MICHAEL CRUSE

Michael Cruse is a trumpeter and singer, nd the Middle School Jazz Academy Band Director for Jazz at Lincoln Center. Michael has performed and studied with jazz greats such as Roy Hargrove, Les McCann, JD Allen, Terence Blanchard, Javon Jackson, Lew Soloff, Wynton Marsalis, Delfeayo Marsalis, Jason Marsalis, John Fedchock, Fareed Haque, Vince DiMartino, Gail Wynters, Byron Stripling, Jeff Hamilton, John Von Ohlen, and Kevin Harris.

Michael has also performed in several groups for Bootsy Collins, KeKe Wyatt, Keisha Cole, Mike Phillips, Chantae Cann, Damian Sneed, Marc Broussard, and Clyde Brown (Drifters). Michael was also a part of the filming of “Miles Ahead” and portrayed NYC-based trumpeter and recording artist, Ernie Royal, starring Don Cheadle as Miles Davis (r. April 2016), as well as filming for HBO’s Lovecraft Country, released 2020.