In The Blue Monday Jazz & Gin

In 2016, In The Blue started creating music and playing gigs in Detroit. Recently, In The Blue Jazz Ensemble has been building a reputation as a great local talent in West Michigan. In The Blue Jazz Ensemble provides exciting live jazz music, including arrangements from the great American songbook, hard bop, latin, and jazz fusion!

Michael Drost is currently a professor of jazz at Grand Valley State University where he teaches jazz improvisation, jazz guitar, jazz bass and coaches the small jazz ensembles. Michael divides his time performing and teaching music throughout West Michigan. Michael's versatility as a multi-instrumentalist has allowed him to share the stage with an eclectic mix of musicians including Caissie Levy (Wicked, Ghost), Jonathan Brandmeier, Frank Stallone, John Slade, Paul Mabin, Michael Harvey, Mel Torme, Kenny Werner, Darmon Meader, and the touring cast of “Anything Goes”. Throughout his career Michael has performed with many notable Midwest musical groups and artists such as the Take Three Jazz Trio, Standing Room Only Orchestra, Generations, Groove Merchant, Groove Solution, Daniel James Band, NYCO, Three Cent Stomp and the Holland Symphony Orchestra. As a multi-instrumentalist/composer/music producer Michael has been a regular in many studios and jingle houses. His playing and compositions can be heard on television and radio ads, including spots for Amtrak, Discover Card, Comcast Sports, CNN Sports Retro, America's Test Kitchen, The Musky Hunter, Tim Hawkin's Comedy, The Huntin' Junky and many more. Much of Michael's most recent music production work has been composed and produced for a royalty free music library named Digital Juice. His music continues to receive national and international network placement. Michael graduated Cum Laude with a B.A. from Western Michigan University. During his formative years Drost studied with Craig Linenberger, Steve Zegree, Trent Kynaston, Fareed Haque, Tom Knific and Bob Palmieri. While at WMU, Michael received two Down Beat magazine awards: "Best Jazz Instrumentalist" and "Best Blues/Pop/Rock Group".