Jazz guitarist and music teacher Mike Rud is celebrating his JUNO win. His album Notes on Montreal featuring vocalist Sienna Dahlen took the hounours for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year. Mike sat down with Neil Coligan on Jazz After 9.

Mike was 11 when he first picked up the guitar and by age 18, his interest had focused specifically on jazz. In 1988, he completed a performance diploma at Edmonton's Grant MacEwan College, and proceeded on to a Bachelor of Music degree at Montreal's McGill University, graduating in 1992.  In 1994, Mike attended the Banff International Jazz Workshop at the Banff Centre for the Arts, studying with greats of modern jazz such as Don Thompson and Norma Winstone.  This led to an opportunity to study in New York with the jazz guitar master Jim Hall in 1995.  In 1996, he returned to Montreal for his Masters' degree at McGill.

Mike has performed with Herb Ellis, Kenny Wheeler, Chuck Israels, Randy Brecker, Ralph Bowen, Joe La Barbera, Guido Basso, Ian MacDougal, P.J. Perry, Tommy Banks, Denzal Sinclaire, John Stetch and many others.  He has three CDs of his own out, Whyte Avenue , Chimbe, and Live from Lotusland, and is a guest on several other CDs.

Mike is currently living in Montreal.