MIKE MARSHALL
Mike Marshall is one of the most accomplished and versatile acoustic musicians performing today, a master of mandolin, guitar, and violin whose playing is as imaginative and adventurous as it is technically thrilling. Able to swing gracefully from jazz to classical to bluegrass to Latin styles, he puts his stamp on everything he plays with an unusually potent blend of intellect, humor, and emotion with a combination of musical skill and versatility rare in the world of American instrumentalists. Now living in Oakland, California, Mike grew up in Central Florida, where throughout his teens he played and taught bluegrass mandolin, fiddle, and guitar. In 1979, at the age of 19, he was invited to join the original David Grisman Quintet in the SF Bay Area. That association quickly led to his recording and touring with some of the top names in acoustic music today including Tony Rice, Mark O'Connor, Stephane Grappelli, Bela Fleck, and Edgar Meyer. Mike has since played on hundreds of acoustic music recordings both as a featured artist and sideman. His 1982 CD, Gator Strut, is a classic example of a new generation of bluegrass virtuoso instrumentalists forging new directions in American instrumental music.