Michael Mordecai has been a successful, award winning trombone player in Austin for 50+ years now.  Livin' the Dream and keeping it weird!

Michael is a member of the Recording Academy having proudly served terms as a Texas Chapter board member and Education Committee Chair.  He is also a member of the American Federation of Musicians (AFM Local 433) and currently serves on the board of  Austin Texas Musicians.  Michael is a founding member of the Austin Jazz Society.

Time Flies 

. . . when you're making music!  And Michael has made a lot of great music logging 50 YEARS as a trombone player in Austin, Texas since 1970.

An original member of the legendary Beto y los Fairlanes, having the honor of performing with Count Basie drummer, Butch Miles, Tribal Tech’s drummer Kirk Covington and critically acclaimed jazz composer John Mills as well as playing Broadway shows just scratches the surface of his 50+ year career.  He has recorded and performed with Carole King, Willie Nelson, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Ray Benson, Maynard Ferguson, Manhattan Transfer, Jerry Jeff Walker, Eliza Gilkyson and many others. 

A freelance trombone player and entrepreneur, Michael opened the doors of BBA/Management and Booking in 1973.  What started as a business card with a name he grabbed from the title of his freshly framed diploma, and a red phone on a desk in tiny S. Austin apartment, has grown into a company that buys talent nationwide for two successful venue chains as well as contracting musicians for Bass Concert Hall, the Paramount Theatre, the Long Center, ACL Live, Riverbend Church and other Texas theaters.  He is the talent buyer Eddie V's nationwide and for the world renowned jazz club, Elephant Room, where he continues his famous Monday Night Jazz Jam - a jam he has hosted for 30+ years. 
  
He owns Fable Records, one of the oldest independent record labels in Texas, established 1n 1975, specializing exclusively in Austin original music written by award winning composers and songwriters.

Mordecai has served on the City of Austin Music Commission, the Austin Musician’s Union board, The Texas Music Association and was a founding board member of the Texas Chapter of the Recording Academy.  He has appeared both as a guest artist and as a guest speaker for colleges around the state including the University of Texas at Austin, Texas Tech University, Texas State University and The University of North Texas. He has taught music business courses at Austin Community College, MediaTech Institute, and Texas State University.

While still in high school in Denton, Texas, Mordecai was called to fill a chair in the 2nd summer Lab Band at North Texas State University and upon his high school graduation was offered a music scholarship there. Instead, he chose to follow his older brother and major in business at the University of Texas in Austin. He joined the UT Jazz Ensemble, and it was there he formed many cherished friendships and collaborations that fostered a number of the influential local bands who became mainstays of the Austin music scene throughout the 70s and 80s.  Bands morphed into other bands, musicians evolved in their careers and the collaborative spirit continues making music with old friends in new ways, such as John Mills Time Ten while creating new ties with artists like Kris Kimura, Matt Wilson, Kat Edmonson, Dave Madden and David Messier.  He's had the joy of working with artists like Tomas Ramirez, Dan Del Santo, the Brew, Marcia Ball, Native Sun, Jazzaholics, Bad Mutha Goose, Walter Hyatt, Steven Fromholz, Mr. Fabulous (aka Dino Lee), and so many other Austin staples.

Now in his 50th year as an Austin musician, Mordecai is grateful for being a part of such a close knit, supportive community who’s truly unique history has grown with such heart, such soul and continues to expand in talent, diversity and individuality.  He’s looking forward to continuing the journey into the next 50 years.

 

Life in Seven Year Chapters 

Life (for me) unfolds in 7 year chapters.

1-7     Baby/Walking, Talking, Mom & LOVE;
8-14   Books & Baseball;
15-21 Trombone & Girls;
22-28 Fable Records & ORNOTS;
29-35 Symphony Square & BETO;
36-42 BBA & Riverbend;
43-50 Growing Up & Getting Married;
51-57 Home & Responsibility;
58-63 BBA & MediaTech;
63-70 Travel for Eddie V's;
70-     Forced retirement



In 2020, as CHAPTER 10 ends...COVID-19 hits bringing a glimpse of life in retirement...OR NOT

I’m thinking the next 7 years will bring time to return to the Fable table!