Michael Gurrola
Acoustic Bass
About
Mike Gurrola is a jazz bassist based in Los Angeles who has established himself as a first-call musician on the city's jazz scene. He began performing professionally while still a student at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, and by graduation had turned down conservatory scholarships to pursue his already active career. A protege of John Clayton, Gurrola has performed with Eric Reed, Benny Green, Jeff Hamilton, Ralph Moore, Pharoah Sanders, Benny Golson, Kenny Burrell, Larry Goldings, Harry Allen, Houston Person, Jane Monheit, Bob Reynolds, and Sarah McKenzie. He has appeared at the Monterey Jazz Festival, the North Sea Jazz Festival, and the Kennedy Center as a member of the Monterey Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, and performed with Benny Golson's 90th Birthday Quartet at the 2019 Playboy Jazz Festival. He also studied classical bass at the Colburn School of Music.
Trivia
Gurrola was the inaugural recipient of LACHSA's Ray Brown Scholarship, presented by Ray Brown's widow Cecilia, which funded his studies with John Clayton. He was selected for the Monterey Next Generation Jazz Orchestra two separate years during high school, an unusual distinction. He earned a scholarship to Berklee College of Music's five-week jazz workshop, led by Terri Lyne Carrington, but chose not to attend conservatory full-time because he was already too busy working as a professional bassist.
Early Life
Mike Gurrola was born on January 22, 1991, in Redwood City, California, and grew up in La Crescenta in the Los Angeles area. He began playing violin in elementary school and later taught himself guitar. In middle school, he switched to the upright bass and discovered a natural affinity for the instrument. He attended the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, where he immersed himself in jazz and won awards at various competitions with his school jazz band. During high school, he began frequenting jam sessions at Los Angeles jazz clubs and quickly started getting hired as a sideman. He also studied privately with John Clayton and pursued classical training at the Colburn School. By the time he graduated, he had a burgeoning career as a professional bassist and opted not to attend conservatory.
Michael Gurrola Solos
2021
Acoustic Bass solo - Minority - 2021
4/4 swing in F minor at 218 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - Isfahan - 2021
4/4 swing in Dâ™ major at 98 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - A Foggy Day - 2021
4/4 latin in F major at 194 BPM
Acoustic Bass solo - Blue in Green - 2021
4/4 funk in D minor at 98 BPM