Michael Brautovich
Michael is available for private parties, weddings, wine tasting events, graduations, anniversaries, street fairs, lobbies, clubs, lounges, restaurants, cocktail and garden parties, art galleries, and corporate events. Michael performs Jazz Standards, Smooth Jazz, R&B, and Pop on Soprano, Alto, and Tenor Saxophones accompanied by professionally sequenced backing tracks on a superior Bose sound system. Michael’s musical journey started when he was eight years old on the violin. He quickly learned to read music; however, after visiting a family friend whom happened to be a local Santa Cruz County saxophonist, Michael became interested in the saxophone. Michael lost interest in the violin and continually pestered his parents to get him a saxophone. Michael’s father insisted that he learn clarinet before he would purchase him a saxophone. Michael agreed, and quickly learned clarinet.
Although Michael was not interested in any particular genre of music at that time, he enjoyed many different styles throughout the 70’s. Michael learned to play guitar, so he could perform at his local church. He performed with music minister Scotty Wright, who first introduced him to jazz. By 1980, Michael was playing guitar, clarinet, flute, soprano, alto, baritone, and tenor saxophones. Born and raised in Santa Cruz County, he had the enriched opportunity to participate in the nationally acclaimed Aptos High School music program under the direction of Don Keller. Influenced by Keller, Michael became obsessed with the rich cool saxophone sound and styles of Lester Young, Stan Getz, Paul Desmond, and Richie Kamuca. Michael participated in clinics with Billy Taylor, Pete Chrislieb, Bill Berry, Monty Budwig, Frankie Capp, and toured with the Aptos High School Jazz Ensemble and his quintet, to the Reno International Jazz Festival, Sacramento City College Jazz Festival, and the world renowned Monterey Jazz Festival. Michael studied independently with Bill Trimble and Paul Contos.
In 1983, when the Aptos High School Jazz band won the Monterey Jazz Festival Competition,
Michael had the opportunity to perform at the Monterey Jazz Festival and hang out with performing artists Ray Pizzi, Bill Berry, and Dave Frishberg, who offered support and encouragement. It was then that Michael knew that music would always remain a part of his live. He continued his music education at Cabrillo College with Lyle Cruz, and Raymond Brown, and at University of Nevada-Reno. Michael resides on the Monterey Peninsula and has performed in numerous venues and concerts with local musicians such as Dennis Murphy, Lee Durley, David Morwood, Eddie Mendenhall, Scotty Wright, Jan Daneux, and George Young. Michael is a member of Tom Faia and the Juice and has appeared as a special guest artist with Joni Morris and the After Midnight Band.
