Mike Mower - A short CV

Born 1958 in Bath, England. A British national, currently living in Beckington, Somerset. Married with 3 children.

Educated at Beechen Cliff School, Bath (general education) and at the Royal Academy of Music, London (1976-1980 flute performer's course LRAM, ARAM). Studied the flute with Frank Wilson and Gareth Morris (at RAM). Saxophone, composition and arranging were self-taught.

Other interests: Astronomy, Indian food, English Pubs

Musical History

Started Playing:

  • Recorder (age 6)
  • Piano (age 9)
  • Flute (age 12)
  • Saxophone (age 18-self taught)

Playing experience:

Orchestral Flute, West End Shows, Studio & Session recording, Live Radio & TV Broadcasts, Big Bands, Chamber Music, Solo Recitals, Jazz Club Bands, Salsa Bands, International Festivals- featured band, Saxophone Quartet, Wind Quintet

National Competition recorded 2 albums for Virgin records and 2 for ENJA records. Toured 48 countries worldwide

Played at almost every major European Jazz festival

Has performed and recorded as a sideman for:

  • Gil Evans
  • Tina Turner
  • Björk
  • Paul Weller
  • Airto Moriera & Flora Purim
  • Ryuchi Sakamoto
  • James Galway
  • Gota
  • Pasadena Roof Orchestra

Commissioned to write & arrange for:
BBC Big Band, BBC Radio Orchestra, NDR Big Band, SDF All Star Band, Airto Moriera & Flora Purim, Stockholm Jazz Orchestra, Dave O'Higgins, Datura Trombone Quartet, Kentucky Saxophone Quartet, Rollin' Phones Saxophone Quartet, Kirsten Spratt & Elizabeth Mucha, Edyta (Eurovision Song Contest), Flutewise, Vaasa Big Band, Brendan Power, Various commercial music for radio & TV, James Galway, James Galway & Safri Duo, Boosey & Hawkes Publishers, Saxofourte Sax Quartet, Hour Of Power TV show - Los Angeles, Next Of Kin, Yuko Moll, BMG Classics, RCA Victor, ENJA Records, Universal Records, Trevor James Company, University of Kentucky, Regina Helcher, Hannah Money, Texas Tech University, Monokrome Flute Quartet, Clare Southworth

Bands led by Mike:

  • Mike Mower Quartet (1980/1984) Won best band awards, gigged extensively
    in UK jazz clubs and at festivals. Live broadcasts for BBC radio.
  • Hiatus 11 piece jazz ensemble (1980/1988) Played many broadcasts for
    BBC and jazz club dates
  • Mike Mower Big Band (1984/1990) Radio Broadcasts
  • Mike Mower Flute Band (1992/1998) Four flutes with rhythm section band
    featuring tight close harmony pyrotechnics and jazz improvising, mostly at music conventions
  • Itchy Fingers Saxophone quartet (1985/1995) formed by Mike won BBC TV Jazz Sounds 86

Read more about the Itchy Fingers Sax Quartet

Recent venues where Mike has taken workshops, performances & music days

G.B: British Flute Society - London - Manchester, Aberdeen, Glasgow, BASBWE x3, Manchester, Bingley, Birmingham Conservatoire, Bolton, Bridgend, Cardiff Welsh College of Music & Drama, Chandler's Ford Music Makers, Jersey, Guernsey, Cheethams school of Music Manchester, Chichester, Boosey & Hawkes Flute Launch x3, E.Sussex music services, Eastbourne, Enfield Grammar School, Fordingbridge, Leeds College of Music Jazz Educator's conference, Marlborough College, MIA convention x 2, Northampton x2, Portsmouth, Cambridge, Oban, Plymouth, Seaford x 3, Scottish tour, Skegness Grammar School, Strode College Street, Taunton, Bridgewater x2, Chipping Sodbury N Sonerset, Cornwall Music Services, Edmonton Grammar School, Leicester x2, Swansea, Weymouth, Devon County Music Services, Macclesfield, Millfield College, Norwich, Norfolk county music services, Devon Jazz Orchestra, Clarinetwise, Wellington College, York, Northumberland music service
USA: National Flute Association, Orlando - New York - Chicago - Las Vegas University of Kentucky, Texas Tech University, North American Saxophone Alliance (Greensboro)
Germany: German Flute Society x2, Frankfurt Musikmesse x3, Köln Musikhochschule, Frankfurt Musikhochschule, Dresden
Belgium: Flute Society, Kortrijkt
Sweden: Stockholm Conservatoire, Swedish tour(various venues), Swedish flute festival
Iceland: various venues
Denmark: various venues
Australia: Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide