Michael Occhipinti & Friends

Michael Occhipinti is a versatile, sound-sculpting guitarist and composer/arranger, who has spent decades freely moving between jazz, chamber music, world music, r&b/funk, and anything involving modern guitar sounds. Michael has received 11 JUNO Award nominations (Canada’s Grammy) and 2 JUNO Awards including the 2022 JUNO Award for Jazz Group of the Year as a member of Avataar. 2022 also saw his duo with Elizabeth Shepherd (ES:MO) nominated for Jazz Vocal Album of the Year. In addition to ES:MO, Michael leads or co-leads several acclaimed groups including The Sicilian Jazz Project, IN ORBIT ( with Jeff Coffin (Dave Matthews Band) on saxophone, and Felix Pastorius on bass), Shine On: The Universe of John Lennon, The Triodes, and the acclaimed 16-piece group NOJO (Neufeld-Occhipinti Jazz Orchestra).
Michael Occhipinti is in the process of completing his M.A. in Composition at York University. Michael has attended the Banff Centre for The Arts jazz workshops three times, working with faculty such as Slide Hampton, John Clayton, Muhal Richard Abrams, Mick Goodrick, Bunky Green, Steve Coleman, and Hugh Fraser. Michael received his BFA (Hons). from York University in Toronto.