Music
released 22 October 2022
THERMO is Mike’s latest project, co-led with Toronto-based guitarist, Nathan Hiltz. THERMO released their inaugural recording, ‘Birdlike’, on 7 October 2022. More information regarding this project can be found by visiting website at: www.thermomusic.com
Update 28 September 2023
THERMO ‘Birdlike’ won a GLOBAL MUSIC AWARD in the Jazz Category!
Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy – ‘Canvas’
released 17 March 2023
In 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, Celtic music superstars Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy were in the initial phases of a new recording. One of the tracks had a basic melody started, and they put out a call on social media for others who would like to contribute to the track, which at the time was called The COVID Co-Write. Seeing this callout, Mike decided to enter an additional melody and some alternate chords to the ‘competition’, After reviewing the hundreds of recorded and video submissions, they weren’t able to pick just one of the compositions, however, they picked 3, and Mike’s submission was one of them! Read more about the story at Roots Music Canada:
In 2020, Natalie and Donnell did something unusual for artists. They had a tune they wanted to record but couldn’t come up with a companion piece. So they took to social media to invite submissions from their fans. The result is Wish You Were Near, which includes three of the 200 tunes that were sent in.
“That was a bit of magic too the way it worked out,” Natalie said. “It was very hard to narrow it down. The submission from Robyn Cunningham was the only vocal one even though we said, ‘It doesn’t matter what you play. Just let yourself go and try to write something that goes along with this melody we’ve created.’ Robyn was the only one with lyrics, and we loved the idea of turning it into a vocal piece.”
The added bonus was Robyn got to sing on the track while Mike Manny and Kyle Burghout, the other two selections, got to play on it.
In addition to being one of the writers of the track now called Wish You Were Near, Mike was invited to Natalie & Donnell’s home studio in Douro-Dummer, Ontario to recording his piano part. Learn more of the recording at: natalieanddonnell.com/canvas-album/
Read the liner notes here!
The Cadets and Junior Canadian Rangers (CJCR) Formation March
“To Honour Those Who Serve the Youth Of Canada”
August 2000
In the early months of 2000, Mike composed The Cadets and Junior Canadian Rangers (CJCR) Formation March. This march is the the official march for CJCR and is an official composition within the Canadian Armed Forces listing of marches. A computer rendition (using Sibelius Software and NotePerfomer) can be heard at the YouTube link below.
The Toronto All-Star Big Band – ‘In the Mood’
released 1999
Mike was the conductor of the Toronto All-Star Big Band, aka ‘TABB’, in the 1990’s. TABB’s mandate is to provide an outstanding development opportunity for keen you musicians aged 15-22 to realize their artistic potential through education and performance, seeking the highest level of achievement within a challenging, nurturing, and collaborative environment. ‘In the Mood’ was the band’s inaugural recordings: www.torontoallstarbigband.com/#in_the_mood
Dominicanada – ‘Subiendo’
released 1995
Mike was a member of the Domincanada Show Band from Toronto, Ontario. He wrote, co-wrote, arranged, and played piano on the band’s inaugural recording, which was recorded in both Toronto, and the Dominican Republic.
The band featured the top Latin musicians in the city, from a variety of backgrounds: Dominican, Ecuadorian, Chilean, Trinidadian, Cuban, Guyanese, and of course, Canadian. The band played music in the styles of: Salsa, Meregue, Bachata, and Bolero.
www.shazam.com/artist/dominicanada-show-band/1030971216