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Michael Burr Michael Burr, a lifetime resident of Oakland, began learning to play the violin at age four. His mother encouraged him to practice every day, and when he was a little older he would roller skate to his lessons with Detlev Olshausen. While serving in the Navy Michael played trombone in a jazz combo, and on the breaks, the bassist gave him some pointers about playing bass. That was when the bass bug bit. In the 60s Michael studied bass with Homer Mensch, and even though jazz was his real passion, he moved on to become principal bassist with the San Francisco Symphony. He held that position for 34 years, while raising his three children. Now, having retired from the symphony, Michael is again out and about playing jazz, when he's not sailing on the bay, or playing with his four grandsons. O1C Performances: Dennis Finnegan |
