On Stage

Great American Jukebox

The Great American Jukebox is a living anthology of pop classics—songs by artists like Stevie Wonder, Carole King, the Beatles, Elton John, and more—reimagined for solo fingerstyle guitar. Michael’s arrangements pay particular attention to detail giving the guitar the responsibility that the voice had, articulating each and every word and playing it like he means what he says.

For live performance, the Great American Jukebox is also available in a duet format with Michael’s partner, Jill Kaeding, who also joins him in American Bach.

Not released just yet, so not reviewed but Michael’s first guitar record, A-sides, received this delightful response.

“Covering pop hits, Miles finds music in it you never heard or anticipated and serves it on a polished silver platter. Utterly killer stuff from one of the leading light of contemporary instrumental music.”
 - Chris Spector, Midwest Records

American Bach

In a daring collaboration, Miles and cellist Jill Kaeding breathe new life into J.S. Bach’s Cello Suites. Miles puts the original cello melody on the banjo and Kaeding plays a contrapuntal continuo accompaniment.

Sound impossible? Perhaps. But this is consistent with Bach’s brazen imagination.  And when Miles debuted this concept for the first time in 1997, it was warmly embraced by artists, critics and one of the world’s greatest living cellists, Janos Starker. Jill Kaeding has played throughout the classical world and with the likes of Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles.

“Miles has dared to take on some of the most dramatic and profound music ever written…and succeeded”
- Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times

From Senegal to Seeger:
Stories of the American Banjo

In this tour-de-force Miles portrays the banjo’s journey from an African instrument in the hull of a slave ship to the “our towns” of America.

Miles weaves this musical narrative with five banjos, a fistful of songs, and the exquisite work of Pete Seeger, Carl Sandburg, Woody Guthrie, Walt Whitman, Solomon Northrup and J.S. Bach and many others.

Protest songs, fiddle tunes, minstrel songs, ragtime and a dazzling array of banjo playing form the backbone of From Senegal to Seeger, but it is the poetic and compelling stories along the way that complete this portrait of America.

“HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. An exhilarating, musical and multi-dimensional journey….a provocative political and social history of America.”
- Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times

Solo Acoustic

Miles is the perpetually curious political banjo poet, who can render Bach, Stevie Wonder and the blues. He pushes the boundaries of what is possible. Question is, what will he play next? With banjo and guitar, Michael’s concerts are a musical buffet—his own compositions, classical gems, electrifying covers, and stories of four decades of travels. Add in literature, politics, passion, folk songs and things you’ve probably never heard before.

“Give the banjo to Michael J. Miles and you'll hear a mighty soul-stirring sound.”
- Hedy Weiss, Chicago SunTimes