Michael Kaeshammer

Jazz Virtuoso Michael Kaeshammer has been called a Canadian triple-threat, and an Artist whose entertaining high-energy style is a combination of piano virtuosity, vocal ability and major on stage charisma. And that potent combination has earned the Toronto-based artist international critical acclaim and a loyal and growing fan base, not to mention a just-announced Juno Award nomination for “Vocal Jazz Album of the Year” along with fellow category nominees Canadian Jazz and Pop superstars Diana Krall and Michael Buble.

Michael Kaeshammer’s performances are pure delight and his energy knows no bounds. He has piano technique to burn and to the audience’s delight has an acrobatic way with a grand piano. When Kaeshammer performs, it’s obvious he’s having a ball, playing superlative boogie-woogie, blues, jazz, and pop cross-over material, drawn mostly from his impressive catalog of studio recordings.

A reviewer of his performance at last year’s prestigious Tanglewood Jazz Festival outside of Boston praised Kaeshammer as both an artist and a showman, positively gushing with effusive praise for the young artist’s style and virtuosity. “Drawing on a rock solid knowledge of the piano greats, Kaeshammer does more than play the way they did. He entertains with a capital “E” the way they did. He is the ideal combination of intelligent, classy, talented and emotionally rich art and entertainment. Nightly, Kaeshammer had the crowd eating out of the palms of his hands and never does he leave with anything short of a standing ovation.”

Usually performing with his standard three-piece jazz combo, Kaeshammer will bring an additional three-piece horn section that will make its festival debut at a special main stage engagement at Syracuse Jazz Fest on Sunday, June 27th. “I’ve been aware of this great festival for years,” Kaeshammer said, “and I couldn’t be more pleased to be involved and to be bringing the full ensemble to perform at my first appearance there.”

Michael’s most recent recording, Lovelight, released in May 2009, is a joyous mix of Jazz, Blues and Pop and has been critically acclaimed as his best work yet. Lovelight will be followed by a new recording that is expected to be released in September 2010, to be accompanied by an International tour before the end of the year.

Festival Director Frank Malfitano added, “Anyone who enjoys Diana Krall. Harry Connick Jr and Michael Buble is going to absolutely love Michael. I became aware of him through my close friend and longtime national music industry colleague DJ McLaughlan, who broke Harry Connick and managed Harry to international stardom, along with managing Allison Kraus and Union Station’s Jerry Douglas, Rolling Stones bassist Daryl Jone and the legendary Gino Vannelli. I ran into DJ in NYC and he pulled my coat and took me to Gramercy Park to see Michael at a showcase during the annual APAP music industry booking conference last January. All I can say is this guy’s a major Wow! and the next big thing!”