Pianist/composer Mike Catalano is a jazz artist with a bent toward melodic smooth jazz and a particular interest in Brazilian music. Born in New York City, Catalano studied classical piano growing up and eventually attended the Five Towns College of Music. During this time he began writing and performing his own music and developed a deep love of bossa nova. A subsequent trip to Brazil led to Catalano's debut album, A Rio Affair. Featuring both Brazilian and New York artists including drummer Steve Gadd, bassist Mark Egan, guitarist Ricardo Silveira, and bassist Nico Assumpção, the album was released on Polygram in Brazil. In the '90s, Catalano branched out into television work, even composing all the music for the tabloid news program A Current Affair. Since that time, he has performed regularly with his own ensemble, and released A Manhattan Affair on his own Catman Records label in 2007. ~ Matt Collar