A veritable “Ambassador of Jazz,” Professor Michael Tracy is one of America’s foremost jazz educators, with more than fifty-two years of performing and teaching experience. In classrooms, studios, and concert halls, he has developed a variety of innovative approaches to jazz education, enabling him to work with students of any proficiency. Tracy has taught and performed throughout the United States and more than fifty countries: Argentina to Australia and China, Brazil to Estonia and Scotland, Cuba to Russia and Singapore. As a Fulbright Specialist, he worked with and advised the jazz programs at the Estonian Music Academy in Tallinn, Estonia (2004), the Tbilisi State Conservatoire in Tbilisi, Georgia (2016), and Universidad de las Américas in Quito, Ecuador (2018-19). In 2024, he helped develop and organize the first ever jazz program in Kenya at Ghetto Classics, based in Nairobi (2024).
In 2023, Tracy retired as Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Louisville School of Music (formally the Jamey Aebersold Jazz Studies Program), where he taught jazz saxophone and numerous classes and ensembles. In addition, he was a faculty member for forty-two years at the widely renowned Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshops. Mr. Tracy is the founder/director of the Louisville Jazz Workshop, a summer jazz experience for adults, and the Brazilian Music Workshop, an immersive experience in the music and culture of Brazil.
Tracy has eight CDs to his credit – Fotografia (2019), Hora Certa (2016), Surfboard (2012), Wingspan (2010), Conversations (2008), Gusting (2004), Tracings (2003), and Facets (1999). Tracy’s publishing accomplishments include authoring the books Jazz Piano Voicings for the Non-pianist, co-authoring Pocket Changes: 421 Standard Chord Progressions and Pocket Changes II, 381 Standard Chord Progressions, and Jazz Saxophone Survey: A Descriptive Analysis of 38 Saxophonists.
Professor Tracy holds a Master of Arts in Higher Education and a Bachelor of Music Performance and Music Education from the University of Louisville. He is also the recipient of two National Endowment for the Arts Study Grants in jazz performance. He is a Yamaha Performing Artist, a DÁddario Artist (playing exclusively on DÁddario Jazz Select Reeds), and a Friend of Bambú (ligatures).