Michael Ghegan

It’s a crisp fall evening, autumn leaves fill the yard with vibrant colors, and the sound of music is flowing through the air. This musician that I am referring to has written and produced music for popular television shows, including ‘Extra’, ‘Ellen Degeneres’, ‘Sharon Osbourne’, ‘The Bachelor’.

This constantly touring saxophonist and keyboardist whose musical travels have taken him from intimate performances for the President of the United States to on-screen collaborations with Elton John to arena gigs with Aerosmith, and has played all over the world, from Tokyo, Japan to Mogale, South Africa; from Istanbul, Turkey to Pori, Finland; from Kiev, Ukraine to Moscow, Russia. A graduate of the Rutgers University Mason Gross School of the Arts with degrees in education and jazz performance, he is also a music teacher at the elementary, middle and high school levels as well as an adjunct professor at Virginia Commonwealth University.

He is currently on tour with Keiko Matsui, and he has just released is debut cd, his name is…
Michael Ghegan.

His debut cd is self-titled, and it’s a warm, sensual, funky cd at that!

“To not have you”, is a nice mellow song that sets the mood for the rest of the cd. This song is a very simple song just a few instruments, layered in such a way, it let’s Michael play with ease, and plenty of room to improvise.

“Deep end theory”, picks up the pace a little, but not to fast, I love the bass line on this song, it just stands out and catches your ear and Michaels sax playing is so laid back, it just makes the song so smooth.

This is my favorite track on this cd “He said she said” is so nice and smooth Michael is just dominating this track with interchanging sax solo’s, this song reminds me of jazz from the early 90’s, where strings made from a keyboard was the sound to have on your cd.

Michael slows it down a bit with “Finding Mariah” this is a very sexy and mellow song, kind of haunting in a way. The emotion that he put’s into this song sounds like a love he has lost and playing his heart out to get her back

More to give has me turning down he lights, where you visualize Michael playing right there in front of you, the passion is flowing out of that saxophone. And with all that passion he found time to lay down a nice little piano solo

“Paris metro am, other shades, and “should you stay” are about as mellow as you can get, Michael is just playing at his own pace, which give these songs great ambience, nice a sensual.

Justaliddabit is a very lighthearted song, with lots of room to improvise, but he sticks to the groove and just lets it ride for the rest of the song.

“If Fortune lied” is dedicated to Chris Colasanti, who passed away at 9/11 this song is so emotional and you hear it in his playing. Keiko Matsui guests on this track and lays down a very nice piano solo.

Michael Ghegan debut cd is very refreshing and funky, and with a great line-up of talent to compliment Michael from Keiko Matsui, Mel Brown, and Michael Bland both from the prince camp. With a debut like this Michael will be around for along time.

You can find out more about Michael at Michaelghegan.com.

Marv. D.

The Urban Music Scene