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CURRENT NEWS-------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------YOU CAN NOW GET DIGITAL DOWNLOADS OF "PARA VISION" AS WELL AS MY NEW CD "ETHICS vs LOGIC" FROM SOLARGUITARS.COM. AFTER APRIL 18 YOU CAN ALSO PURCHASE BOTH CD"S AT SOLARGUITARS.COM , ABSTRACT LOGIX.COM , AUDIOPHILLE.COM ,MOTORCITYGUITARS.COM ,AND CD BABY ----------------IT"S OFFICIAL !! I WILL BE EXCEPTING A LIMITED AMOUNT OF STUDENTS AT MOTOR CITY GUITAR. ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ -----------------------------------------------------------M y new CD " Ethics vs Logic " is gonna be off the charts !WOW !!! Is the only word I can think of to describe the feeling I have about the upcoming CD. I’ve been so blessed to have some of the finest Players on the PLANET to agree to grace this project. So far the line up is looking like thisBASS:Eddie KohenCheikh NdoyeDamian ErskinJeff BerlinVIOLIN:Joe DeninzonDRUMS:Greg TylerCindy BlackmanCharles StuartErik WilhelmKEYBOARDS:Rachel ZOmar TajiBob SworaskiJimmy PittsDavid Sancious ? ( hope’n this can happen)NEEDLESS to say we are talking some insane chops and fusion music to challenge the senses ! I’m working some things out and am in the recording process now. Unfortunately I suffered some nerve damage that effected my left hand in June 07 which set things back a few months. I’m currently almost fully recovered after 3 months of treatments and specialized care from my Dr. and very good friend Chuck Shiemke who has been there at clinics and gigs after my injury just to make sure I was OK. What Dr does that ? Under his care I’m back up to speed and am playing better than before the injury ! I’ve been in contact with everybody and their all ready, some have even gotten their tracks done and they are AWESOME !! All these musicians are the very TOP LEVEL of musicianship and are each personal inspirations to me. I feel like I’m in the Justice League . ha ha .I’m way too exicted, and I can’t wait to start. The new material is also quite strong and with players like this the sky is’nt even the limit ! Look for this to be released late fall, and hold on to your hats !----------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------As of Dec 07 , Charles Stuart and myself are no longer working on CHOP SHOP PROJECT. The project is offically over, however there are 2 CD’s which will remain availible.-------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------Peace and tube ampsMik------------------------------Para Vision Review--------------------------------I first heard Mikhal Caldwell’s music, well, not long ago and I was astounded by the rich textural composition and arrangements, the beautiful sense of harmony balanced against the furious lines, the groove so deep I couldn’t sit still but so stunned by his energy and magic that I couldn’t move.Having had the chance to hear a preview of the songs from this album, I can say that, in complete affront to all logic, Mikhal is even better now than he was then! His compositions are even more lush and elegant in their rhythmic complexity and harmonic structures, the arrangements full of labyrinthine wonderment, the playing simply brilliant. Mikhal the composer is both enlightened and inspired. Mikhal the guitarist is downright amazing. He really shines, though, when he brings in the other fabulous musicians on this disc - feeding off their energy and creativity, and taking the music to terrifying yet enchanting heights.Mikhal is the best-kept secret not only in the world of guitar, but in the world of music. It’s high time for the secret to be out.=====It lives up to what we should ALL be saying about your music.As soon as I get the CD, I’ll write a review up for Tinfoil and then ask Anne & Joe to re-post it in various publications (MusicDish, Guitar-9, etc.) and promote it via ShredZone, Insane Guitar, iBM, Vai.com, etc.I hope you sell a million of these!-- David M. McLean Skinny Devil Music Lab http://www.skinnydevil.com 859.420.2007
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.. MIKHAL CALDWELL’S DEBUT SOLO CD PARA VISIONAs far back as the beginning of recognized art and culture, man has been driven by what some would call a VISION. This force of nature has been responsible for the evolution of our very existence. It has been given many names through out time such as "The Gift", a "Vail", and even "The Third eye". There is also another kind of vision; a PARA VISION, which is defined as a position where one is allowed to see every conceivable angle of everything. PARA VISION can be also viewed as a pure form of truth from which there is no shelter from observing it from all sides. This recording from Guitarist/Composer Mikhal Caldwell represents a very honest and powerful revelation of truth in music. Mikhal’s masterful composing style allows for some of the most intense musicianship seen on any recorded project, and is full of his unique original style of guitar playing. This CD contains some of the most impressive performances of some of the most talented and visionary musicians, that are the new breed of artist to continue the journey into the new Fusion Movement. With an impressive line up of special featured guests (Sunanda Kishore, Eddie Kohan, Cheikh Ndoye, Freeman Spells Jr., Charles Stuart, Matt Ownby, Ken Tyler and Al Caldwell) the recording is a gathering and breeding ground of virtuoso chops. Truly an original modern day quest into a PARA VISION of the new Fusion Movement.TRACKS 1.U Don’t Say 2.Atonement 3.Dark Knight 4.Into the Light 5.X Man 6.12th Round 7.Fused $14.99 US
Awesome, Amazing, Unbelievible are all very common terms when hearing fans decribe the playing of Mikhal. Mik has come a long way from playing a $19 Decca Guitar in the mirror mimicking Jimi Hendrix at 10 years old. At 12, his grandmother purchased his first "real guitar" and provided him with the encouragement to play. By his early teens he began to transform his Hendrix inspired pentatonic / blues scale style, into a wide range investigating different genres of music.Mikhal was captivated by middle-eastern music. After several damaged turntables and hundreds of broken strings, Mikhal began to understand the sitar musical style of Ravi Shankar and the important influences of players like John Coltrane, David Sancious,Chick Corea, Jeff Beck, Ray Gomez, Allan Holdsworth, John Goodsall, just to name a few.For the last 20 years Mikhal has been an underground legend and a "guitarist guitarist". He is the co founder/guitarist/composer of the now disbanded burning fusion band CSP ( Chop Shop Project). In these times when anybody who can spell the word is dubbed "a virtuoso", Mikhal shines as an example of the real meaning of the word . He is a visionary . With the innovation of the blending of cultures and art in music, visionary musicians have been released to explore endless combinations of genres and sounds.These musicians have pushed the excepted limits of music and technique to levels once never dreamed of. In the beginning of this movement John Coltrane, Miles Davis and others started this freedom of music which grew into the musical influences of Chick Corea, John McLaughlin, Larry Coryell .This yet evolved again into the next group of explorers such as Brand X, Yellow Jackets etc into the current colletive now such as Greg Howe, Tony MacAlpine, Cab, Ohm. Mikhal is a player that express’s all that fire that has come in that music’s rich history. While his recordings have captured that fire and demonstrate his strong compostion and undenible guitar playing skills, it’s in his live shows that you see the pure improvisational power that sets him far apart from the generic jazz and rock soloist. Caldwell has 4 recordings released that range from his 2 CD’s with The True Stories Orchestra Light of Truth 1999 Balance 2000Both Avant Guard/Fusion masterpieces that feature Reed masters Faruq Z Bay and Michael ( The Terminator) Carey in an unyeilding creative tag team combined with Caldwell’s unique shred/bop over the top playing. These early recordings only gave a glimpse of what was to come in his next 2 recordings with his fusion band ( now disbanded) CSP ( Chop Shop Project ).Mikhal says that working with the musicians in this project was a constant love/hate relationship and took too much of a toll upon him just to attempt to be creative without the hassles of personal issues that over time became bigger and more important than the music itself. The project ended due to that, but did manage to complete and released 2 CD’sEarth Music 2002 Leap of Faith 2003Earth Music featured all acoustic instrumental compositions of Mikhal’s in the setting of just acoustic guitar, and percussion . The result was a Blend of Middle Eastern/Jazz/Funk played with such intensity that it was recieved by even the metal, prog rock and shred fans with respect and awe . But the next recording, the very electric Leap of Faith, is the CD that has solidifed him as an underground guitar hero. His agressive style of play brought comparisons to guitarists such as Greg Howe and Shawn Lane’s masterful control over the fretboard. It also brought him to the attention of WCSB Fusion Radio Legend , DJ Randy Allar who had been hearing of Mikhal from people like Frank Marino, Victor Wooten, Al DiMeola, Greg Howe and Larry Coryell for years before he ever heard his music. After recieving some music and meeting Mik, Randy call’s Mikhal his favorite guitarist. His nitro charged playing and passionate composition skill is well documented on Leap of Faith. His music takes flight as he goes from full out jazz/rock shred on tunes like The return of the mysterious Dr X , Mental Floss and the title track " Leap of Faith" to the hornlike liquidly seamless phrasing of the beautiful "Attonement". Currently Mikhal has completed his first solo release " Para Vision " featuring the drumming of Matt "O - Change" Ownby formerly with Elton John, Charles Stuart of the Charles Stuart Trio, Eddie Kohen, Chiekh Ndoye and Freemon Spells. 2008 is looking even more promising as there is a new CD titled " Ethics vs Logic" planned on being released in winter featuring Cindy Blackman, Greg Tyler, Joe Deninzon, Patti Ballinas, Eddie Kohen, Cheikh Ndoye, Damian Erskin, Bob Sworaski , Jimmy Pitts and Jeff Berlin, Romero Wyatt . Also look for tour dates for Mik with his fusion trio and quartet" .----------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ -----------------------------------QUOTES:------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ -----------------------------"Your stuff is refreshing. New,unique ideas, sounds like your live gig would be exciting. I’m listening to ’Silat’ with that Arab [oude?] drum. Wait a minute! That crazy ending - ’You can’t do that!!!" JOHN GOODSALL---------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------Mik, That’s SLAMMING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CINDY BLACKMAN---------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------- "The driving hand drums and relentless repetitive intensity of rising and falling background arpeggiations make this music sound tribal. "Earth Music" is a unique musical vision... very original, very different and very good. ©Alan Fark ."-©Alan Fark -Minor 7th Reviews----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------"Alright let’s face it, Detroit is the breeding ground for some great guitarist. Earl Klugh, Steve Morse, Grant Green, Ted Nuggent, Kenny Burrell have all made Fretboard history. It seems as if Mikhal has taken his place in the Motor City’s Guitar Hero production line, and may even be the prototype for a new line of guitarist all together."-James Eliza- Jazz Times Magazine---------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------Mikhal Caldwell - Earth Music, 100 out of 10 for pure musical genius ness! This CD has some of the most insane acoustic guitar playing I’ve ever heard! Mikhal blends Middle Eastern, Egyptian, Latin, African, blues, jazz and Arabian styles for a huge multicultural melting pot of a performance. The music is very polished and is filled with so much passion and technique it’ll overload your senses for sure. Mikhal has 30 years plus of playing on his shoulders, it’s no wonder he knows and does so much with his music. Some highlight tracks are: Tribes, Jihaid and Stained Glass. I gave this CD such an off the scale reading, because it’s like nothing I’ve heard before, and I really had to study each song to get a feel for what Caldwell was doing. Let’s just say I had to listen to the CD for a few weeks in order to review it in a proper fashion. Take it from me, you’ll go nuts over this release just as I did. -ShreddZone------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------------------"M ikhal is a very intense musician and a outstanding guitarist. I get nervous playing around him. - Frank Marino, Guitar Legend and Founder of Mahogany Rush ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------------"Can you tell me what the color Blue looks like? You know it immediately when you see it, But can you describe it? Mikhal is like the color blue. His music spans the universe, not to be pigeon holed, because it is what it is! - Tim James, CEO- Progressive Static Entertainment Group ------------------------------------------------------------ -----------------------------------------------"That Boy Is CRAZY!!" -Clint Anderson, CEO- Boss Cooper Records----------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------"Mikhal is going to be the standard of what they judge Fusion guitar by one day soon. Hell, he basically introduced that aggressive type of style to Detroit. The cat is an underground legend round the world the same way Shawn Lane used to be. -Tony Blackman, Detroit Sound Mag.313 ------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------"Mikhal is the BEST fighting Guitarist in the world. if he ever kicks me, I’m gonna shoot him." -Tommy Hearns, 13 time World Champion---------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------"Mi khal is a RIDICULOUSLY GOOD GUITARIST" - Judy Adams, WDET Music Director ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------"OO-WEE! Mikhal can jam those frets! Why is it all the jazz guys consistently show good musicianship? Are these the 80’s metal shredder converts?" - JAM RAG Magazine---------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------"How the hell did Mikhal get that good, I think he’s an ALIEN" - Scott Bergur, Detroit Music Magazine---------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------"Amazing, This guy kicks ASS in the ring and onstage, Freak of nature." -T Vegorssa, Hipology Magazine---------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------In the fall of 1998, Caldwell joined with drummer-percussionist, Charles Stuart and formed "Chopshop" with the purpose of creating and expressing more innovative musical form. This project has produced one finished recording listed under "Acoustic Chopshop" titled "Earth Music." A second release, "Leap Of Faith" is listed under "Electric Chopshop.""The infamous and legendary Mikhal Caldwell has resurfaced again in his newest project, "Chopshop," with bandmate Charles Stuart, the duo released the CD entitled "Earth Music." For those music aficionados who’ve been on the blues and jazz scene for some time now know Caldwell best for the invention of classical neo-fusion type tunes back in the 80’s. In his newest venture, he continues in that creative vein, expressing more innovative musical form." - an excerpt from an article on Mikhal of Chopshop in REAL Detroit Weekley----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------"Mikhal Cadwell. Say it with me, now: Mikhal Caldwell. If you haven’t heard this name...well, you’ve heard it now, and after hearing his music, you’ll never forget it.Caldwell is among the most impressive fusion guitarists I’ve ever heard, with encyclopedic knowledge of music theory, composition, & history (traditional & esoteric); command of multiple styles; and technique so amazing that it’s difficult to believe he’s from planet Earth! His music is at once funky & visceral & downright bestial yet intelligent & discerning & witty. Not in a "he has a good balance between..." sort of way, but in a "extremely cerebral AND extremely passionate..." sort of way. Whether it’s his solo works or his Chop Shop Project or ensemble projects, Mikhal’s music - the composition and execution - is gutsy, brilliant, and inspired. "excerpt from interview from Guitar Gods by Skinny Devil------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ ----" Caldwell’s music, though assertive is not in-your-face shredding while featuring fantastic melody and some incredible guitar licks. The CD spans the realm of guitar player heaven from the heavy shredding of the likes of Tony Macalpine to the "every note has it’s place" perfection of an Alan Holdsworth. Along with superb writing, Paravision features excellent playing from all the members on the CD - nobody is stepping on anyone"excerpt from review at PROGGNOSIS-------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------"Great musician and one of my favorite guitarist" Randy Allar WCSB The Fusion Show-------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------" I’ve beaten him up before, but he’s a great player" Al Di Meola------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------" Very solid musicianship" Jeff Berlin------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------"Would love to play with him" Stu Hamm-------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------- "Can’t wait to play together" Scott McGill------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ -----------------"Mikhal is an unreal guitarist" Adam at the Buzz Bar--------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ -Mik’s the best guitarist I know, and one of the best in the world no doubt" Ant Larkin ,guitarist from NUROKSOL---------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------"Completely over the edge extreme guitarist, I get dizzy watching him play" Dennis Burnes , Today’s Jazz-------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------" I’m very proud of Mikhal , both as a musician and as a human being" Larry Coryell----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------"He ’s become an original voice since I first met him" Ray Gomez------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------" Cool chops and cool hair" Scott Henderson--------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------" You’re on fire" Blackbyrd Mc Knight-----------------------------------------------" Turn that damn thing down and go to sleep" Mrs.Caldwell ( Mom )Click here to get your free text scroller.Create or get your
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