Mike Pinto is in demand as a guitarist, composer, and arranger in Chicago and internationally. He is at home in a multitude of styles, and his expressive approach is at once intellectual, technical, and soulful. He works regularly with many groups and artists, including The Unknown New, the Paul Mutzabaugh Trio, Crawl, Auraphone (Mike’s own original eleven-piece ensemble), Mark Colby, the Renegades, the Tom Matta Big Band, the Bob Lark Alumni Big Band, the Becca Kaufman Orchestra, and the Utility Muffin Research Kitchen Band (Frank Zappa’s Joe’s Garage live). He is also a sideman for hire, working live and in the studio with various artists, recording sessions for commercial jingles, and playing at churches including Willow Creek. He also runs the website thesmartguitarist.com.
In addition to performances at Chicago’s top venues (Jazz Showcase, Green Mill, Andy’s, Metro, Double Door, Schuba’s, Martyrs’), Mike has performed at major festivals and conferences in Italy, France, Germany, England, Malta, and Croatia. He plays on the recently released Joe Clark Big Band recording Lush, featuring legendary drummer Jeff Hamilton. He has performed with Brazilian jazz artist Luciana Souza and the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, Jen Hartswick (Trey Anastasio Band), Joel Cummins and Kris Myers (Umphrey’s McGee), Peter Himmelman, and Regis Philbin.
Mike is also an active writer whose commissions include compositions and arrangements for Mark Colby, the Rob Parton Jazztech Big Band, the Tom Matta Big Band, the Bob Lark Alumni Big Band, the City Lights Orchestra, the DePaul University Jazz Ensemble, and Elmhurst College’s Jazz Band, Gretsch Electric Guitar Ensemble, and Percussion Ensemble. His piece “Spin Cycle,” for grade 2 big band, is published by Doug Beach Music.
Born into a musical family and raised in his parents’ music store, Mike has been playing guitar since age nine. He holds an undergraduate degree from Elmhurst College and a master’s degree from DePaul University. Currently, Mike is a member of the jazz faculty at Elmhurst College, where he teaches guitar, improvisation, arranging, and jazz history in addition to directing several ensembles (Lab Band, Gretsch Electric Guitar Ensemble, Electric Guitar Collective, and a jazz combo).
Mike is a Curt Mangan Strings artist.