Mike performs as a duo with Eddie Kirkwood (keyboards) and additional musicians can be arranged as required.
Mike Laatz started playing drums at the age of 12, and saxophone at 16. Although he has had no formal music training, he taught himself to read music at a young age, and has had a long and varied music career, having played with virtually all the well-known jazz musicians in both Durban and Cape Town. He specialises in mellow, melodic standards, but occasionally ventures into wild and wooly rock ‘n roll (to blow the cobwebs out of the saxes).
A few years back, he played tenor sax with George Haydn’s big band in Durban, as well as fronting his own jazz band.
He has headlined at Jazz at the Nassau, Cape Town, with the Andrew Ford trio.
He plays lead alto sax with Roderick Connoly big band, and has played with them at places like the Baxter Theatre.
Together with guitarist Gary Kriel, he was chosen to perform the jazz component on the RMS St Helena’s last music tour.
He has been part of Gilbert Lang’s Evergreen Showband for the past five years, with a weekly residency in Tyger Valley.
Together with Pianist Eddie Kirkwood, he has played at both branches of Jakes (up-market Cape Town restaurants) every week for the past 8 months.
In addition, he has played for dozens of corporate functions and weddings.
He has recorded with Jack van Poll as guest artist on his first released CD (with Andrew Ford, Basil Moses, Kevin Gibson and Cecily Pepler).
Other achievements include:
His CDs have been chosen as “Album of the week” by 3 South African radio stations.
His CD with the Andrew Ford trio was chosen as a promotional tool by the Pam Golding Group.
He has recorded with Eddie Kirkwood…once again, “Album of the week” on Radio 2000.
He is also highly sought-after as a session saxophonist, and has recorded with several vocalists.
