Music heroes along the way were and continue to be: (from 1966 - 2008)
The Byrds / The Who Pete Townshend Bruce Cockburn Jimi Hendrix / Jethro Tull Iron Butterfly / IF / XTC Spirit / Joni Mitchell Chuck Mangione Joe Freedman /Brian Katz
Ralph Towner/Paul Winter Keith Jarrett /Pat Metheny Chick Corea / Oregon Lyle Mays/Howard Reese Egberto Gismonti / ECM Steve Reich / Brian Eno Paul McCandless Sarah McLachlan
Don Ross/Michael Hedges Windham Hill / Narada Richard Peikoff/Leo Kotke Makana / Michael Manring Keith Terry & Crosspulse Gregory Johnson
Franco Morone Alex de Grassi Pierre Bensusan Billy McLaughlin Victor Wooten Marcus Miller Phil Keaggy
Laurence Juber Preston Reed Peppino DAgostino Barry Flanagan Michael Chapdelaine Keola Beamer
Thomas Newman Mark Isham Mark Knopfler / U2 Paul Sprawl / Mike Times Ani Difranco /Kate Rusby Foo Fighters / Radiohead Duncan Sheik / Bela Fleck
Bobby McFerrin Stephen Inglis Michael Gulezian Erik Mongrain John Mayer / AndyMcKee
Michael Tanenbaum is a Celtic inspired instrumental guitarist based in Honolulu, Hawaii. Originally from Toronto, Canada, he moved to Hawaii in 1991. His music flourished in new ways inspired by the power of the land, light and ocean waters of the islands. Although he missed the Irish, Scottish & British Isles music of Canada, he found a new sound in the island's Hawaiian Slack Key guitar music that resonated within him and was inspired to re-explore the guitar after 25 years at the piano. In time, he incorporated his northern music roots with the tranquility and beauty of his new home in a fusion of what he now calls locally, "Celtic Slack Key".
He's an innovative composer/guitarist of instrumental music that can be described as visual "Guitar Tapestries" - music you can SEE. Storytelling for him takes the form of acoustic journeys through changing landscapes, atmospheres and ocean waters. Acknowledging that it takes a village to raise an artist, Michael feels fortunate to be standing on the shoulders of great artists who have helped shape his sound. His major guitar influences include: Bruce Cockburn / Michael Hedges / Leo Kotke / Don Ross /Alex De Grassi / Pat Metheny / Franco Morone/ Richard Peikoff & Makana.
His music was recently scored in the 2009 documentary film called "Hawaii: Long Story Short" which explores Hawaii's geological emergence from the ocean floor. He has composed music for film and modern dance extensively. This summer 2009, Michael placed among the top 5 finalists in the Fingerstyle Guitar Competition at the Canadian Guitar Festival in Kingston, Ontario Canada. On the composing side, his Big Island inspired tune "Road To Waimea" was nominated for Best World song at this year's New Music Awards in the Barrie New Music Festival in Canada. In addition, "Road To Waimea" will be part of the upcoming soundtrack for the giant wave surf film "Finding Aloha 2", due for release in Winter 2010 - www.findalohathemovie.com.
Michael graduated from Brown University where he was first introduced to computer and electronic music. Since then, his fascination with all things acoustic and all things digital has led him to bring those two worlds together in a variety of engaging ways. From live performance art to intricate studio work, the elegant union of these different worlds is his life work.
Thank you so much for your kind and wonderful words about by new piano piece. You always make me smile my friend!
I love the duo work you've been posting. I miss you much and especially miss playing with you. When you get out this way again, I'd love to see you and maybe do some playing together as well.
Happy New Year to you and may you be filled with new inspirations and energy to fuel the beautiful guitar music you create.
Thank you for adding me to your list of friends. I really appreciate it.
My current project is a romance fiction novel with CD soundtrack that is due out shortly and can be ordered on line in a few weeks. It will be at CD Baby, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, most on line stores, and through my web pages.
Wishing you a happy and a prosperous new year. Hope all your projects are on track.
Hey Michael! Great to hear from you! I appreciate the kind words. It really means a lot. I wish you a great a holiday season. I wish I could enjoy some waves and rays but with all the snow we have here in Philly, I will settle. It adds to the Christmas spirit! Take care Michael.
Bonjour Michael Thanks for the friendly add I really appreciate your beautiful sound in your music Best wishes from France (Follow me on twitter.com/pascal95 ) Pascal
Thanks for the compliment Mike! We are coming to oahu on Halloween weekend and will be playing the center stage at Ala Moana, you should come check us out!
Your music is fantastic! I enjoyed all your tracks but "To Dance with You" really stood out to me. Thank you for sharing your music with us here on Myspace, and thank you for taking the time to visit and leave a comment on my page.
hey there... would you be interested in playing at the famous Sand Island Sports Club and R&B? we are creating evenings of different genres and are looking to increase the size of our pool of bands to book each night. please let me know if you're interestd in performing.. much love and aloha, chris
Aloha! Stratus Blue is back in action, playing an all original set at OnStage Drinks and Grinds, Friday, July 24 from 6 to 9 p.m. Come on out and start your weekend with us.
Online Now!
