Michael J. Miles
Chicago, Illinois, United States | SELF
Music
Press
"Thanks for the music you make!" - Personal Letter
"Thanks for the music you make!" - Personal Letter
"This is one of the most beautiful recordings I've heard in all my 70 years....it's enough to make me want to learn the banjo all over again." - Personal Letter
"This is one of the most beautiful recordings I've heard in all my 70 years....it's enough to make me want to learn the banjo all over again." - Personal Letter
"Miles has dared to take on some of the most dramatic and profound music ever written.... and succeeded." - Chicago Tribune, Howard Reich
"Positively haunting...uniquely Michael's... intriguing...inspired...So what would you expect? I can't say I know too many banjo players who would even think of playing such tunes, let alone perform them so well."
- Banjo Newsletter
“Entertaining, thoughtful mix of music, prose, and poetry.”
- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
“Entertaining, thoughtful mix of music, prose, and poetry.”
- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"International Arts Guide Critics Choice of the Week"
- New York Times
"Musicians like Michael Miles are among the best ambassadors the United States can have." Elisabeth Millard, US Counsel General, Morocco
- Personal Letter
“Absolutely wonderful... funny, wistful, exciting, and thought provoking.”
John Mahoney, Frasier TV Show & Steppenwolf Theatre - Personal Letter
"Highly recommended….an exhilarating, musical and multi-dimensional journey….a provocative political and social history of America.....Give the banjo to Michael Miles and you'll hear a mighty soul-stirring sound!"
- Chicago Sun-Times, Hedy Weiss
"Highly recommended….an exhilarating, musical and multi-dimensional journey….a provocative political and social history of America.....Give the banjo to Michael Miles and you'll hear a mighty soul-stirring sound!"
- Chicago Sun-Times, Hedy Weiss
Discography
COMPACT DISCS
2011: col•lage
2004: New Century Suite
1999: The Magic Banjo
1997: American Bach
1990: Counterpoint
BOOKS
2014: Bob Dylan for Clawhammer Banjo (Hal Leonard)
2013: Folk Songs for Clawhammer Banjo (Hal Leonard)
2012: American Bach
2012: Guitar Ensembles: American & Celtic Melodies
2011: Counterpoint (Mel Bay)
2010: American Fingerstyle Guitar
2009: Great American Songbook for Fingerstyle Guitar
2006: Old Town School of Folk Music Songbook (Hal Leonard)
1984: Teach Yourself To Play Clawhammer Banjo (Kicking Mule)
Photos
Bio
"Give the banjo to Michael Miles and you'll hear a mighty soul-stirring sound." Chicago Sun-TImes
Michael J. Miles is a composer and producer of 'musical documentaries for the stage' with a specialty in clawhammer banjo, fingerstyle guitar and vocals. He is one of America’s most inventive clawhammer banjo players. The Chicago Tribune’s critic Howard Reich said that, “Everything Miles plays is worth savoring.”
His work includes bold orchestrations with string quartet, vibes, flugelhorn, trumpet, percussion, banjo harmony and vocals. Miles has collaborated with world-class players--Bela Fleck, Pete Seeger, Suzy Bogguss, and the Chamber Blues String Quartet.
His one man show, "From Senegal to Seeger: Stories of the American Banjo" received numerous standing ovations in his 2013 tour of Ireland. His newest CD col•lage just received Editor's Choice for one of the best 12 CD's of 2011. "A tour-de-force," said Donald Nitchie, publisher and editor. "Genius," says Lynn Brehmer of WXRT, Chicago.
Miles has been featured at the Smithsonian, the Kennedy Center, Orchestra Hall, Royal Opera Theatre of Marakesh, The Sage Gateshead of UK, Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival in Ireland, Chicago's Harris Theatre, Old Town School of Folk Music, Ravinia Festival and the Musical Instrument Museum.
PLEASE VISIT: www.MilesMusic.org
Links
