Artistic Associate, guitar, banjo, (bass)
Michael Occhipinti is a versatile, sound-sculpting guitarist and composer/arranger, who has spent decades freely moving between jazz, chamber music, world music, r&b/funk, and anything involving modern guitar sounds. A nine-time JUNO Award nominee, Michael leads several acclaimed groups including The Si- cilian Project, Shine On: The Universe of John Lennon, The Triodes, and the 16-piece group NOJO (Neufeld- Occhipinti Jazz Orchestra), and he collaborates regularly with acclaimed vocalist Elizabeth Shepherd. Michael’s newest group In Orbit features Grammy winning saxophonist Jeff Coffin (Bela Fleck/Dave Matthews Band), and virtuoso bassist Felix Pastorius. The group’s debut album In Orbit was recorded in Nashville and was released in November 2018, and the band have just finished recording their follow-up. Michael’s projects have been praised by critics worldwide, including the magazines DownBeat and Jazz Times, Italy’s Il Sole and Musica Jazz, and newspapers in India, The Netherlands, and across Canada.