Biography
A virtuoso on both acoustic and electric guitar, Michael Bocian was destined to become an eclectic player with a broad range. He was raised in a home offering ethnic music and instruments. The earliest sounds he was exposed to through his Polish upbringing were church music and the polkas played at weddings. As a teenager, he was first inspired by Motown, then by the heavy rock vibe of Hendrix and Jimmy Page, and finally awed by the Spanish music played by classical guitarist John Williams. By the age of 12 Bocian had settled on the guitar as his instrument.
Born June 18, 1953 in Cleveland, Ohio, is a Polish American, jazz and classical guitarist, author and composer. He was fortunate to have Cleveland as his hometown where many vibrant music scenes that an ambitious young musician could tap into. At DeArango’s Music store and a local jazz club the "Smiling Dog Saloon" he met local players like Mark Herzog, Rom Guzzo, Dick Lurie, Ernie Krivda, Skip Hadden, Jamey Haddad and guitarist Bill DeArango. DeArango's music really opened up the teenager's aspiration to a new music and further possibilities of the instrument and became a close friend later in life. Bocian also counts among his major influences from that time artists as varied as Ornette Coleman to Julian Bream.
After stints in California, Bermuda, Florida, Boston, he landed in New York City in 1974. His first recording LP "For This Gift" produced by Gunther Schuller recorded 1982 on “Gunmar” label, stands today complimented with several Grammy winners. It represents a life of devotion to improvisation while Juan Miro graces the cover art with his painting, “A Strand of Hair Followed By Two Planets”. Featured musicians are Joe Lovano, Billy Drewes, David Darling, Dave Samuels, Paul McCandless, Ken Werner, Judi Silvano, Larry Porter within trio, duet and septet settings. Early 90’s he recorded a CD also for Gunmar, “Go Groove” w/ Rashied Ali, Ed Schuller and Fred Hersch. Mid 90's he recorded for the German label "Enja" CD’s “Reverence” with Dewey Redman, Cameron Brown, and Skip Dudley Hadden and “Premonition" a solo nylon string guitar work. He became part of a rich New York music scene where he was crossing paths with jazz players such as Ed Blackwell, Reggie Workman, Rashied Ali, Dewey Redman and other fantastic musicians with multiple venues of new music’s. While in NYC he reached heights also as tradesman in finish carpentry, field supervision in high end projects and clientele. The video game industry and with a renowned high end company as an art handler/manager.
In early 2000, he created his own label, "Ulua Music". He produced and recorded "Stork on The Hudson" a solo improvisation CD for nylon string, synth and prepared guitar. "A Play Beyond Maya" trio with Tom Rainey and Ratzo Harris”. "Here Just Visiting" trio with Dean Johnson and Skip Hadden, and "I Am The Blues" trio with Tom Rainey and Bill DeArango. Latest releases, “The Five Elements” solo nylon string based on the five Buddhist prayer flags. He recorded and composed "25 Etudes For Contemporary Guitar" CD solo nylon string with a companion book.
After 43 years in NYC Michael relocated in 2016, he now resides in the Catskill Mountains in New York studying music’s and performing.