Born and raised in Chicago, guitarist/songwriter Michael Bizar took to music at an early age. He began playing guitar at the age of seven and the piano at the age of twelve. During high school, Michael studied music theory, learned to play drums, and performed with several bands. He later attended Columbia College in Chicago where he studied jazz guitar, piano, and composition under the instruction of such great Chicago musicians as Bill Russo, Orbert Davis, and jazz-guitar-wizard Frank Dawson. After graduating in 1995, Michael recruited several of Chicago's finest players to form Citrus, a seven-piece group that featured improvisation while playing rock, jazz, and bluegrass. Citrus had a good four-year run of touring and recording. At the age of 26, Michael moved to San Francisco to get a fresh start. Not long thereafter, AJ Croce called for Michael to fly to San Diego and join him on tour. Since then, Michael has been touring and recording with AJ, teaching his guitar students, doing regular session work, and has played with the likes of Phil Lesh, Jon Fishman, Mike Gordon, Jon Popper, Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey and Jeff Coffin. In May of 2002, Michael founded BIZAR BAZAAR, a weekly Tuesday-night event at the Boom Boom Room that showcases some of the finest talent in Bay Area musicians.
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