Michael Powers is a native of New York City, but grew up near San Francisco, and finally wound up in Seattle. He began playing guitar after a skateboard accident, noting that therapy would help strengthen his wrist. He kept up with his playing and sat in on local jam sessions in Seattle, where he truly learned to play by doing so. He enjoyed performing with bands of all kinds including pop, R&B, blues, rock, and jazz. He particularly wanted to play music that featured a guitar solo.
Powers has shared the stage, or recorded with, music giants such as Herbie Hancock, Nancy Wilson, Ray Charles, Diane Schurr, and Gladys Knight and the Pips. He says that if he had to label his music, he would describe it as a contemporary instrumental sound, rooted in jazz but keeping pace with developments in blues, R&B, and pop. A review says:
“Michael Powers, the Seattle jazz guitarist, . . . just gets better all the time.”
Michael Powers will be at the Postmark Center for the Arts, at 20 Auburn Avenue, on January 20 at 7:30 pm, where he will play music from “Cinco de Michael,” his album. General admission tickets are $20, and $17 for seniors and students. Organizers of performances like this can promote them with the help of poster printing companies.