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Mike DiBari began his professional career in the Boston area.
After absorbing the styles of many guitar greats such as T-Bone Walker
and Charlie Christian, he quickly established himself as a sought-after
guitarist in the local music scene. He
continues to perform with many critically acclaimed artists of the region such
as Sax Gordon Beadle, Doug James, and Boston's own blues diva, Toni Lynn
Washington.
Steve Morse of the Boston Globe called Mike, “a well-schooled singer
and guitarist.” His music education first started in New York City at the
Manhattan School of Music, where he studied classical guitar with Nicholas
Goluses and the great Mme Segovia. In 1994, he earned a Bachelor's Degree from
the Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he further honed his skills as a
guitarist learning from jazz masters, Jon Damian, Jim Kelly and Jon Finn.
Mike has also studied jazz guitar with Harry Leahy (who won a Grammy for
his work with Phil Woods) and the legendary Pat Martino.
In 1996, Mike formed the Mike DiBari Swingtet, and in the following year
released his first CD, Jumpin' The Blues, on
his own Palomino Records label. The
CD received favorable reviews and was picked up by Hepcat Records and
distributed worldwide. Don Fluckinger of the Worcester Phoenix wrote, “This
recording catches the spark of live swing as it happened four decades ago.”
Metronome Magazine's Doug Sloan said, “DiBari does an excellent job carrying
the torch with savory guitar licks and genuine heartfelt vocals.” In 2001, two
of the songs appeared on the Shag Archives' compilation CD, Hot-'taw-mighty,
which received airplay on radio and in clubs in S. Carolina.
Mike currently performs with his jazz trio every Friday at Boston's
Marriott Long Wharf Hotel, showcasing many of his original compositions.
During
the week, he teaches guitar in Acton, MA, where he is the director of the Action
Music Jazz Ensemble. His new disc, Rotary Ahead!, has won the favor of
W.C. Handy
award-winning guitarist, Duke Robillard, who calls it “a swinging session that
demonstrates [Mike's] flair for melodic classic jazz stylings and tasty blues
solos.” Steve Greenlee of the
Boston Globe recently validated Robillard's praise, writing that “Indeed,
DiBari plays like the better guitarists of yesterday.”
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