Michael Zaitchik
Piano & Vocals

It's All About The Music

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Michael Zaitchik is a classically trained pianist (Boston University), with a repertoire covering many styles, including classical, jazz, blues, show tunes, ragtime, swing, and pop standards; from JS Bach to Warren Zevon.

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Michael started his musical education at age 6 ½ and studied with concert pianist Nevarte Adrian and received national honors from the National Guild of Piano Auditions in Boston. At age 14 he was a featured soloist with the Melrose Symphony Orchestra where he performed the first movement of the Mozart Piano Concerto in A (K488).                                              

After graduating from Boston University with a Bachelor of Music in the Performing Arts, he was an accompanist for the Zamir Chorale of Boston for six years. He toured with them in England and Israel. They performed in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem with conductor Daniel Barenboim and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.

Michael played in the James Cotton Band, with whom he toured the US and Canada. The James Cotton Band at that time included Michael on keyboards, Matt “Guitar” Murphy (of the Blues Brothers), bassist Charles Calmese, drummer Kenny Johnson and Colin Tilton on saxophone. You can hear this ultimate boogie band line up on the recording “Live and On the Move” recorded live at the Shaboo Inn in Connecticut.                     

Matt and Michael, The Zaitchik Brothers, won Chuck Barris’ “Gong Show” while working in California. The bass player for the Gong Show Band, Ray Neapolitan, and guitarist Freddie Tackett joined Michael and Matt for recording sessions. It was Jimmy Webb’s brother, Gary who engineered Michael and Matt’s sessions at Jimmy Webb’s studio. Charles Calmese and Kenny Johnson of the James Cotton Blues Band and the Steve Miller Band can also be heard on one of those sessions.      

Back to Boston, and Michael formed the Zaitchik Brothers Band together with his brother Matt. They were joined by former James Montgomery bassist, Steve Chall, drummer Gene Melandreras of Dominic Trioano’s band, and Matt "Guitar” Murphy. The band worked locally for a short time and then hit the road.  They made their way to New York and then on to Canada. Later they were joined by guitarist Greg Baril and saxophonist Colin Tilton, who can also be heard playing flute on Van Morrison’s “Moon Dance”. The Zaitchik Brothers Band soon became a force to be reckoned with, gaining attention and airplay with their original material. Songs like “Car Trouble” and “Jazz Lady” soon became regular radio requests in the Boston and Hartford radio markets.   

After touring, Michael continued as bandleader of The Zaitchik Brothers Band; performing as a general business band for countless weddings and corporate events. He was joined by amazing musical colleagues such as David Fuller on drums/vocals, Kevin Parham on bass, Wynn Young on guitar & sax, Marc Fuller on electric violin, and Ricardo Monzon on percussion. Along with his brother Matt, other gifted vocalists worked with him during this time, including his daughters Sasha & Jacki, and  Athene Wilson.                  

Michael had the pleasure of working once again with Blues legend, James Cotton, and his kickin’ band when it included Noel Neal, “Slam” Allen, Tom Holland, and Kenny Neal Jr. at performances in Boston and at Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun Casino.

Michael's music continues to evolve. He performs New England area venues and for private functions.