Rochester-born trumpeter and composer Mike Cottone developed a love for music at a very young age. After being given a trumpet at the age of 10, it was clear where his love for music would be channeled. In high school, he began to explore the world of the trumpet and jazz thanks to his band director, Mr. Daniel McMurray. Mike was exposed to recordings of trumpet greats such as Louis Armstrong, Lee Morgan, Clifford Brown, Miles Davis, Nicholas Payton, and Roy Hargrove. Thanks to McMurray's guidance and inspiration, Mike began to develop his own soulful sound and passion for music.
While in New York, Mike received degrees from The Eastman School of Music and The Juilliard School in jazz trumpet and music education. Mike has performed with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, the Broadway production of "HAIR," Dizzy's Club Coca Cola, Jazz at Lincoln Center Doha with the Ulysses Owens Group, Smalls Jazz Club, the Blue Note, Paul Anka, Philip Bailey, Everette Harp, and Rick Braun.
In 2012, Mike moved to Los Angeles, California, to study at the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz under the direction of Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter. While in Los Angeles, Mike has recorded and performed with artists such as Blood, Sweat, and Tears; Al Jarreau; Robin Thicke; Neil Diamond; Ruben Blades; Mike Garson; John Beasley's Monkestra; Sarah Reich's Tap Dance Project; The Ebi World Tour; and the viral YouTube band, Postmodern Jukebox. Mike released his debut CD in 2011 entitled Just Remember, and just finished traveling the United States and United Kingdom with Bette Midler's Divine Intervention Tour. Recently, Mike has been working on the second album release of the band Holophonor, produced by Wayne Shorter.
