Assorted
Studio Projects
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Into the Mystic (4:19)
This cover of a Van
Morrison song features Gilbert Martinez
on guitar and vocals, Chris Perrin on bass,
Mark Sanchez on drums and Mike on piano.
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Cosmic Tour (4:45)
One of the first
songs Mike wrote using a 4-track machine,
he provides the vocals and plays all instruments
on this Latin Jazz piece. |
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Intrade for Brass (6:20)
Written by Mike in
the mid-80s while studying with Prof. Ron
LoPresti, this "entrance piece"
features two trumpets and two trombones. |
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Lights Out at the Reptile House
(2:49)
Recorded at Cereus
Studio in the late 80s, one of Mike's first
24-track recordings. It features Mike on
vocals and keyboards, Jim Vickers on bass
and guitar, Bryon Ruth on tenor sax, and
Tom Dare on drums. |
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Ravages
of Time (3:46)
Mike's newest work,
written and recorded in 2006. It features
Billy Abdo on vocals, Dennis Sexton on bass,
Phil Janzen on drums and Mike on mandolin,
tenor guitar, keyboards and trombone. |
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Song
for Heather (4:33)
Co-written with Tom
Dare, Mike plays keyboard bass and sings
on this Pop/Ska tune. It features Tom on
lead vocals, electric guitar and drums.
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What Noble Cause (3:33)
Nan van der Steur
contributed to the lyrics and Mike wrote
the music for this anti-war song. It features
Mindy Nilson on vocals, John Knowlton on
guitar and Mike on baritone ukulele.
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Tonál
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Cholo
Pachuco (3:04)
The term "Cholo"
describes the young Hispanic men who often
wear baggy pants, tank top shirts, hats
and long chains. Homero Chavez sings lead
(in English) and Mike adds some interesting
synthesizer lines.
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Legal
Canaliens (5:12)
Composed as a suite
by Cleo Iglesias and Homero Chavez, with
sections of brass throughout. The title
refers to the legal channels Hispanics encounter
when trying to enter our country legally.
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Los Cantos (2:22)
Cleo Iglesias and
Homero Chavez sing parallel lead and harmony
on this up-tempo Latin piece. Note the
alternating meters of five and three throughout
the work.
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If
You Want To (3:30)
Homero Chavez sings
great lead on this Ska tune, inspired by
everyday life encounters. A song with a
catchy beat and a sing-a-long nature. |
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The works on this page range from Classical
to Pop, and include both instrumentals and vocals.
It is interesting to compare the innocence of earlier works (Lights Out,
Song for Heather) to the more serious, introspective tone reflected in later work (Ravages, What Noble Cause).
Mike spent much of the mid to late 1980s working with two very talented Hispanic musicians, Cleo Iglesias and
Homero Chavez. With the support of Jim Vickers on bass and Tom Dare on drums, Tonál played steadily throughout the
Phoenix area and toured Mexico and California.
The repertoire included both Spanish and English language songs,
spanning Jazz to Pop to Reggae.
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