Michael Gleason digs music

Pairing twenty years as a performing and recording guitarist with formal study, Michael brings experience, professionalism, and polish to projects.

Equally comfortable performing on stage, playing on a session, collaborating with a songwriter in the studio, mixing audio, or editing video, I have been fortunate to perform from Alaska to Aruba and from Los Angeles to London (I need to play in some “Z” places - Zanzibar and Zurich, I’m looking at you!), trade solos in studio sessions with musician like Grammy-nominated recording artist Nigel Hall (Tedeschi Trucks Band, Warren Haynes, John Scofield), and record with recording artist / producer Alan Evans (Soulive, Blue Note Records).

Earning my undergraduate degree with honors in Music with a focus on performance, composition, audio engineering, and improvisation, I love partnering with passionate musicians that love their craft.

Along the way, I’ve broken a few strings, dropped enough guitar picks to provide the raw materials to build a house, and picked up a few tips and tricks I look forward to sharing with you.

Outside of music, whether I’m hiking through the Andes in Argentina, eating a Snickers bar at the summit of Mt. Rainier, riding through the Bay Area on my motorcycle, shooting hoops at the local park, or catching some sunshine in my Berkeley, California backyard, I enjoy spending as much time outdoors as possible.

  • High-energy Live Performance

    Particularly in improv-heavy music, there’s something undeniably special and electric about a live performance. From singer-songwriter roots rock to soul jazz organ trios to funk bands, I feel at home in the heat of battle in a live performance. See live dates.

  • Soulful Session Guitar

    Take your project to the next level with tasteful guitar parts tracked with studio-grade instruments, amplifiers, microphones, and outboard gear. Acoustic or electric, modern or vintage tones, jazzy or rocking - if you’re up for a soulful addition, let’s make it happen.

  • Recording & Production

    Whether you’re a songwriter with a fragment of a verse working towards a demo or an artist hungry to lay down a distribution-ready track, I’m passionate about supporting artists realize their vision in a comfortable production space equipped with commercial studio-grade resources. Learn more here.

  • Bespoke Guitar Lessons

    Spice up solos, gain command of the fretboard, master valuable harmonic concepts, learn to recognize and anticipate chord changes, improve left- and right-hand technique, and more with a tailored lesson. Get started with this intake form!

  • For the love of gear

    Whether it’s a vintage tweed amp you’ve finally snagged, a new guitar or pedal, or the outboard gear that puts the final touch on your new vocal chain, Is there any better feeling than finally acquiring the object of your gear acquisition syndrome? Join the gearfest over on Instagram or YouTube.

CURRENT Project Highlights

Stereolust

Stereolust is a roots rock project fronted by Erik Mullin (The Wearies, The Mulroys) and features original music alongside rock, country, and Americana classics from the likes of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, the Rolling Stones, Neil Young, and other rock legends.

Stereolust is putting the finishes touches on their first commercial release while continuing to perform high-energy rock shows across the west coast.

MY Good Buddy

My Good Buddy features the original material of Bay Area singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Mo Sardella alongside interpretations of timeless material from the likes of Bob Dylan, the Grateful Dead, the Beatles, Paul Simon, and Pink Floyd. If you like organic jams in the tradition of the Dead along with tight and soulful roots music, you’re in for a danceable treat. Tie-dye optional.

My Good Buddy features a cast of Bay Area music scene all stars including Ned Patchett - guitar, Michael Gleason - guitar, Jaime Cintado - keyboards, Mike Meagher - bass, and Anna Elva, drums.

Teapot Logic

Teapot Logic is a Bay Area instrumental funk supergroup (although, we’re successfully coaxing drummer Mo Sardella to sing a few tunes) who plays a mix of original material written by bassist Corbett Robinson and upbeat instrumental funk classics from Herbie Hancock, James Brown, Grant Green alongside funky covers of tunes from familiar favorites like the Beatles, Rod Stewart, and even Smokey Robinson.

Teapot Logic features Michael Gleason on guitar, Jaime Cintado on keyboards, Corbett Robinson on bass, and My Good Buddy’s Mo Sardella on drums.