For 17 years, Mick Wilson and Connie Michael have provided a vibrant soundtrack to life in the Grand Valley as members of Fifth Reel, a Celtic contra dance band, and Rosewood & Ivory, a jazz duo. Wilson plays the clarinet and loves jazz. Michael plays the piano and adores traditional music. Friends and colleagues, they’ve converted one another to an expanded repertoire which they happily share, providing the gift of music to diverse local audiences.

Originally from Pennsylvania, Wilson describes himself as a musical “late bloomer.” While he “hated” band in junior high school, by the time he got to college, he wanted to be a music educator. After relocating from Pennsylvania to Nucla, Colorado, Wilson moved to Grand Junction when the uranium economy busted in the 1980s. “Moving to Grand Junction was the best thing that ever happened to me,” he exudes, noting that in addition to teaching band at West, Fruita and Redlands Middle Schools, he played in the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra, the Western Colorado Jazz Orchestra and found “lots of other performance opportunities” throughout Mesa County.

An accomplished pianist and keyboardist, Michael has a background in both “bar room honky tonk piano” and classical training. “For my 9th birthday, I was given piano lessons as a gift,” she explains. “The classical teacher wasn’t available, so I started with a bar room player, which made a big difference in what I play now.”

Like Wilson, Michael attended college to study music. While a student, she discovered traditional contra dance music and left the classical world behind.

Wilson and Michael met when he was her sons’ middle school band director. Soon, Michael invited Wilson to a Celtic jam session. When Wilson arrived, he realized he was the only woodwind, and one tuned to B-flat at that. On the fly, he sight-read and transposed the music. It was the first of many jam sessions he’d attend and the beginning of a group called Fifth Reel, which, with fiddler Norm Ashley and caller Ron Young, introduced contra dance culture to the community.

Linda Roush of Grand Junction is a big fan; twice a month, she heads downtown for live Celtic music at the Springhill Suites. “I love Irish music,” shares Roush. “After five years of coming to these jam sessions, I’ve become friends with the musicians and friends with others in the audience. We’ve become a community.”

The duo’s other ensemble, Rosewood & Ivory, plays more formal gigs. Through the years, they’ve performed at a variety of venues from brunches to weddings to concerts and other special events. Performing jazz standards and Michael’s original waltz compositions, one of their favorite places to play is at senior care facilities, such as assisted living and nursing homes. “The audience really relates to the music,” shares Michael. “And, they are so grateful.”

Cappella of Grand Junction, agrees. “Rosewood & Ivory have been blessing our community with their harmonic piano and jazz clarinet since we opened our doors in 2017. We feel fortunate to have such caring people continue to share their beautiful talent with our residents.”

In addition to sharing their musical talents, Wilson especially has found that the gift of music is an important lifeline. Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2008, he credits a “really slow progression” to playing music and boxing in a special program for those with Parkinson’s. “I’m actually lucky to be a musician,” says Wilson, noting that music and performing keep him from getting depressed. “There are days when I have trouble buttoning my shirt in the morning, but I can still get around the horn.”

Looking to the future, Michael and Wilson plan to keep on doing what they’re doing as long as they can. “The people we’ve met, the connections we’ve made and the joy that we share with others is a great community thing,” explains Michael. And while both Fifth Reel and Rosewood & Ivory have cut back on performances since the pandemic, Michael notes that they continue to build their repertoire.

“We like doing our own thing,” she says, “playing what we’re feeling each day.”

Originally published in the Fall 2023 issue of Spoke+Blossom.

Mick Wilson + Connie Michael: The Gift Of Music