Michael Conrad

Biography
Articles

A graduate of the University of Massachusetts, Michael Conrad held a bachelor's degree in music performance. Both an extremely accomplished pianist and trombonist, he performed throughout the northeast with various ensembles ranging in size from small combos to large groups. Mike's performance resume included impressive stints with the Boston Opera Company as well as with several jazz ensembles including the Meadow-Larks, the Roy Scott Big Band and Synergy.

A staple of the music scene in New England, Mike was a founding member of the D-Caf Jazz Quartet, and even served as a church organist along side of his wife, Carolyn, the music director who is also a retired music educator. Together they owned and operated a local music store by day. Sadly, Mike lost a courageous battle with illness, and he will be forever missed.

Christopher Merz's Very Happy Band: While We Wait

Read "While We Wait" reviewed by Jack Bowers

by Jack Bowers
March 4, 2021

Saxophonist Christopher Merz's Very Happy Band is essentially a foursome of like-minded fun-lovers with trombonist Anthony Williams added on two numbers and trumpeter Dave Rezek on one. For the most part, this is happy jazz, eleven original compositions by Merz that underscore the music's sunnier side without sacrificing proficiency or substance. To escape the quartet format's inbred redundancy, Merz interweaves and sustains contrast by moving from tenor saxophone to alto or soprano, and by sharing the front ...