Reviews from Tony Trischka, Pete Wernick, John McEuen & more

Here are some excerpted reviews of Mississippi River Suite (MRS) from three of the world’s greatest banjo players along with some others as well. I’m honored and humbled and delighted to share this.

TONY TRISCHKA: This is a masterpiece— this piece is overpowering. Miles has composed all of the music and has written extensive and brilliant performance poetry to go hand in hand with the instrumentation that includes, string quartet, percussion, flute, and bass. Michael’s poetry is at a lofty literary level. His descriptions of natural beauty juxtaposed to allusions of injustice are stunning. The fact that the arrangements are constantly shifting between full instrumentation and voice, to solo voice, to string quartet and banjo in almost dance-like interplay, and so forth, keep the ear mesmerized. His approach to clawhammer is unique and seemingly effortless with its fluidity, and quicksilver movements. Just the tone he elicits from his low tuned fretless banjo in MRS is reason enough to love this project.  - Tony Trischka, world renowned banjoist

PETE WERNICK (aka Dr. Banjo): You are really something!  I kept thinking: wow, Michael is a man of vision, and he does more than just having a vision -- he works it, develops it and brings in other talents to make it full-blown.  The banjo/flute combo is very potent, has a real warmth and personality that is closer to representing the breath and the hands than anything I can think of... the opposite of a synthesizer in fact. The silences are a part of the sound and the plucked and the breath sound are so complementary.   You are a lot more than "just a banjo player" -- but I sure like your banjo playing..  - Pete Wernick (aka Dr. Banjo)

JOHN McEUEN, (Founder of Nitty Gritty Dirt Band): Michael Miles does it again! Known as an innovator, multi-instrumentalist Miles has made a 'piece of musical art' that you should check out. He paves new road with the banjo (guitar, and other instruments) taking people along on his journey. A stage play, Talking Blues? Spoken Word? Poetry? with music, it is all of the above, and done quite well.” 

CHRIS SPECTOR (Midwest Record Review) “This is the finest roots/Americana music to come along since Jay Ungar was in his Harvest Home phase...a killer work throughout that takes organic music to whole new realms.” 

LILLI KUZMA, “The Folk Festival” WDCB: "Extraordinary .... Michael J. Miles combines old influences with current events. The music is exceptional.... the spoken word is powerful." 

JAMES HARTEL (Sculptor & Banjo Builder) Miles’ latest achievement, "Mississippi River Suite," is as expansive as the river. The flow of the sounds play a defining role in my understanding of this main artery that both cuts our country in the middle but also unites us as ancient witness to all of the trials and tribulations, failures and triumphs of our living breathing country. This music is the river's breath captured and shared with all that will listen. I am inspired and awed by the one-minded sense of purpose required to open the pulses hidden below the river’s depths.” 

CHRIS KENNEDY (Professor Emeritus, Western Wyoming College) Mississippi River Suite is an evocative, haunting, beautiful, timely, epic work of music and spoken word. I savored this CD, moved by its power and poetry. It is a true and timely masterpiece to be appreciated by anyone who cares about how folk music can speak to these times we're living in.