Biography:
Singer/pianist Mike Liguori, 29, was born in Anchorage AK and grew up in Morristown NJ playing ice hockey and baseball. After spending time in the jam band scene around Denver and the University of Colorado where he studied jazz with Grammy winner Chip Stephens, he began writing songs and teamed up with Jim Ruberto to create the ML Band. Highwaters EP is the group’s first release. Mike’s influences come mostly from the rock and jazz realms, including pianists Bruce Hornsby, Ben Folds, Donny Hathaway, Les McCann, Horace Silver, Chip Stephens and Jacky Terrasson, as well as groups like Dave Matthews Band, Coldplay, Steely Dan, Soulive and Pat Metheny Group.
As a young hockey player, Mike was invited to audition for the movie “The Mighty Ducks.”
Guitarist/singer Jim Ruberto is a western New York native and busy musician and producer in Denver. Not to be mistaken with the Jim Ruberto who is mayor of Pittsfield, Mass., he performs on acoustic and electric guitars and lap steel guitar. Jim listens to everything from Anthrax and Beastie Boys to Medeski Martin and Wood, Phish, Gil Scott-Heron and the Bulgarian Women’s Choir.
Jim once rented a rehearsal space in the same building occupied by Utica NY’s famous “Metal Blob.”
Bassist Jonathan Barkin is from San Francisco. He got a foundation in music and the five-string fretted bass while attending UC Berkeley. Since then, he's studied with Kai Eckhardt (John McLaughlin Trio, Garaj Mahal) and has performed throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, with projects ranging from heavy funk/fusion (Grand Groovement), hip-hop, jazz and soul (Kundidzora). While passionate about any music that expresses emotion, JB loves laying it down.
Jonathan's hard-earned nicknames include Jay, Jnuts, JB and WonTon.
Drummer John Nelson has performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival, backed R&B legend Al Wilson, drummed for Bo Diddley on his 75th anniversary tour and done a lot of session work. He plays a lot of styles but most enjoys laying down funk, rock and hip-hop grooves.
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