“impeccable balance of imagination, elegance and hipness” – All About Jazz
As a pianist and keyboardist, Michael Cain has had a prolific performance and recording career. Cain has worked with some of the most significant names in jazz and contemporary music. These include Jack DeJohnette, Ravi Coltrane, Terence Blanchard, Robin Eubanks, Pat Metheny, Charles Neville, Dave Holland, and Bobby McFerrin. Furthermore, his work as pianist, keyboardist, and arranger with Meshell Ndegeocello earned him two Grammy nominations.
Other notable projects include composing the music for the films Maybe and Real With Me by director Carl Ford. He also served as pianist and musical director for the Jose Limon Dance Company’s New York premiere of Crossroads. Here, this was a collaboration between composer James Newton and choreographer Donald McKayle. Additionally, Cain composed the music for the Broadway play View from 151st Street, which ran at the George Papp Public Theater in New York. Cain was artist-in-residence at the University of Auckland, NZ the summer of 2022. Then, Cain collaborated with the Boston Ballet in 2024. There, he composed electronic sound elements with Musical Director Mischa Santora and choreographer Ken Ossola for the world premiere of his ballet “The Space Between.” In September 2024, the Michael Cain Trio were featured artists at the Capão Jazz Festival in Bahia, Brazil.
Michael has held teaching positions at the Eastman School of Music, the New England Conservatory of Music, and Brandon University. Currently, he is the Director of the Electronic Music and Recording Arts program at MacPhail Center for Music in Minneapolis. Michael is also co-founder and CEO of Ekwe, a mobile-based, multicultural, digital music creation app. With this, he aims to redefine diversity, equity, and access to music creation and education.
Michael’s latest release is entitled Hoo Doo and is available on all streaming platforms.
Recommended for fans of McCoy Tyner, Dave Holland Quintet, Meshell Ndegeocello and Jack DeJohnette.
