Mike Frank

Pianist/Keyboardist, Educator and Arranger/Producer Mike Frank is a fixture of the Metro-Philadelphia jazz community having played for and with — and in many cases been an instructor to — most every jazz musician in the area.  Mike served on faculty at Temple University’s Boyer College of Music and Dance, in both the Jazz and the Music Therapy departments, from 1988 to 2016.  Mike has also taught music at the University of the Arts, the University of Pennsylvania, and Camden County College.

 

Mike’s own studies in jazz piano, composition, and music theory at Temple University included the tutelage of John Valerio, Larry McKenna, Mike Natale, Mike Pedicin, Chuck Israels, Tom Giacabetti, Curtis Harmon, DonnaJean Cocchia, Maurice Wright, and Matthew Greenbaum – among many others!  Graduate work at the University of the Arts afforded him instruction with Don Glanden, Bill Zaccagni, Ron Kerber, Chris Farr, Jeff Kern, among many more.  Mike’s off-campus studies have entailed lessons with Fred Hersch, Andy Laverne, Tom Lawton, Al Stauffer, and more.

 

Besides musicmaking with nearly everyone in Philadelphia’s jazz community, Mike also keeps “one foot planted” firmly in the pop/rock genre, having worked with artists and bands such as the Fractals, Jim Boggia, the Electric Farm, Danielle Santilli, Mike Viola, Ben Arnold, Nate Rylan, and countless others.

 

Most-recently, Mike has been Product Development Manager as well as Client and Artist Relations Lead at RetroLinear, Inc., the nation’s leading restorer of vintage electronic keyboards, spending his days surrounded by Rhodes and Wurlitzer electric pianos, Hammond organs, ancient analog synths…before heading off to the bandstand at night!

 

Moreover, Mike believes in music as a platform for advocacy.  He is honored to have recently performed in Elijah Thomas’ production at the Painted Bride Arts Center, “Scenes from the Life of a Young Man from Philadelphia”, a musical narrative comprised of short symphonic poems, depicting defining moments, circumstances, and aspects of the life of young black musicians. Mike is a co-founder of First Friday Main Line; he’s hosted the Monday evening Community Jazz Night (jam session) in his hometown of Ardmore, PA for nearly two decades; he has taught music lessons for “at-risk” young people at the Christina Cultural Arts Center; he presents civic and neighborhood concerts every season.  Mike is past president of the Save Ardmore Coalition, is a member of the South Ardmore Progressive Civic Association, and a partner in community development with the Lower Merion Board of Commissioners and the Ardmore Initiative.