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Michael Johnson

New York City, NY

Contact for rates

Saxophone Player

Travels up to 120 miles

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Your Song

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Stompin' At The Savoy

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Overview

Saxophone player in NYC - providing beautiful music for your special occasion. Happy to play your requests. Plays all the saxes, clarinet, flute and piccolo. Whether it is solo sax playing acoustically, or along with backing tracks and happy to provide additional musicians up to a 6 piece band. Performing credits include Dr. John, Ben Vereen, Charo; playing in the house band at BB King's on 42nd st and a regular in the jazz clubs of New York City. Excellent soloist, section player, sight reader, music director, arranger and composer.

Reviews

37 reviews

Korey S.

April 11, 2026

Verified review

Great Experience

Michael was great! The guest loved him as well. Thank you for being apart of our special day! He

Hired as: Saxophone Player

Simba E.

December 22, 2025

Verified review

Michael Brings a Solid, Smooth Sound on Saxophone

Michael delivered a strong performance on the saxophone, showing good control and a clear, confident tone. His playing was smooth and consistent, and he handled both melodic lines and transitions well. Nothing felt forced, and he stayed comfortable in the pocket throughout the performance.

What worked especially well was his sense of timing and phrasing. He knew when to keep things simple and when to add a little flair, which kept the performance interesting without overdoing it. His sound fit the style nicely and blended well with the overall feel of the music.

Overall, Michael played well and showed that he has a solid foundation on the saxophone. It was an enjoyable performance that felt natural, controlled, and easy to listen to.

Hired as: Saxophone Player

Andrea

November 17, 2025

Verified review

Love the Vibe

Michael was a terrifc sax player and really brought our NYC dinner to the next level. The crowd loved his music selections and he played at the perfect volume. Highly Reccomend

Hired as: Saxophone Player

Demi L.

October 27, 2025

Verified review

Phenomenal performance

We enjoyed Michael’s playing and warm personality. He was prompt and made the evening so special

Hired as: Saxophone Player

Ariel E.

October 13, 2025

Verified review

Amazing!

Michael played the sax for my mom's 60th birthday party, and it was just perfect. he was so charismatic and a pleasure to have there. very talented, and followed the vibe of the party which was exactly what we wanted. couldn't have asked for better! all night family members were asking where i found him, and said how good he was. would recommend for any event where you want a little live music to brighten up the night and add that special little touch. it was really such a treat.

Hired as: Saxophone Player

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Booking information

Price range: Contact for rates

About

I come from a musical family; my mother played piano and my stepfather was a doctor who played clarinet as a hobby. My older brother was already studying piano and clarinet at an early age, so some of my earliest recollections are listening to my mother and brother's piano lessons and then taking lessons myself, so I learned quickly and by the time I was in school, I already had some tunes under my fingers! Since we had two pianos, my brother and I were able to play two piano duets, piano concertos, and early on we also began lessons on organ. As a Christmas gift in third grade, my father bought me a new instrument and I still get the feeling of exhilaration today from the saxophone as I did when I opened up the case and saw the horn for the first time.

A product of the renowned music program at Interlochen, Michigan, I attended summer sessions from third grade up until high school. The basic routine was, private lessons on piano, organ and saxophone, music theory classes and practice time in the morning; playing in orchestras, symphonic wind ensembles and jazz ensembles in the afternoon. During the evenings, if you weren't playing in a recital or a concert, you were either attending a classmate's or going to the other art, dance and drama functions around campus.

I began to learn the basic fundamentals of saxophone from lessons with Lynn Klock at Interlochen, and locally in Cleveland with two fine teachers, Vince Pattie and Robert Pattie. My eyes and ears were opened by going through my stepfather's extensive record collection, (Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis and many more) as well as listening to what the contemporary saxophonists of the 1970's, 80's and 90's were playing. I studied with Al Blaser from the Cleveland Orchestra and continued during the school year playing recitals with the National Federation of Music Clubs, competitions with the Ohio Music Educators' Association, auditioned to play Schumann's Piano Concerto in A minor with the Cleveland Orchestra at age fourteen and in high school, made All-State band.

Having received some recognition and awards from these institutions and also being selected as an outstanding soloist by National Association of Jazz Educators, I decided to attend the University of Miami and earned a degree in Studio Music and Jazz Saxophone Performance, where I studied with Gary Campbell and Gary Keller, among others. During this era I was fortunate to garner student awards from Downbeat magazine for performances with the University of Miami Avant Garde ensemble and the University of Miami Studio Jazz band. My studies focused on the music of Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, Joe Henderson and Wayne Shorter.

In South Florida, I was picked up to join a band backing up the great pianist, Dr. John on tour and upon graduation I gradually worked more in the entertainment aspect of the music field, doing club dates and backing shows behind the likes of Domenick Allen, Susan Anton, Charo, John Davidson, Phyllis Diller, Lorna Luft, the Platters, the Pointer Sisters, Scott Record, and Ben Vereen. I also worked in the Catskill Mountains and as a Musical Director for a major cruise line company, where I played in, arranged for, and conducted a 9-piece orchestra; scheduling live music and managing 25 musicians onboard of different nationalities. This experience took me all around the world performing a wide variety of music.

Currently I reside and work in New York city.

Services offered

Saxophone Player Saxophone Player

Upcoming booked events

October 2026

24

Saturday

Wedding Cocktail Hour

5:30pm - 6:30pm

•

Westfield, NJ

Past booked events

June 2026

03

Wednesday

30

Saturday

Dinner Party

8:00pm - 9:00pm

•

Palisades Park, NJ

15

Thursday

Birthday Party

9:30pm - 10:15pm

•

New York City, NY

June 2020

07

Sunday

17

Tuesday

Dinner Party

6:30pm - 9:00pm

•

Wallington, NJ

12

Thursday

Cocktail Party

7:00pm - 8:30pm

•

West Hartford, CT

07

Saturday

30

Saturday

Wedding Ceremony

4:00pm - 5:00pm

•

New York City, NY

28

Thursday

Wedding Ceremony

5:30pm - 6:00pm

•

Lindenhurst, NY

22

Friday

Wedding Reception

11:30pm - 12:00am (Sat)

•

Garrison, NY

18

Saturday

Quinceañera

7:30pm - 8:30pm

•

Scotch Plains, NJ

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