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 tour schedule |
| Wed 7/15/2009 |
Morrisville, VT |
| Sat 7/18/2009 |
Walpole, NH |
| Sat 7/25/2009 |
Stowe, VT |
| Sat 8/01/2009 |
East Craftsbury, VT |
| Mon 8/03/2009 |
Fryeburg, ME |
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| Artist: |
Cody Michaels, Solo Piano
PO Box 335 / Montpelier, VT 05601
codypiano@yahoo.com / 888-654-8670
For piano soloist and composer Cody Michaels, “the piano is a way to connect with the mystery of creation and every song is a prayer”.
Born in October of 1960, Cody grew up in southeastern New Hampshire. His jazz pianist father introduced him to the piano at the age of three, and he also studied classical. But his diverse influences and intuitive approach foster a style that defies genre.
A former park ranger and farmhand, Cody's unique musical expressions inspire comparisons to the likes of Beethoven, George Winston, Keith Jarrett and Page McConnell of Phish. Also a storyteller and poet, his passionate performances celebrate the wonders of nature, simple living, and the human spirit.
Cody’s wide tastes in music, as well as his deep love of walking, nature, and literature are central to his art. Besides classical and jazz, he also enjoys folk, blues, rock, contemporary instrumental, popular, and world music. He particularly enjoys reading nonfiction, and he walks daily. In his 'teens, he began to adventure in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, a region he regards as being his “spiritual home”.
At the University of New Hampshire, Cody studied environmental science and became an avid mountaineer. After leaving college, he headed west to Telluride, Colorado in 1982, where he found work as construction laborer and spent much of his time out wandering in the Rockies.
In 1988, Cody returned to New Hampshire to become an Appalachian Trail caretaker in the White Mountains, and then in Maine. In the mid-90’s, he moved on to work for the US Forest Service as a wilderness ranger in Virginia, Colorado, and Arizona. Eventually, he ended up on an organic farm outside Northampton, Massachusetts.
Through it all, Cody continuously played the piano as “an emotional, spiritual outlet”. He first appeared in public while in Telluride, warming up crowds before movies at the Nugget Theater. In the winter of 1988, Cody played at a café in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He managed to find venues in the places he was stationed along the Appalachian Trail, with the Forest Service, and while in Northampton.
It was during a long walk on the Appalachian Trail in 1997 that Cody vowed to devote the remainder of his life to music. He began to practice more extensively, and made numerous appearances for restaurants, resorts, and clubs in New England, western North Carolina, Colorado, and Leipzig, Germany.
The increased level of commitment enabled Cody to vastly improve his technique, refine his style, and to develop his creative voice. Various motifs he had come up with over the years began to flower into full compositions, and new ideas began to spring forth at an increasing rate.
Upon settling in New Hampshire’s White Mountains in 2001, Cody launched a career as a concert artist and released his debut CD of original piano solos, “A Creation Prayer”, to high praise. Two more critically acclaimed CD’s of original material have followed: “Primum Non Nocere" (2004) and “Autumn Suite" (2007).
Cody's repertoire now includes more than sixty original works for solo piano, along with a handful of noteworthy interpretations such as “Over The Rainbow” and “Carol of The Bells”. In the late fall of 2005, Cody relocated to the open spaces of Vermont’s "Northeast Kingdom".
Cody's performances feature his compositions and spoken word song introductions, and are in steadily increasing demand. Hailed by critics as being “ingeniously inspired”, “transcendent”, “powerful, challenging, and highly expressive”, and “one of the finest in his class”, he is emerging as one of today’s premier exponents of solo-acoustic instrumental music.
Current News:
Cody is going back in the recording studio soon. His next release is slated for November 2009
What People Are Saying About Cody Michaels:
"A Best Bet" - The Boston Globe & Burlington Free Press (VT)
"I was watching magic... the most beautiful piano music I have ever seen live. I think of the times Page (McConnell) is featured in Phish, how my heart soars in my body and is lifted like a dance. This is how lovely it was."
(Rachel Carter, VermontMusic)
"Michaels' playing is powerful, challenging, and highly expressive. He courageously takes the listener to the who-knows-where of his passions."
(Jane Wilcox Hively, Editor; Mountain Streams Gazette, NH)
"Music such as this is extremely rare...
Michaels has proven himself one of the finest in his class"
(Steven Rochlin, EnjoyTheMusic.com)
"Michaels' music is truly entrancing... the finesse emanating from his piano is as natural as breath. All is expressed with a melodic precision capable only of those who genuinely believe in every note they play."
(James S. Pike; Face Magazine, ME)
"Music flows from Cody Michaels as naturally and soothingly as
water from a mountain stream"
(Rick Broussard, Editor, New Hampshire Magazine)
"Michaels' playing... has the depth and feel of a modern day Moonlight Sonata. It is textured in rhythms and rivulets of sound that tumble like a waterfall over moss covered granite, fluid over solid. This is music that takes you away"
(RJ Lannan, The Sounding Board)
"There will no doubt be comparisons to George Winston... Michaels seems no less talented and if anything sounds more like Keith Jarrett."
(Art Edelstein, The Times Argus; Barre-Montpelier, VT)
"Most of all, it is Michaels' elegant touch and deep commitment to melodic communication that hold the listener rapt."
(Kevin McNeil Brown, Buch Speiler Music; Montpelier, VT)
"Do yourself a favor: discover Cody Michaels... he captures the essence of spirit and beauty of nature as few before"
(Lucky Clark, The Cool News; North Conway, NH)
"Michaels defies categorization. At times brooding and somber, at others jubilant and extroverted, his music is hard to pin down. And in that it is refreshingly unique, hugely enjoyable, and pure in its form. He has found a niche with his fascinating music... the world would be wise to listen!"
(Jackson Evans, Executive Director, Vergennes Opera House; Vergennes, VT)
"Michaels work is ingeniously inspired, intricately composed, and phenomenally retained. As for words to describe his music, here are a few: beautiful, melodic, textured, evocative, transcendent."
(Jay Sprout, Artistic Director; "First Night" St. Johnsbury, VT)
"Cody Michaels' compositions and musical skill were wonderful, and he was a delight to work with. Cody spoke eloquently to his listeners, painting pictures that were illustrated by his songs... he is a fine musician."
(Mary Laury, Executive Director; "Schoodic Arts For All"; Winter Harbor, ME)
"Cody, I have had people stop me over the past several days to say how much they enjoyed the concert and your warmth and personality. It was a wonderful experience, and I look forward to a return engagement."
(Tom Weiderman, Executive Director, The Clemens Center; Elmira, NY)
"[Michaels gave] a wonderful performance... I would highly recommend him"
(Michelle Pennington, Associate Programming Director, Currier Museum of Art; Manchester, NH)
"Hello. I just read your review of Cody Michaels' CD 'A Creation Prayer' and I want you to know that his musicianship is even more rich and enjoyable in person"
(Emily, EnjoyTheMusic.com 'Letters To Us')
Radio airplay includes both contemporary instrumental and classical/jazz programs (New Age Reporter Top 100, BMI Royalties)
Radio interviews/features include WAMC-Albany, NY (“Performance Place”) (podcast link: www.publicbroadcasting.net/wamc/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1517813)
Televised appearances include WCVB-TV Boston ("Chronicle")
Cody is available for concerts (including house concerts), school performances, lectures, conferences, retreats, artist residencies, etc.
Cody is registered with New England Foundation For The Arts (NEFA), Meet The Composer, and the Vermont Arts Council.
Cody's presentations for New England non-profits (outside Vermont) qualify for funding from NEFA (www.matchbook.org)
Recent Performances Include:
The Arkell Museum / Canajoharie, NY
"First Night" St. Johnsbury, VT
Vergennes Opera House / Vergennes, VT
Gould Academy / Bethel, ME
Cultural Center of Cape Cod / South Yarmouth, MA
Adirondack Lakes Center For The Arts / Blue Mountain Lake, NY
Currier Museum of Art / Manchester, NH
Lake Placid (NY) Center For the Arts
"Music For A Sunday Afternoon" / Newport, VT
"First Night" Montpelier, VT
The Clemens Center / Elmira, NY
Hammond Hall / Winter Harbor, ME
Memorial United Methodist Church of White Plains, NY
Bundy Center For The Arts / Waitsfield, VT
Escalante Canyons Art Festival , UT
Winnekenni Castle / Haverhill, MA
Town Hall Theater / Woodstock, VT
Hunt Memorial / Nashua, NH
Squaw Valley Chapel / Olympic Valley, CA
Old Forge (NY) Arts Center
St. Kierans Center For The Arts / Berlin, NH
Alexander Twilight Theater / Lyndon State College, VT
Unity Center For The Arts / Unity, ME
Lopez Island Community Center, WA
Press kit w/ references, programs offered, preferred fees, etc., available to presenters upon request.
Some of Cody's Favorite Quotes:
"Music induces a kind of pleasure that human nature cannot do without"
(Confucius)
"Music is the mediator between the spiritual and the sensual."
(Ludwig Von Beethoven)
"The rush and pressure of modern life are a form of its innate violence"
(Thomas Merton)
"Mother Earth gives us Power, Father Sky makes us Magic"
(John Trudell)
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