Michael holds a Bachelor of Music degree from New Jersey's William Paterson College, where he studied jazz with teachers such as Rufus Reid, Todd Coolman, Harold Mabern, Joe Lovano, and Norman Simmons.

After moving to New York City in 1985, Michael began performing with jazz legends such as Cecil Payne, Junior Cook, George Coleman, Phil Woods, Jimmy Cobb, David "Fathead" Newman, Clark Terry, Eddie Henderson, Jerome Richardson, Kenny Burrell, Herb Geller, Don Friedman, Junior Mance, Mundell Lowe, James Williams and many others. Michael also performs and records with some of the jazz stars of today including Eric Alexander, Jim Rotondi, Joe Farnsworth, Steve Davis, David Hazeltine, Dena DeRose, Akira Tana, and Matt Wilson.

In 2000, Michael returned to the San Francisco Bay Area to serve as the Artistic Director, Education Director and Programs Manager of the Stanford Jazz Workshop (SJW) and Festival until 2006. He continues to perform with many of top artists working in jazz in addition to conducting clinics in music education and the music business for jazz schools, festivals and conferences around the country, and serving as a consultant for agents and artists, festivals, clubs and music education organizations.