Stage Magic

Personel

Mike Prigodich: piano John Nastos: sax Damian Erskine: bass Reinhardt Melz: drums Carmelo Torres: percussion

Track Listing

Ferryland A Measure Of Luck The Spice Of Life Kate’s Antic (for Rob Lucke) Armando’s Birthday Haiku A Charmed Life Play Structure The Wizard Of Odd

Artist Biography

Mike Prigodich is a trailblazing jazz fusion pianist, composer, and bandleader whose music defies genre boundaries and embraces complexity with unflinching clarity. Based in Oregon, Prigodich draws inspiration from artists like Chick Corea, Dave Grusin, Yellowjackets, and others, but his sound is unmistakably his own—melding jazz with Latin, rock, and global influences to create emotionally rich, rhythmically daring compositions.

Prigodich made his mark with the release of his acclaimed 2011 debut album, A Stitch in Time, featuring an all-star lineup including Damian Erskine, Reinhardt Melz, and John Nastos. Funded through a successful Kickstarter campaign following a life-altering cancer diagnosis in 2008, the album was both a personal and artistic milestone. His story—of transformation through adversity—has become part of the music’s emotional DNA.

In 2025, Prigodich returned with Stage Magic, a stunning live album recorded at Classic Pianos in Portland. Capturing the unfiltered energy and synergy of his ensemble, the album showcases Prigodich’s signature compositional style: odd time signatures, intricate harmonies, and melodies that are as memorable as they are complex. Stage Magic is a masterclass in 21st-century jazz fusion – “a sonic journey brimming with inventive melodies, rhythmic complexity, and a deep sense of play.” (Jazz Chill Music)

His work has earned high praise from jazz luminaries. Chick Corea called his music “wonderful, beautiful, really great,” and George Whitty (Brecker Brothers) described his debut album as “one of those discs you want to hear again as soon as it’s finished.”

At once cerebral and soulful, Mike Prigodich’s music offers more than virtuosity—it offers vision. As a composer and performer, he continues to shape the future of jazz fusion with fearless creativity, technical brilliance, and an unwavering commitment to authenticity.