Conservatory of Music

Michael Zisman

Mr. Zisman is joining the faculty in the fall of 2008 as a lecturer in jazz studies.  He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from New Jersey's William Paterson College, where he studied jazz with teachers such as Rufus Reid, Todd Coolman, Harold Mabern, Joe Lovano, and Norman Simmons.

After moving to New York City in 1985, Michael began performing with jazz legends Cecil Payne, Junior Cook, George Coleman, Phil Woods, Jimmy Cobb, David "Fathead" Newman, Clark Terry, Eddie Henderson, Ernestine Anderson, Jerome Richardson, Kenny Burrell, Herb Geller, Don Friedman, Junior Mance, Mundell Lowe, James Williams and many others.  Michael also performs and records with some of the jazz stars of today including Eric Alexander, Jim Rotondi, Joe Farnsworth, Steve Davis, David Hazeltine, Andrew Speight, Dena DeRose, Akira Tana, and Matt Wilson.

In 2000, Michael returned to the San Francisco Bay Area to serve as the Artistic Director, Education Director and Programs Manager of the Stanford Jazz Workshop (SJW) and Festival until 2006.  He currently teaches bass at San Francisco State University and continues to perform with many top jazz artists in addition to conducting clinics in music education and the music business for jazz schools, festivals and conferences around the country, as well as serving as a consultant for agents and artists, festivals, clubs and music education organizations.

Michael is also the creator and editor of "The Real Easy Book", a fakebook and resource text for beginning improvisers and music teachers, published by Sher Music in 2003.  Volume 2 of the "Real Easy Book" came out in 2004.  Over 30,000 copies have been sold to date.

Michael Zisman
Conservatory of Music
University of the Pacific
Stockton CA 95211