Mike Rud

Mike Rud is a JUNO award-winning jazz guitarist and songwriter. Born in Edmonton, Alberta, and based now in Nelson, BC, he is a vocalist and composer who is also a music instructor at Selkirk College in Nelson, BC. He has a master's degree from McGill and studied privately in New York City with one of the fathers of modern jazz guitar, Jim Hall. As an educator, Mike has taught at McGill, Western Washington, and Carleton Universities. As an instrumentalist, Mike has played alongside some of the greatest jazz musicians of the era like Peter Bernstein, Kenny Wheeler, Herb Ellis, and Joey DeFrancesco. As a songwriter and arranger, Mike won the 2014 JUNO Award for his album "Notes on Montreal," a critically acclaimed musical portrait of the city. It was inspired by the great literature set in Montreal (Michel Tremblay, Gabrielle Roy, etc.) and sung by Sienna Dahlen. Mike's subsequent 2015 solo release "Miniatures" delighted audiences across Canada, creating the effect of a small group with only his voice and his guitar. In 2025, he released a new album titled "The Paranormal Adventures of Uncle Mike," which continues his tradition of blending jazz with storytelling. Mike Rud's sophisticated guitar work, warm vocals, and innovative approach to jazz storytelling have made him a distinctive voice in Canadian jazz, equally comfortable as an instrumentalist, vocalist, and composer.

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