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Mikhal Caldwell
Jazz / Funk / Fusion

		Mikhal Caldwell Fusion Guitarist "WTFF" Approved DETROIT, Michigan United States Profile Views: 51871 Last Login: 11/24/2009
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Mikhal Caldwell: General Info

Member Since	3/22/2006
Band Website	www.mikhalcaldwell.net
Band Members	Mikhal Caldwell and The True Stories Orchestra ..LIGHT OF TRUTH - Boss Cooper Records Mikhal Caldwell - Guitar & Mandolin / Bob Godwin - Bass / Greg Patrick - Drums / Gary Fears - Keyboards / Mike Carey - Woodwinds Tracks: Me, Myself & Allah / Can You Buy That? / Terminator: The Enigma At Quadrant 5 / Spirits Rising / Places / Light Of Truth 1997- ..BALANCE - Boss Cooper Records Mikhal Caldwell - Guitars & Mandolin / Bob Godwin - Electric Bass / La Kecia Hughes - Vocals / Greg Patrick - Drums / Michael Carey - Woodwinds / Kerry Lacey - Upright Bass Tracks: Between The Sphinx and The Pyramid / Eastern Market / Nothing Personal / Balance / The Call / Stained Glass / Visionary / On the Other Hand / Last Flight To Tunachi / Tsunami ..Chop Shop Project / Earth Music / Battlezone/Stuart Enterainment / Available Now/ Read The Review Chop Shop Project - Mikhal Caldwell - Acoustic Guitars & Guitar Synth. / Charles Stuart - Percussions Tracks: Silat / Tribe / Message (Drum Solo) / Jihaid / Stained Glass / Open Hearts / Path Home 2002 .. Chop Shop Project / Leap Of Faith / Battlezone-Boss Cooper Records / released 4/2001 ( NO LONGER AVAILABLE) Chop Shop Project - Mikhal Caldwell - Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Guitar Synth. & Electric Bass / Charles Stuart - Drums & Percussions Tracks: Leap Of Faith / Mental Floss / Tears of Diamonds / Atonement / Skateboard / The Return Of The Mysterious Dr. X / Spark In The Dark 2003 ..Mikhal Caldwell / Para Vision / Battlezone Records/Fused Out Records Sunanda Kishore-Vocals / Charles Stuart / Matt Ownby- Drums & Percussions / Freeman Spells Jr. / Cheikh Ndoye / Eddie Kohen - Electric Bass / Ken"The Bishop" Tyler -Guitar / Mikhal Caldwell - Guitars, & Synths . Tracks: X-MAN / Dark Knight / You Don't Say / 12th Round / Into The Light / Atonement ( The Gift ) / Fused / Instrumental Fusion ranging from middle eastern influenced sounds to nitro glycerin charged Jazz Fusion.. 2006 CURRENT RELEASE ..Mikhal Caldwell / Ethics vs Logic / Fused Out Records/Solar Guitars Greg Tyler / Charles Stuart / Cindy Blackman / Eric Wilhelm / Romero Wyatt - Drums & Percussions / Cheikh Ndoye / Etu Deing / Damian Erskin / Eddie Kohen - Electric Bass / Bob Sworaski / Jimmy Pitts -Keyboards / Joe Denizon - Violins / Mikhal Caldwell - Guitars, & Synths . Tracks: Ethics vs Logic / The City / Press,Press,Pull / Grey Matter / Island / Jihaid (Slight Return) / Timeline / Sunset's Shadow / Instrumental Funked out Fusion covering the uncharted areas of modern jazz/rock fusion and featuring some of THE best musicians on the PLANET !!.. MARCH 2008 > UPCOMING RELEASE ..Mikhal Caldwell / Metalbopolis / Fused Out Records/Solar Guitars Cindy Blackman / Skeeto Valdez/ Greg Tyler / Romero Wyatt - Drums & Percussions / Cheikh Ndoye / Etu Deing / Damian Erskin / Eddie Kohen - Electric Bass / Bob Sworaski / Jimmy Pitts -Keyboards / Mike ( The Terminator ) Cary / Joshua Thomas - Sax / LA Hughs -Vocals / Mikhal Caldwell - Guitars, & Synths . Tracks: Craps / H G K / Leap of Faith / Sabotage / Metalbopolis / Kryptonite / Jade Forest / The Source / The Sword of Damaicles Instrumental Fusion A brand new groove/fuse session ,still on the edge once again featuring some of THE best musicians on the PLANET !!.. Early 2010 release slated for March 2010 All my CDs are available at Abstract Logix. They can also be purchased at CD Baby. as well as Audiophile Imports, LTD. You can still get'em at Mik 's Offical Site The Offical Mikhal Caldwell Site. CSP CD"s are no longer availible Sorry. Thanks PRIVATE AND ONLINE LESSONS ..Composition/ Performance/ Theory/ Technique / Lessons are based on availibility Contact concerning On Line or Private lessons can be made at Mikhal Caldwell's Offical site. Private lessons are only availible in the Detroit area. Thanks BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE FREE LESSONS FROM MIKHAL AT THE OFFICIAL MIKHAL CALDWELL SITE! .. You can get a gang of free lessons covering a large range of topics from Theory / Harmonic Construction / Eastern Music Theory / Improvising tools / and a bunch of other cool stuff. Simply go to Mikhal Caldwell's Offical site. .. Once you've entered go the section titled " Electric Warfare" .You'll find some of the topics I discuss in clinics , and in private lessons. You can also look into one of the Blogs set up here for a " Lesson of the Month" section . Enjoy Yourself and Thanks !! THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING COMPANIES FOR THEIR SUPPORT ..Morley Pedals / CMAT MODS/ Creation Audio Labs / Rocktron / Thomastik/Infeld Strings / Jagmin Pick ups / Pigtronix / Road Rage / Dunlop / Voodoo Labs / Mesa Boogie / Babicz Guitars / Pickworld / Gillmore Ultimate Switching Systems / NY Custom Pedalboards / Jim Kelly Custom Pedalboards / All of your products speak for themselves( They speak pretty good for me too! ) THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING COMPANIES FOR THEIR SUPPORT IN MY FIGHT CAREER ..Legal Gear / SSF (Scientific Street Fighting, the Fly fight clothing) / Hard Core Gear / MRM ( Metabolic Response Modifiers ) / TSL Body Regulaters / DR.Max Robinson, the worlds greatest mouthpieces / Cleto Reyes Boxing gear/ / Thanks for helping me "bring'em into the light" lol ! OTHER MIKHAL CALDWELL SITES ..Different songs are availible at each site / Check'em out Mikhal's Offical Jamwave site Check'em out Mikhal Caldwell's Offical Web site. Mikhal's other projects Show me a Sign Web site Check'em out Chop Shop Project's Offical Myspace site FOR A VISIT INTO MY OTHER WORLD Blackfeather Fight Team Web site. View my page on New Fusion Movement Get Your Own! \| View Slideshow JUST A FEW LITTLE THINGS TO THINK ABOUT 1 - "THERE'S ONLY ONE GOD. FIND HIM BEFORE HE FINDS YOU." The Green Lantern is the most powerful superhero in the universe, period. The Silver Surfer is also cool. Trust is a commodity that once it is spent, it can never be returned with the same value it had. Watch yourself cause you don't know who else is watching you. The past does not equal the future. Whatever happened to you last year, last month, last week, or even yesterday does not matter anymore, it is in the past and you have no way of changing it. Experience has proven to me, that you never know what another person is capable of, be it good or bad. Winning and losing are parts of the same thing, Will and Desire, determine which one you choose. Improvising on an instrument is like taking a lie detector test, KEEP IT REAL OR SHUT THE FUCK UP . The true art of Fighting is in realising that it's a mind thing. You can't teach what you don't know, you can't be what you can't be. When you change something about your outer self that changes your attitude for the better, it can't but help to change your way of thinking and your way of approaching the world. The only rule in fighting is don't get hit. Styles make fights not the other way around. Unfortunately, out of everyone you know only a few can truly be friends. Be consistent "Remain true to the game" whatever it is. Never ever forget loved ones. Pursue your dreams like there's no tomorrow, because there might not be. Live life, Seek sights. Imitation is the highest form of flattery and the biggest sign of self neglect. Love is a demonstration. Make fear a friend instead of an enemy. Find yourself and you'll be yourself. Styles are the prejudice of art. When alternative becomes mainstream, Then what becomes alternative. Racsist Thinking, is a form of Insanity. Pain is nothing more than weakness leaving the body. Friendship is the only real choice you're allowed in life, use it wisely. God did not create tab to save guitarists from the evils of learning to read music. Chops are for butchers. Licks are for suckers. If you can count your chops, you don't have any. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and the ear of the listener. Everybody on this planet is your relative and the people on other planets are probably cousins. Life is not a tag team sport, everybody answers for their own deeds. The only thing easier than quitting is making excuses to quit. Winners never quit, quitters never win. If you don't at least own one Fender Stratocaster, Leo Fender died for your sins. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Influences	..Everything fused out and funky. JOHN COLTRANE, JIMI HENDRIX the big 2 !! John McLaughlin, Larry Coryell, David Sancious, Frank Marino, Ray Gomez, Gary Moore, Robben Ford, Allan Holdsworth, all the 70's and 80's Soul and Disco, Craig Tyner, Scott Henderson, Curtis Mayfield, George Benson, Frank Gamble, Al Di Meola, Pat Martino, Mark Whitfield, John Goodsall, Steve Graves, Shawn Lane, Mike Stern, Greg Howe, Tony MacAlpine, John Scofield
Sounds Like	..Amazingly close to Mikhal Caldwell You have been marked on my profile map! Click to zoom-in.
Record Label	Battlezone/Fused Out Record
Type of Label	Indie

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About Mikhal Caldwell

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CURRENT NEWS- This being the last month of 2008 I'm preparing for a bunch of stuff for 2009. My 3rd release " METALBOPOLIS " is going into the recording phase in Jan. 09 and once again I've got an insane line up planned . So far we've got DRUMS: Patti Ballinas , Greg Tyler , Skeeto Valdez, Cindy Blackman , BASS : Etu Deing , Cheikh Ndoye , Eddie Kohen , Damian Erskin , Mike Claiborne ,KEYS : Jimmy Pitts , Bob Sworaski , Omar Taji , PERCUSSION Romero Wyatt , SAX : Mike ( the Terminator ) Carey , Josh Thompson ,Randy Brecker ( thanks to Randy Allar & Cheikh ),GUITAR, Darryl Dobson. I don't think I need to say much more after that line up . The material is a definitive mark in my life and the think will feature some of my finest work ever. I'm shooting for a June 09 release date. I'm honestly a bit nervous about this one as all these people are just monster players and I feel honored and blessed to even have them working with me. Cya soon and a very special thanks to all of you who have purchased my CD and downloads . It is indeed a pleasure and an honor to know that you allow me to hang out in your disc player .----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2008 HAS BEEN QUITE PRODUCTIVE THIS FAR, I'VE BEEN ON THE RECORDINGS OF CHEIKH NDOYE'S " A CHILDS TALE' CD , JIMMY PITTS ( FRACTURED DIMENSION ) "TOWARDS THE MYSTERIUM" CD,EDDIE KOHEN'S "TIME TRAVELER" CD , AND I'M CURRENTLY WORKING ON THE BEAUTIFUL WORK OF BOB SWORASKI'S SOLO CD AND SEVERAL OTHER THINGS ! I'M ALSO PREPARING FOR GANG OF SHOWS/FESTIVALS AS WELL AS MY UPCOMING CD " METALBOPOLIS " DUE IN EARLY 2009. YOU CAN ALSO GET DIGITAL DOWNLOADS OF "PARA VISION" AS WELL AS MY NEW CD "ETHICS vs LOGIC" FROM SOLARGUITARS.COM. YOU CAN ALSO PURCHASE BOTH CD"S AT SOLARGUITARS.COM , ABSTRACT LOGIX.COM , AUDIOPHILLE.COM ,MOTORCITYGUITARS.COM ,AND CD BABY -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------My new CD " Ethics vs Logic " is gonna be off the charts ! WOW !!! Is the only word I can think of to describe the feeling I have about the upcoming CD. I've been so blessed to have some of the finest Players on the PLANET to agree to grace this project. So far the line up is looking like this BASS: Eddie Kohen Cheikh Ndoye Damian Erskin Jeff Berlin VIOLIN: Joe Deninzon DRUMS: Greg Tyler Cindy Blackman Charles Stuart Erik Wilhelm KEYBOARDS: Rachel Z Omar Taji Bob Sworaski Jimmy Pitts David Sancious ? ( hope'n this can happen) NEEDLESS to say we are talking some insane chops and fusion music to challenge the senses ! I'm working some things out and am in the recording process now. Unfortunately I suffered some nerve damage that effected my left hand in June 07 which set things back a few months. I'm currently almost fully recovered after 3 months of treatments and specialized care from my Dr. and very good friend Chuck Shiemke who has been there at clinics and gigs after my injury just to make sure I was OK. What Dr does that ? Under his care I'm back up to speed and am playing better than before the injury ! I've been in contact with everybody and their all ready, some have even gotten their tracks done and they are AWESOME !! All these musicians are the very TOP LEVEL of musicianship and are each personal inspirations to me. I feel like I'm in the Justice League . ha ha . I'm way too excited, and I can't wait to start. The new material is also quite strong and with players like this the sky isn't even the limit ! Look for this to be released late fall, and hold on to your hats !--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------As of Dec 07 , Charles Stuart and myself are no longer working on CHOP SHOP PROJECT. The project is officially over, however there are 2 CD's which will remain available.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Peace and tube amps Mik ------------------------------Para Vision Review-------------------------------- I first heard Mikhal Caldwell's music, well, not long ago and I was astounded by the rich textural composition and arrangements, the beautiful sense of harmony balanced against the furious lines, the groove so deep I couldn't sit still but so stunned by his energy and magic that I couldn't move. Having had the chance to hear a preview of the songs from this album, I can say that, in complete affront to all logic, Mikhal is even better now than he was then! His compositions are even more lush and elegant in their rhythmic complexity and harmonic structures, the arrangements full of labyrinthine wonderment, the playing simply brilliant. Mikhal the composer is both enlightened and inspired. Mikhal the guitarist is downright amazing. He really shines, though, when he brings in the other fabulous musicians on this disc - feeding off their energy and creativity, and taking the music to terrifying yet enchanting heights. Mikhal is the best-kept secret not only in the world of guitar, but in the world of music. It's high time for the secret to be out. ===== It lives up to what we should ALL be saying about your music. As soon as I get the CD, I'll write a review up for Tinfoil and then ask Anne & Joe to re-post it in various publications (MusicDish, Guitar-9, etc.) and promote it via ShredZone, Insane Guitar, iBM, Vai.com, etc. I hope you sell a million of these! -- David M. McLean Skinny Devil Music Lab http://www.skinnydevil.com 859.420.2007

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..MIKHAL CALDWELL'S DEBUT SOLO CD PARA VISION As far back as the beginning of recognized art and culture, man has been driven by what some would call a VISION. This force of nature has been responsible for the evolution of our very existence. It has been given many names through out time such as "The Gift", a "Vail", and even "The Third eye". There is also another kind of vision; a PARA VISION, which is defined as a position where one is allowed to see every conceivable angle of everything. PARA VISION can be also viewed as a pure form of truth from which there is no shelter from observing it from all sides. This recording from Guitarist/Composer Mikhal Caldwell represents a very honest and powerful revelation of truth in music. Mikhal's masterful composing style allows for some of the most intense musicianship seen on any recorded project, and is full of his unique original style of guitar playing. This CD contains some of the most impressive performances of some of the most talented and visionary musicians, that are the new breed of artist to continue the journey into the new Fusion Movement. With an impressive line up of special featured guests (Sunanda Kishore, Eddie Kohan, Cheikh Ndoye, Freeman Spells Jr., Charles Stuart, Matt Ownby, Ken Tyler and Al Caldwell) the recording is a gathering and breeding ground of virtuoso chops. Truly an original modern day quest into a PARA VISION of the new Fusion Movement. TRACKS 1.U Don't Say 2.Atonement 3.Dark Knight 4.Into the Light 5.X Man 6.12th Round 7.Fused $14.99 US

Awesome, Amazing, Unbelievable are all very common terms when hearing fans describe the playing of Mikhal. Mik has come a long way from playing a $19 Decca Guitar in the mirror mimicking Jimi Hendrix at 10 years old. At 12, his grandmother purchased his first "real guitar" and provided him with the encouragement to play. By his early teens he began to transform his Hendrix inspired pentatonic / blues scale style, into a wide range investigating different genres of music. Mikhal was captivated by middle-eastern music. After several damaged turntables and hundreds of broken strings, Mikhal began to understand the sitar musical style of Ravi Shankar and the important influences of players like John Coltrane, Larry Coryell, David Sancious, Chick Corea, John McLaughlin, Corrado Rustici, Jeff Beck, Ray Gomez, Allan Holdsworth, John Goodsall, Anthony Braxton, Sonny Rollins just to name a few. For the last 20 years Mikhal has been an underground legend and a "guitarist guitarist". He is the co founder/guitarist/composer of the now disbanded burning fusion band CSP ( Chop Shop Project). In these times when anybody who can spell the word is dubbed "a virtuoso", Mikhal shines as an example of the real meaning of the word . He is a visionary . With the innovation of the blending of cultures and art in music, visionary musicians have been released to explore endless combinations of genres and sounds.These musicians have pushed the excepted limits of music and technique to levels once never dreamed of. In the beginning of this movement John Coltrane, Miles Davis and others started this freedom of music which grew into the musical influences of Chick Corea, John McLaughlin, Larry Coryell .This yet evolved again into the next group of explorers such as Brand X, Yellow Jackets etc into the current colletive now such as Greg Howe, Tony MacAlpine, Guthrie Govan, Cab, Ohm. Mikhal is a player that expresses all that fire that has come in that music's rich history. While his recordings have captured that fire and demonstrate his strong composition and undeniable guitar playing skills, it's in his live shows that you see the pure improvisational power that sets him far apart from the generic jazz and rock soloist. Caldwell has 4 recordings released that range from his 2 CD's with The True Stories Orchestra Light of Truth 1999 Balance 2000 Both Avant Guard/Fusion masterpieces that feature Reed masters Faruq Z Bay and Michael ( The Terminator) Carey in an unyielding creative tag team combined with Caldwell's unique shred/bop over the top playing. These early recordings only gave a glimpse of what was to come in his next 2 recordings with his fusion band ( now disbanded) CSP ( Chop Shop Project ).Mikhal says that working with the musicians in this project was a constant love/hate relationship and took too much of a toll upon him just to attempt to be creative without the hassles of personal issues that over time became bigger and more important than the music itself. The project ended due to that, but did manage to complete and released 2 CD's Earth Music 2002 Leap of Faith 2003 Earth Music featured all acoustic instrumental compositions of Mikhal's in the setting of just acoustic guitar, and percussion . The result was a Blend of Middle Eastern/Jazz/Funk played with such intensity that it was received by even the metal, prog rock and shred fans with respect and awe . But the next recording, the very electric Leap of Faith, is the CD that has solidified him as an underground guitar hero. His aggressive style of play brought comparisons to guitarists such as Greg Howe and Shawn Lane's masterful control over the fretboard. It also brought him to the attention of WCSB Fusion Radio Legend , DJ Randy Allar who had been hearing of Mikhal from people like Frank Marino, Victor Wooten, Al DiMeola, Greg Howe and Larry Coryell for years before he ever heard his music. After receiving some music and meeting Mik, Randy call's Mikhal his favorite guitarist. His nitro charged playing and passionate composition skill is well documented on Leap of Faith. His music takes flight as he goes from full out jazz/rock shred on tunes like The return of the mysterious Dr X , Mental Floss and the title track " Leap of Faith" to the hornlike liquidy seamless phrasing of the beautiful "Attonement". Currently Mikhal has completed his first solo release " Para Vision " featuring the drumming of Matt "O - Change" Ownby formerly with Elton John, Charles Stuart of the Charles Stuart Trio, Eddie Kohen, Chiekh Ndoye and Freemon Spells. 2008 is looking even more promising as there is a new CD titled " Ethics vs Logic" planned on being released in winter featuring Cindy Blackman, Greg Tyler, Joe Deninzon, Patti Ballinas, Eddie Kohen, Cheikh Ndoye, Damian Erskin, Bob Sworaski , Jimmy Pitts and Jeff Berlin, Romero Wyatt . Also look for tour dates for Mik with his fusion trio and quartet" . ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------QUOTES:----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "There's a few levels of playing, Good, Great, and Sic , Mikhal is in the next one called TERMINAL , too many chops for one body to contain and not explode ! " Barry Martian - European Jazz Network------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Your stuff is refreshing. New,unique ideas, sounds like your live gig would be exciting. I'm listening to 'Silat' with that Arab [oude?] drum. Wait a minute! That crazy ending - 'You can't do that!!!" JOHN GOODSALL----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mik, That's SLAMMING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CINDY BLACKMAN--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"WOW , Now thats some sick playing" Jim Reiske at Babicz Guitars -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "The driving hand drums and relentless repetitive intensity of rising and falling background arpeggiations make this music sound tribal. "Earth Music" is a unique musical vision... very original, very different and very good. ©Alan Fark ." ©Alan Fark -Minor 7th Reviews--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "After watching Mikhal Caldwell perform a live set of incredible impossible jaw dropping orignal music, I can not for the life of me understand why he's not playing with Chick Corea and guys like that ! It's just amazing that this guy is not famous." Jerry Woleski - Progressive Guitar Mag-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Caldwell is a virtuoso, able to run the neck of the guitar as fast and as accurate as anyone in the business"-Matt Marshall - All About Jazz Review----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Serious Guitar Player for sure" Chad Matthews - CMAT MODS--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Alright let's face it, Detroit is the breeding ground for some great guitarist. Earl Klugh, Steve Morse, Grant Green, Ted Nuggent, Kenny Burrell have all made Fretboard history. It seems as if Mikhal has taken his place in the Motor City's Guitar Hero production line, and may even be the prototype for a new line of guitarist all together." -James Eliza- Jazz Times Magazine------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mikhal Caldwell - Earth Music, 100 out of 10 for pure musical genius ness! This CD has some of the most insane acoustic guitar playing I've ever heard! Mikhal blends Middle Eastern, Egyptian, Latin, African, blues, jazz and Arabian styles for a huge multicultural melting pot of a performance. The music is very polished and is filled with so much passion and technique it'll overload your senses for sure. Mikhal has 30 years plus of playing on his shoulders, it's no wonder he knows and does so much with his music. Some highlight tracks are: Tribes, Jihaid and Stained Glass. I gave this CD such an off the scale reading, because it's like nothing I've heard before, and I really had to study each song to get a feel for what Caldwell was doing. Let's just say I had to listen to the CD for a few weeks in order to review it in a proper fashion. Take it from me, you'll go nuts over this release just as I did. -ShreddZone------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Mikhal is a very intense musician and a outstanding guitarist. I get nervous playing around him. 2004 , Man, YOU ARE MY FAVORITE GUITARIST 2008 - Frank Marino, Guitar Legend and Founder of Mahogany Rush ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Can you tell me what the color Blue looks like? You know it immediately when you see it, But can you describe it? Mikhal is like the color blue. His music spans the universe, not to be pigeon holed, because it is what it is! - Tim James, CEO- Progressive Static Entertainment Group ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "That Boy Is CRAZY!!" -Clint Anderson, CEO- Boss Cooper Records---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Mikhal is going to be the standard of what they judge Fusion guitar by one day soon. Hell, he basically introduced that aggressive type of style to Detroit. The cat is an underground legend round the world the same way Shawn Lane used to be.' -Tony Blackman, Detroit Sound Mag.313 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Mikhal is the BEST fighting Guitarist in the world. if he ever kicks me, I'm gonna shoot him." -Tommy Hearns, 13 time World Champion----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Mikhal is a RIDICULOUSLY GOOD GUITARIST" - Judy Adams, WDET Music Director ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "OO-WEE! Mikhal can jam those frets! Why is it all the jazz guys consistently show good musicianship? Are these the 80's metal shredder converts?" - JAM RAG Magazine----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "How the hell did Mikhal get that good, I think he's an ALIEN" - Scott Bergur, Detroit Music Magazine------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Amazing, This guy kicks ASS in the ring and onstage, Freak of nature." -T Vegorssa, Hipology Magazine----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the fall of 1998, Caldwell joined with drummer-percussionist, Charles Stuart and formed "Chopshop" with the purpose of creating and expressing more innovative musical form. This project has produced one finished recording listed under "Acoustic Chopshop" titled "Earth Music." A second release, "Leap Of Faith" is listed under "Electric Chopshop." "The infamous and legendary Mikhal Caldwell has resurfaced again in his newest project, "Chopshop," with bandmate Charles Stuart, the duo released the CD entitled "Earth Music." For those music aficionados who've been on the blues and jazz scene for some time now know Caldwell best for the invention of classical neo-fusion type tunes back in the 80's. In his newest venture, he continues in that creative vein, expressing more innovative musical form." - an excerpt from an article on Mikhal of Chopshop in REAL Detroit Weekley------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Mikhal Cadwell. Say it with me, now: Mikhal Caldwell. If you haven't heard this name...well, you've heard it now, and after hearing his music, you'll never forget it. Caldwell is among the most impressive fusion guitarists I've ever heard, with encyclopedic knowledge of music theory, composition, & history (traditional & esoteric); command of multiple styles; and technique so amazing that it's difficult to believe he's from planet Earth! His music is at once funky & visceral & downright bestial yet intelligent & discerning & witty. Not in a "he has a good balance between..." sort of way, but in a "extremely cerebral AND extremely passionate..." sort of way. Whether it's his solo works or his Chop Shop Project or ensemble projects, Mikhal's music - the composition and execution - is gutsy, brilliant, and inspired. " excerpt from interview from Guitar Gods by Skinny Devil----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- " How can you do 2 totally different things like fighting and playing that require a lifetime to master and understand and be world class in both. Yeah, I'd say he's a different kind of person." Jim Kirby- Black Cat Amps ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------" As far as guitarist go , I don't think that they can get any better than Mikhal, only different , and thats scary. " Mitchell Woods - Mainline Guitar -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- " I sat and thought after hearing Ethics vs Logic who you reminded me of, after a couple of listens I figured it out Everybody and Nobody at the same time. Neat trick , now how the hell did you do it ! Tim Koloski- TLM Electronics--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- " Caldwell's music, though assertive is not in-your-face shredding while featuring fantastic melody and some incredible guitar licks. The CD spans the realm of guitar player heaven from the heavy shredding of the likes of Tony Macalpine to the "every note has it's place" perfection of an Alan Holdsworth. Along with superb writing, Paravision features excellent playing from all the members on the CD - nobody is stepping on anyone" excerpt from review at PROGGNOSIS----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"Great musician and one of my favorite guitarist" Randy Allar WCSB The Fusion Show--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------" I've beaten him up before, but he's a great player" Al Di Meola----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------" Very solid musicianship" Jeff Berlin---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"Would love to play with him" Stu Hamm------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Can't wait to play together" Scott McGill-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"Mikhal is an unreal guitarist" Adam at the Buzz Bar----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mik's the best guitarist I know, and one of the best in the world no doubt" Ant Larkin ,guitarist from NUROKSOL------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"Completely over the edge extreme guitarist, I get dizzy watching him play" Dennis Burnes , Today's Jazz-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------" I'm very proud of Mikhal , both as a musician and as a human being" Larry Coryell--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"He's become an original voice since I first met him" Ray Gomez---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------" Cool chops and cool hair" Scott Henderson---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------" You're on fire" Blackbyrd Mc Knight-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"Caldwell is a virtuoso, able to run the neck of the guitar as fast and as accurate as anyone in the business" Matt Marshall- All About Jazz----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "You may be the best guitarist I know and I know a lot of them" MIKE CLAIBORNE Outstanding Bassist & AR at Creation Audio Labs--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"Turn that damn thing down and go to sleep" Mrs.Caldwell ( Mom )