Tony Miceli has always been fascinated by music and more recently he added technology to the list. His goal: to be a better musician than he was yesterday. Deceptively simple m.o.'s, yet they are the driving forces behind jazz vibraphonist, Tony Miceli. 

 The son of a police woman and banker, plus the oldest of three children, he escaped the family's spirited upstairs dynamics finding solace in his basement listening to any rock music he could get his hands on: Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Mott the Hoople and Genesis. His first purchase was The Guess Who. He played guitar at 8, drums at 9, and piano at 14. He directed his passions into devouring Mel Bay guitar books until he discovered classical music and an inspirational drum teacher.

Jazz wasn't on the radar screen until college. He received a Bachelor's degree in percussion from The University of the Arts in 1982. Following graduation, he continued fine-tuning his improv dexterity taking lessons from already established Philadelphia musicians. He never stops learning and the basement remains his comfort zone where he tirelessly practices, transcribes, composes, rehearses and listens. He says Milt Jackson is his favorite vibe player, "I think every vibe player would benefit by studying and transcribing Milt. He had amazing ears and musicianship. Any tune, any key, any time, and he knew them all."

In addition to his love for classic rock, Miceli has a passion for AfroCuban and Latin music. His flirtation began in 1996 leading to collaborations with bandleader and timbale player, Edgardo Cintron and Cuban composer and pianist, Elio Villafranca. Subsequently, an invitation to attend and perform at the 1998 PerCuba percussion festival in Havana with Lino Batista solidified his adoration for the percussive beats and sensual rhythms of the music and traditions of the culture.

In the '80s he performed throughout Germany, Holland, Belgium and England with Mallet Madness. He crossed the Atlantic to team up with an ensemble of mostly German musicians interpreting '60s classic rock into a straight-ahead format.

Closer to home, he performs as a leader or sideman in countless jazz clubs and concert halls including: Verizon Hall at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Zanzibar Blue, World Cafe Live, Ortlieb's Jazzhaus, Chris's Jazz Cafe, the Painted Bride and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Mozart: Reloaded, a January '06 project for the Kimmel Center's award-winning Fresh Ink series has Miceli featured as one of the guest artists paying tribute to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in honor of his 250th birthday.

Popular festival performances include 20 years with Mellon, Reading, Harrisburg, Cape May, Berks County and more. Recordings include a self-titled compilation CD; Looking East with the Philly 5; On a Sweet Note, Gerald Veasley and the Electric Mingus Project; Band Shapes with French pianist Olivier Hutman; Monkadelphia; Music From the Inside Out, a companion CD for the new documentary showcasing The Philadelphia Orchestra; and two upcoming CD's: with Concord Jazz recording artist and guitarist, Jimmy Bruno and a BMG tribute album to Luther Vandross.

In addition to leading his own ensembles, Miceli has performed with Dave Liebman, Ken Peplowski, John Blake, John Swana, Joe Magnarelli and others. He is a member of PhilOrch Jazz Ensemble, a quartet featuring members of The Philadelphia Orchestra.

Miceli conducts master classes at the world-renowned Curtis Institute of Music and gives private instruction. He is on the faculty at The University of the Arts and Rowan University. In addition, he serves as a consultant to music and arts organizations.

For ten years, Miceli was a touring artist with the Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey Arts Councils. Additionally, he taught and performed for the Very Special Arts Association and Migrant Education Council in over four hundred schools, community centers, prisons and detention centers, including Graterford Prison, Muncy State Prison, Loysville Youth Detention Center and the Northeast Correctional Center. He worked in the mushroom fields in Chester County and in summer camps with children of migrant workers. In the mid-1990s he produced and performed with inmates at Graterford Prison as part of the Mellon Jazz Festival.

For more information on Tony Miceli, visit www.larrysimprovpage.com/laurahenrich/roster/cliftones/tonybio.html.