Michael Lloyd Band

"Liguori and his associates are clearly talented, as Highwaters indicates." - Denver Westword

"One of Boulder’s best kept secrets is about to bust wide open. Michael Lloyd Band will shortly look back on when they were just an obscurity. Their new release Highwaters, a six-song collection of some of the most professional piano rock to hit the Front Range since Ben Folds last visited here, is shockingly strong. What’s most amazing is that the EP is a debut for the local act, but sounds as professional as Joe Jackson or, as another reviewer put it, 'It’s as if Steely Dan were writing hip songs today.' Singer/songwriter/pianist Mike Liquori studied jazz at CU Boulder and has surrounded himself with other alumni — as well as other Front Range staples — for the release, which should earn them an honorary doctorate it’s so good." (January 2006) - Marquee Magazine Music Review (Jan. 2006)

"Denver's Michael Lloyd Band has created one of the most refreshing local discs I've received in the past three years. Strong piano playing, smooth vocals and tight melodies make this easy rock groover a true winner." -- Vince Darcangelo, managing editor, Boulder Weekly - Boulder Weekly (3/10/06)

"Denver’s Michael Lloyd creates music that is easy to like from the catchy, piano driven funk grooves to the soulful vocals. Almost like a jazzier Ben Folds Five, you can tell Michael pays attention to song-crafting while not writing over your head and keeping the enjoyment factor intact. Songs like 'Wildfire,' '45 At A Time' and the Harry Connick-ish ballad 'So Easily' are subtly brilliant." - Mark Waterbury - Music Morsels industry newsletter (5/06)

"From the first moment on 'Highwaters,' I was thoroughly impressed with their piano-centric pop-rock songs. Imagine Ben Folds with Jamiroquai’s smooth vocals and groovy basslines. Denver, Colorado is their home fort and if they know what’s good for them they’ll be supporting this band and helping them achieve the national exposure that they deserve." -- Smother.net, 11/2005
- Smother.net Music Reviews

"Singer/pianist Mike Liguori who was born in Anchorage, Alaska and grew up in Morristown, New Jersey, sent me a track that I have been listening to non-stop since the beginning of 2006. Michael's soothingly emotive voice provides the perfect narration for a story that is driven by his jazzy, progressive piano playing style which is comparable to Bruce Hornsby and Joe Jackson, but has a contemporary edge which is fused with an organic Pop production. This is a catchy tune that can easily be serviced to music licensing companies." (January 2006) - Gian Fiero, musesmuse.com senior music critic

"I love my job. Instead of having to visit a hundred clubs, I just have to sit back and wait for my editor to send me amazing indie CDs. This is one of them. It’s a rock/funk/jazz disc rich with hooky piano riffs and solid musicianship. There’s a little bit of retro here, like The Crusaders met up with Elton John (in his Madman Across the Water period) in a smoky club and jammed the night away. And people, if you ain’t moving your booty to this one, you’re dead.

Mike Liguori holds down the songwriting, lead vocals and keyboard duties, the arrangements built around his clear expressive voice and piano. Sporting a Dave Matthews sensibility, he sings about tragedy, relationships and bank robbing, sometimes all in the same cut. “Highwaters” is a love song with a great Bruce Hornsby-like piano solo in the middle. “45 at a Time” has a cool Hammond organ sound, horns, drums and more, uh huh. “So Easily” is a melancholy ballad with a tasty acoustic bass from Gonzalo Teppa. “Leave Well Enough Alone” is Norah Jones mellow but the lush pop arrangement wouldn’t dare medicate you into sleep.

“Wildfire” is about the biggest wildfire in the history of Colorado. Jefferson Hamer channels Bela Fleck, playing his banjo in tandem with Liguori’s piano. It’s not bluegrass but some wonderful hybrid that any jazz fusion fan would enjoy. In fact, every guy in this band is talented. Not one of them is a “Hey I do this one thing well so I’ll do it over and over again” kind of musician. Versatile and interesting, the arrangements are complex but with plenty of space so you don’t feel like it’s a giant boxing ring and they’re all fighting for that big solo.

Buy this album. You may not love your job as much as I love mine but for the 26 minutes of this EP you can pretend you’re as lucky." -- Jamie Anderson (February 2006) - Indie-Music.com Featured Music Review

ML Band's debut, the Highwaters EP, was named one of the Top 25 CDs of 2006 by the editors at Indie-Music.com.

Indie-Music.com's Jamie Anderson wrote: "Unpretentious creative fusion between funk, jazz, and rock, all centered on Lloyd's rhythmic keyboard work. If mainstream radio was playing this kind of music, I'd tune in." - The Editors of Indie-Music.com

"The only way to describe the Michael Lloyd Band is through its members. Mike Liguori, 29, was born in Anchorage, Ak., grew up in Jersey and was knee deep in the Front Range scene throughout his stint at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Jim Ruberto, from western New York, rocks the hell out of steel guitar on cue and is a pretty killer producer and musician. The drummer, John Nelson, has backed Al Wilson, and bassist Jonathan Barkin has studied with Kai Eckhardt of Garaj Mahal. Face it, they’re cooler than you. Plus, the noteworthy artwork on the website is almost as unique as the deliciously bad-ass jazz-gone-jam that, once it’s stamped its place in your skull, will make you preemptively groove."

Other 2006 Marquee award winners:
Rose Hill Drive (Megaforce/SCI Fidelity)
Devotchka (soundtrack of "Little Miss Sunshine")
Polytoxic (multiple Westword awards) - Marquee Magazine