Michael Staron

Acknowledged as, "a versatile, forward looking and accomplished performer" in Jazz Times, Michael began his professional career playing with Latin Tropical bands in Chicago’s Pilsen area at age fifteen. Reviews in regards to the various facets of his bass playing have been published in Cadence, Pulse, Jazz USA, Jazz Review, Jazz Word, Jazz Weekly, AMG, New City, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, The Wire, All About Jazz, Jazz at a Glance, Chicago Reader, Screen, Where, Progression Magazine and live performances of Michael have been aired on BET, 190 North and local cable. Professional Performance Experience Musicals: National Tours: #1& 2 – Evita – Schubert Theater Org. / Robert Stigwood Prod. National Touring Companies locally: A Chorus Line, Joseph w/Donnie Osmond, Rent International Touring Companies locally: A Chorus Line Professional Chicago-area Productions: Dream Girls, Hot Mikado, West Side Story, A Chorus Line, They’re Playing Our Song, Joseph, The Boys From Syracuse, Annie, Grand Hotel, The Sound of Music, Once on This Island, Pacific Overtures, Company, A Funny Thing Happen on the Way to the Forum, Sweet and Hot, Forever Plaid Jazz: Four Dimensions Ensemble, Mike Staron Duo, Bobby Enriquez, Bill McFarland and the Chicago Horns, Hal Russell, NRG, Rich Corpolongo Quartet, Corpolongo/Staron/Magnone, Les Demerle Transfusion, Les Demerle and Bonnie Eisele The NRG Three, Mike Pagan Trio, Guy Fricano Sextet, Michael Thorn Group, Louis Hall Trio, Howard Baker Trio, Mike Finnerty and the Heat Merchants, Marshall Vente Duo, Jose Valdes Trio, Tim Tobias Duo, Jazz Perspectives, Dennis Anderson Duo, Beau Barry Trio, Youtube -https://www.youtube.com/@michaelstaronbasscomposer4493 Entertainers/Singers: Sid Caesar, Red Skelton, Eddy Arnold, Bob Newhart, Roger Williams, The Four Lads, Al Martino, The Pied Pipers, Jerry Vale, The Marvelettes, The Shangri-Las, Dick Contino, Bill Acosta, The Stars of Lawrence Welk, Valentino Delorenzo, Stardust, Ann Jillian, Pudgy, Denise Tomasello, Cirrus Falcon, The Harmonicats, Steve March, The Lennon Sisters, Greta Pope, Joey Gian, Tony Ocean, Sam Gibson, Alexandra Billings, Jimmy Damon, Nick Russo Revues: Yabba Dabba Do, Tan and Sassy, Heartstrings, Grape Fruit Moon, Naked, Harry Chapin Lies and Legends, A Salute to Sondheim, The World Goes Round, Jerry’s Girls, Holiday Heat Wave, Hey There Good Times Latin Tropical: Los Siglos, Los Profetas, Los Sabinales, Jimmy Santi Blues: The Diamond Jim Greene Trio Liturgical: Trinity Presbyterian Church (2006), Glen Ellyn Bible Church (2001-2002) In 2018 - 2019 the collaborative experimental music group he founded and leads - Four Dimensions Ensemble received over a million views and over 5800 likes on Facebook for the five videos they created on 5/20/18 and Michael went on to place - #1 Jazz Artist Chicago for over 82 weeks on Reverbnation, additionally reaching as high as #10 Jazz Artist Nationally and #14 Jazz Artist Globally. "He’s a versatile, forward looking and accomplished performer." Harvey Pekar - Jazz Times"…Has exceptional chops and the smarts to get beyond his schooling." Bill Shoemaker - The Wire "His bowing is some of the best I ever heard. He is a true rival of Mike Formanek, Dave Holland and Paul Rogers." Fred Barrett - Beyond Coltrane "Mike to me has a lot of technique and he’s perfect for playing in a trio because he’s inspirational, he will follow my chords, what ever melody I play he will follow, he will change key with me which is what I need." Hal Russell - Hal An Oral History Michael Staron holds - A Bachelor of Music degree in (Composition) from DePaul University, a Master of Music (MMus) from Northwestern University in (Jazz Pedagogy) and a Master Online Teaching Certificate MOT from the University of Illinois / ION