I perform using the following instruments (all made by Emmett Chapman of Stick Enterprises, Inc.): 12 string Grand Stick, 10 string Alto Stick and 10 string Standard Stick. A few of these instruments have also been outfitted with a special additional pickup that can interface with Roland guitar synthesizers. Tasty!
Influences
Emmett Chapman, Chick Corea, Keith Emerson, Carlos Santana, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Johnson, Steve Vai, Chet Atkins, Joe Satriani, The Beatles, Steely Dan, Jake Shimabukuro, Bob Culbertson, Sting, Herbie Hancock, Michael Franks, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck and many others...
Sounds Like
My music has been described as a relaxing blend of jazz and blues with a Hawaiian flair. The Stick has a very unique, pleasant tone that tends to relax listeners almost immediately. The sweet, soothing tones of The Chapman Stick seem to simply melt away the stress of the day. People say my music reminds them of Stanley Jordan, Tuck & Patti, Jake Shimabukuro and Michael Hedges.
BIO:
Michael Kollwitz has been performing on The Chapman Stick® * since 1976 and was one of inventor Emmett Chapman’s first music students. He studied with Chapman for 10 years and is considered one of the world’s top players of this new American instrument.
Michael began playing the revolutionary stringed instrument after witnessing a live performance given by Chapman at a college coffee house in the 70’s. In the 80’s-after years of practice and study- he began his performance career. Since that time, he has performed extensively throughout California, Nevada, Arizona and Hawaii. He has given over a thousand performances at every type of venue.
He has been an opening act for The Beach Boys, The Goo Goo Dolls and was offered full-time work as a musician at Disneyland. He has an extensive client list that includes everything from Fortune 500 companies to civic organizations. He’s performed at festivals, fairs, upscale resorts, fine dining establishments, weddings and many other venues. (You can view 65+ reference letters from happy past clients at: http://www.michaelkollwitz.com/?page_id=156
Michael has also been- and continues to be- featured on numerous TV and radio stations in the Western US and nationwide, including “All Things Considered” on PBS. He’s been featured in many newspapers, magazines and other media. His music was included in the very first CD compilation of ‘Stick’ music and his photo can be found in the first edition ‘Stick’ instruction book, “Free Hands”. In May 2007, CurrentTV purchased the rights to one of his videos for national broadcast. NPR’s popular nationally broadcast show, “Morning Edition”, began featuring tracks from his recent releases in the summer of 2008- delighting listeners in hundreds of markets across the country. His DVD “Live In Concert” is aired frequently by Akaku TV on the island of Maui.
One of the most prolific Chapman Stick musical artists, Kollwitz has had twelve (12) independent releases: 9 audio CDs, a “Live In Concert” DVD (10/06) and 2 digital download albums- one of which was the world’s very first digital download album of Chapman Stick music. They are currently offered on more than 30 different premium digital music sites. “Under The Banyan Tree” (01/09) is his most recent audio CD release. Recorded ‘live’ under the famous banyan tree in Old Lahaina Town on Maui, it also features master flutist Lance Israel on wooden flutes from around the world. Prior to that, his CD “Hawaiian Paradise” (08/08) was created entirely on Maui with a distinct Hawaiian flair- including four tracks in duo with pedal steel guitar. “Waterfallin’” (05/06) was the first-ever CD to prominently feature the new higher-range Alto Stick® developed by Chapman in 2005. His other releases are: “Steppin’ Out” (01/00), “Moments” (03/03), “Carnival” (12/03), “Memories” (05/04), “Frosty The Stickman” (12/04) and “Here Comes Spring” (05/05). His digital download albums are “20 Greatest Hits” (10/06) and “Greatest Hits- Vol.2? (02/08).
Although he has an extensive repertoire, his music has been described as a relaxing blend of jazz and blues with a Hawaiian flair. The Stick has a very unique, pleasant tone that tends to relax listeners almost immediately. The sweet, soothing tones of the instrument are said to simply melt away the stress of the day. He resides in Lahaina on the island of Maui and performs at some of Maui’s most prestigious events and resorts.
* The Chapman Stick® is easily the most radical innovation in stringed instruments since the invention of the electric guitar. The Stick is played with both hands; simultaneously playing BOTH bass and melody parts independently- by tapping and holding strings to frets (rather than by plucking, picking or strumming). The essence of guitar, bass, keyboards and drums- all from a single instrument! In the hands of a seasoned, master player, The Chapman Stick can sound like 2 or 3 musicians at once.
For more info on Michael and The Chapman Stick, please visit:
http://www.MichaelKollwitz.com
http://www.SonicBids.com/MichaelKollwitzTheChapmanStick
Michael Kollwitz & The Chapman Stick's Friend Space (Top 23)
Michael Kollwitz & The Chapman Stick has 358 friends.
Hi Michael Kollwitz & The Chapman Stick, Heaven & Earth is on hiatus now as Stuart Smith and Richie Onori have joined forces with bassist Steve Priest to reform "Sweet". For those of you unfamiliar with the band, Sweet originally formed in the early 70s and went on to sell over 40,000,000 albums with 11 International Top Ten Hits such as "Ballroom Blitz", "Little Willy", "Love is Like Oxygen", "Fox on the Run", "Teenage Rampage", "Action", "Blockbuster", "Hellraiser" and many others. This reincarnation of the band reformed last year, playing their first show in June, and went on to play festivals throughout Canada and the States and had played to over 300,000 people before the year was out. During this tour last year they recorded a live CD available on Amazon entitled "Sweet, Live in America" which has received rave reviews - pick up a copy and please Add Sweet As Your Friend On Myspace! http://www.myspace.com/thesweetband Also, check out our friend Red Hot Chili Pepper Chad Smith's new band, Chad Smith's Bombastic Meatbats and their iTunes Top 10 Funk/Jazz debut release, "Meet the Meatbats"! http://www.myspace.com/bombasticmeatbats
Hi, we hope you will have a great christmas season - thank you for being a friend of the Jazz Pistols. We really appreciate your support. Good luck for the things you do and have a great week. Best regards - Christoph
We would love to stay in touch with you - the best way is to sign up for our newsletter on either our homepage or mySpace profile.
If your Tappy and you know it slap your stick.If your Tappy and you know it slap your stick. If your tappy and you know it then your 2x4 will surely show it, if your Tappy and you know it sap your stick!
Hi Michael ... if you happen to be in California at the end of November, please try to come see us at the Catalina Jazz Club or at the LA Music Awards -- Steven VonWald will be there with us!
Hey Mike...Hope you know I have been spinning your CD "Memories" since I have been back from Maui...I have even passed it on to some friends and they like it. Dave "Guinnessman" Larson
Hi Michael, great site, and thx for the note. sorry it took so long to get back to you. You note slipped thru the e-mail cracks!
Would love to jam with you and learn Chapman!
Peace bro,
kelly
Hi Michael,
Thx for the add. I will definitely order some CD's and hope to see you perform in person this year. You're definitely geniunely talented and gifted. Thx for your great work!
