to the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz at the Hartt School of Music (University of Hartford), graduating in 2015 after studying with luminaries like Abraham Burton, Rene McLean, Javon Jackson, Steve Davis, and Nat Reeves. That same year, he was selected as one of 24 young composers worldwide for the Betty Carter Jazz Ahead Program at the Kennedy Center, studying with Jason Moran, JD Allen, and others.

Post-graduation, Casey balanced gigs in Hartford and New York, playing regularly in Marc Cary’s Harlem Sessions, which blended bop, hip-hop, and more. In 2016, his trio—featuring bassist Matt Dwonszyk and drummer Corey Garcia—recorded their debut album 'The Sound of Surprise: Live at The Side Door' live at the Side Door Jazz Club in Old Lyme, Connecticut, capturing 14 first takes from two sets; it was released in February 2017, followed by a 14-city Northeast tour with sold-out shows. He moved to the Philadelphia area in 2017, then pursued a master’s at Berklee College of Music's Valencia campus (2018-2019), studying cross-genre production with Victor Mendoza, Javier Vercher, and Gary Willis, honing skills in Ableton Live and global rhythms. By 2019, he settled in New York City (now Los Angeles-based), releasing albums like 'Valencia' and earning accolades such as GRAMMYs® “NEXT” Class of 2023 and multiple 'Best Jazz Of' features on streaming platforms. His style evolved from traditional jazz influences—Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Joshua Redman, JD Allen—into innovative, genre-blending nu jazz, jazz funk, and cool jazz with production elements.

As an educator, songwriter, producer, and performer at venues like Winter Jazz Fest, Lincoln Center, and Exit Zero Jazz Festival, Casey has built a legacy as a 'melody poet' and 'sonic alchemist,' twice nominated for Connecticut Music Awards' Best Jazz, with a piano/guitar-less trio sound emphasizing interactive swing and original compositions alongside standards like 'Mack the Knife.'

Fun Facts

• Originally aspired to be a basketball player but switched to jazz after hoop dreams deflated, also working as a nightclub DJ while listening to pop and hip-hop.
• His debut album 'The Sound of Surprise' was recorded from 14 first takes across two 50-minute live sets at The Side Door, crowdfunded to 124% of its goal.
• Selected for GRAMMYs® “NEXT” Class of 2023 and featured 9 times in Amazon Music, Pandora, and Spotify's 'Best Jazz Of' lists.
• Grew up in rural Storrs, Connecticut, busing four days a week to Hartford for high school jazz program, gigging professionally as a junior.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Jackie McLean Institute faculty (Abraham Burton, Rene McLean, Javon Jackson, Steve Davis, Nat Reeves) - Jazz teachers and mentors during university studies (Hartt School of Music degree) [2011-2015]
• Betty Carter Jazz Ahead faculty (Jason Moran, JD Allen, Carmen Lundy, Eric Revis, Andre Heyward, Cyrus Chestnut) - Faculty for intensive composer program (Kennedy Center program)
• Berklee Valencia faculty (Victor Mendoza, Javier Vercher, Casey Driessen, Ben Cantil, Gary Willis) - Cross-genre production and rhythm instructors (Master’s program, influenced 'Valencia' album) [2018-2019]
• Steve Davis and Nat Reeves - Early jam session mentors who later taught at Hartt (Hartford jam sessions and Hartt studies) [High school-2015]

Key Collaborators

• Matt Dwonszyk - Longtime upright bassist in Mike Casey Trio ('The Sound of Surprise: Live at The Side Door' album and tours) [2010s-present]
• Corey Garcia - Longtime drummer in Mike Casey Trio ('The Sound of Surprise: Live at The Side Door' album and tours) [2010s-present]
• Marc Cary - Pianist; regular performances in Harlem Sessions project (Harlem Sessions gigs, Exit Zero Jazz Festival) [2015-2017+]

External Links

• Spotify
• MusicBrainz