Music Library

Mike Horsfall has enjoyed a successful and diverse musical career for over 35 years, serving as an educator, composer, arranger, recording artist and concert soloist on both piano and vibraphone. He was educated at Central Washington University and the University of Washington, earning a Bachelors in Piano degree from Marylhurst University in Portland, Oregon. He has also studied with Gary Burton, Joe Locke, Mal Waldron and Hal Galper. Mike began his musical career in the 70’s, perform in venues across the country. He settled down in Portland with his wife and two daughters in 1980, and went to work establishing his music career. In 1989 he co-founded the trio Tall Jazz, playing vibes and piano and serving as musical director. The trio started a record company, PHD Music, which represents jazz artists in the Portland area, and currently has 15 titles on the market, including Mike’s solo piano CD recorded in 1998 ("I Thought About You" PHD-1008). His acclaimed composing and arranging skills can by heard on any of the eight recordings that Tall Jazz has on the PHD label. In 1994 Mike designed a program giving piano students a chance to perform in a professional setting, and earned wide acclaim from the National Music Teachers Association. In 2002 he won First Place (Jazz) in the USA Songwriting Contest for his work on the tune, "Moonshadow Dance" ("Once In A Blue Moon" PHD-1013). Besides being in demand as a concert soloist, both on piano and vibes, before retiring from academics, Mike was an avid music educator, serving on the faculty at Mt. Hood Community College and Oregon Episcopal School. An accomplished, well-rounded musician, Mike has performed with a large number of world class musicians, including Bud Shank, Bobby Shew, Leroy Vinegar, Chuck Redd, Rebecca Kilgore, Pete Rugolo, and Norman Leyden. He has also worked with such notable groups as Pink Martini, the Nu Shooz Orchestra, and the Portland Chamber Orchestra.