MySpace.com - Stephan Mikes - MIAMI, Florida - Acoustic / Jam Band / Psychedelic - www.myspace.com/stephanmikessitaristcomposer

Stephan Mikes
Acoustic / Jam Band / Psychedelic

		"WORLD IS OUR FAMILY,TRUTH OUR RELIGION" MIAMI, Florida United States Profile Views: 4717 Last Login: 7/5/2008
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MySpace URL:

http://www.myspace.com/stephanmikessitaristcomposer

Stephan Mikes: General Info

Member Since

3/22/2007

Band Website

stephanmikes.com

Band Members

Stephan Mikés (often performing solo). My frequent cohorts include percussionist Bobby Thomas Jr., ex Weather Report, Dana Keller, Master of the pedal steel guitar and dobro, and sometimes Tablaji Rajan Job, who trained with Alla Rakha and grew up as a boy with Zakir, playing on pots and pans together in the kitchen as toddlers. And best to last my wonderful wife Bonnie Pedicord on Shakuhaci, pan flutes and tanpura. .. ..ekoostik hookah with stephen mikes on sitar
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Add to My Prof..le | More Videos Stephan with Hot Buttered Rum at Hookahville ..

Influences

Roop Verma, Ravi Shankar, George Harrison,Jimi Hendrix,Carlos Santana,Eric Clapton, King Sunny Ade, Ali Akbar Khan, Yes, Moody Blues, Bob Marley, and on and on...

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Stephan Mikés Voted "Best Acoustic Performer" Miami New Times-- Best of 2004 "Stephan Mikés plays sitar at the master level, placing a karmic chapter in the book of cosmic music. Barefoot and ponytailed, gentle but worldly, taught by the best on the planet, Mikés first enters another realm with his giant, stringed gourd-stick instrument across his lap. Then he begins to play tunes from one of his CDs and takes the listener to outer space and beyond. Musical Valium one moment, fire ants in your eyes another, his is both tranquil and stirring music, complex yet smoothly engaging. Playing sitar is extremely challenging. Playing one as well as he does is as rare as a rabbi in the Himalaya mountains." Greg Baker-Miami New Times

Record Label

Akasha Productions

Type of Label

Indie

Upcoming Shows

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Jul 4 2008

7:00P

Ishq South Beach

Miami Beach, Florida

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About Stephan Mikes

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Although many Westerners have been fascinated by the sitar, Stephan Mikes one of the few who have undergone the years of rigorous one-on-one training in classical Indian music necessary to do justice to this ancient instrument. As a primary student of sitar master Roop Verma, Stephan is part of a teaching lineage that goes back over 600 years and includes Pandit Ravi Shankar and Ustad Ali Akbar Khan. He combines his knowledge of Eastern music with the influence of Latin, Middle Eastern, Afro-Cuban, and Carribean rhythms to create compositions which are unique and compelling. In addition to the sitar, Mikes proficient on guitar, zither, mandolin, lap steel guitar and various types of synthesizers. Since 1986, Stephan has been performing and perfecting his own distinctive technique on the sitar. He has released four highly-acclaimed CDs of his modern original compositions on the independent Akasha label; Before You See, The Good, the Bad and the Karmic, Dakini Beach and Secret Songs of the Sitar Player. He also has five specialty albums; Twilight: Evening Ragas, Sitar Christmas, Jewel of the Lotus: Sitar Meditations, Sounds of the Surbahar and East Meets South. Putumayo Records included Medium Rara from The Good, the Bad and the Karmic on their 1996 international release, Putumayo Presents: A World Instrumental Collection. Miami's New Times annual"Best of Miami" issue 2004 named Stephan "Best Acoustic Performer,"and previously he was named "Best Solo Musician." In the XS Magazine annual guide to Broward and Palm Beach Counties, he was voted "Best New Age Artist." Mikes was nominated in three categories for the Florida music industry's 1995 JAMMY Awards; Specialty Instrumental, World Beat, and Best Independent Release for The Good, the Bad and the Karmic. Stephan has been featured on many local TV affiliates in Florida, the midwest and the northeast U.S. He also appeared as a guest on Family Channel International?s show Casa Club Magazine, which airs in Europe and South America. A PBS Special about Stephan and his music, entitled "Sitar Under the Stars: An East/West Fusion"aired for the first time in October 1997 and continues to be shown periodically. In 1996 he was commissioned to compose and perform a piece for Momentum Dance Company, and he also composed, arranged and recorded a soundtrack for "Growing Older," a project produced by WLRN-TV. Stephan has done studio session work for a number of rock and jazz projects (including several produced by Emilio Estefan), and even an Irish Celtic release. One of the few world music artists to transcend traditional boundaries, Stephan Mikes performs for a wide variety of events. He performed at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and in Boston at the Wang Center for the Performing Arts for fundraisers sponsored by Giorgio Armani. In August 1996, Mikes played for former President Clinton's 50th Birthday Celebration, connected via satellite from the Biltmore in Coral Gables. He has been the featured musician at many black tie events sponsored by Ivana Trump, and has played for prestigious gatherings at places such as Kravis Center, Norton Sculpture Gardens and the Hibel Museum in Palm Beach, Vizcaya in Miami, and the Colony Theatre in Miami Beach. Stephan has also performed at most of the major jazz and rock clubs in South Florida, including Tobacco Road, where he plays periodically and opened for the surf-rocking Mermen. Most recently, Stephan has enjoyed enormous success as a featured musician for many top-rated art festivals throughout Florida and the U.S. A native of Chicago, Stephan Mikes musical training began at age seven with the accordion, moving on to guitar at age eleven. His family then moved to Pennsylvania where he played with a number of rock bands during the late '60s. He attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania, majoring in philosophy and anthropology. Upon moving to Miami, he absorbed the influences of the Haitian, African, Caribbean and Latin rhythms which characterize the South Beach area. "My music is kind of a microcosm of the different cultures in Miami rolled into one," Stephan states. "I took all of their rhythmic and melodic influences, combined it with my classical Indian training, and that?s how the music came together." "I've always had a deep belief in the music," he says. "My loftiest ideal, what I would like to do, is to change the way society thinks about music, and what they think music is for. Of all the things my teacher taught me, one of the most important wasn't about music in the technical aspect. He taught me one of the most basic tenets: What is your intention when you create your music? Whatever the intention is behind your music, that's what people are going to get, no matter what kind of music it is. It's the intent behind the music that gives it the force to do whatever it does to people. Very few people understand that. The sitar lends a spiritual depth to the music which can take the listener as deep as he or she wants to go." Stephan Mikes / Akasha Productions 5595 SW 80th Street, #C / Miami, FL 33143 USA / (305) 665-4104 ? Toll Free / (800) 529-7501 AVAILABLE WORLDWIDE ON THE INTERNET at CDBaby.com go to http://cdbaby.com/all/sitar20 e-mail address: stephanmikes@mac.com Before You See, the first album from Stephan Mikes received a good deal of critical acclaim, including . . . "For fans of psychedelic world music, this one's a must . . ." -- Dennis Walkling, JAM Magazine, 5-star (highest) rating "The sitar is back. And one of its new, contemporary masters is Stephan Mikes . . . (He) has created a compelling East-meets-West musical fusion using the sitar and other Eastern instrments along with pedal steel guitar and synthesizers. The sounds may be foreign but the compositional structures are familiar and include pop-like melodic hooks you can hang your head and heart on." -- Scott Benarde, Critics' Choice, The Palm Beach Post ". . . The result is a collection of accessible originals, featuring simple, appealing melodies and rhythms, which at turns produce meditative or uplifting feelings." -- Laura Wilansky, Cafe Society, XS Magazine And, on The Good, the Bad and the Karmic: "By playing an instrument that developed well outside the melodic boundaries of Western music, Mikes may be the ultimate crossover artist. For proof, look no further than his third and most recent release, The Good, the Bad and the Karmic, on which Mikes successfully fuses the sitar's distinctive sound and winding Eastern melodies with a wide range of musical styles.' -- Jim Murphy, New Times "With a slew of Eastern-style instruments, Mikes combines the best of all worlds and creates a masterpiece -- highlighted, of course, by the sitar. Soothing, spiritual and somewhat transcendental, The Good, the Bad and the Karmic was created to take you away and it will." -- DJ Justice, JAM Magazine "If you picture a film in which Tom Cruise molds the use of Eastern powers for romantic purposes -- 'Zen and the Art of Finding a Chick,' if you will -- this could be the soundtrack." -- Bob Karlovits, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Also, about Dakini Beach : "A master at blending cool Indian inspired ragas with upbeat instrumental world jazz, Mikes is at his best on Dakini Beach, his latest album . . ." -- Robert Silverstein, 20th Century Guitar And most recently: " 'Secret Songs' continues Mikes blend of the sitar with Western sounds and genres -- stringlike keyboards and lap steel guitars make appearances -- to build contemplative melodies that retain the mystery and exoticism of Indian music while also dabbling in jazz, blues and trip-hop." -- Rene Alvarez, Street magazine "A great chill-out album filled with world beat sitar sounds and subtle yet effective percussion and electronica, 'Secret Songs' is like an audio travelogue filled with magical, mystical sounds." -- 20th Century Guitar © 2007 Stephan Mikes

Stephan Mikes's Friend Space (Top 21)

Stephan Mikes has 358 friends.

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Stephan Mikes's Friends Comments

Displaying 50 of 94 comments ( View All | Add Comment )

Curbside Jimmy and Washboard Jean	Jun 21 2008 1:12 PM From the West Texas desert, just east of the Pecos, thank you for accepting our friendship invitation. Curbside Jimmy and Wasboard Jean Old Country and Blues
ANDRES REXACH	Jun 16 2008 9:18 AM Hi, I write to you to invite you to listen to my new album called "Loneliness" available on iTunes Store now. Thanks for your time and I hope that you enjoy it. Namaste, Andrés Rexach. .. .. ..
Ava_Eve	Jun 7 2008 7:08 PM Hey Stephan Mikes, I just bought you as my PET! Click here to find out how much I think you're WORTH! ------------------------------- This comment was sent by your friend via the Own Your Friends! application. To block comments sent via Apps. click here.
Teri Catlin	Jun 5 2008 9:19 AM Hello Darlin' Hope you are feeling FABULOUS! We have long since finished the song "I AM" and would love to bring you a copy. We were thinking bout coming to support you at the resturant in S.Bch. Are you playing there any time soon?
TAP-Records	May 27 2008 3:54 PM thx 4 connecting !
Pirate Tijuana Joe on shore leave from June 27th	May 19 2008 6:10 AM Thanks for the add Stephan, you have a wonderful talent and produce great music. I purchased two of your CD's thru Itunes and would love to see you perform, if you come up to the New England area. Thanks for the add, Joe
matthew	May 16 2008 11:02 AM sooo stoked for hookahville. see you in a week blessings, matthew
Renee O.	May 7 2008 11:46 AM Hey Steve! See you in two weeks & have a safe trip!! Hugs, -R
KC	May 6 2008 4:22 AM Many a night your music has accompanied me down the unbeaten path. Thanks friend. I wish you all the best.
Renee O.	May 2 2008 8:44 AM Hey Stephan Mikes, I just bought you as my PET! Click here to find out how much I think you're $$WORTH$$!
Ana Kanpa: Spirits of the Earth	Apr 30 2008 3:14 PM Beautiful sounds Stephan! Cheers! :-)
Renee O.	Apr 16 2008 9:42 PM How's the family? Is your summer getting all booked up? When's the next time you're going to be in atl? Too many questions (yet I have so many more).
Renee O.	Apr 16 2008 8:50 AM Thanks Steve. So how was India? Hugs, me P.S. No bee stings lately! I probably shouldn't have said that. There'll be one waiting for me as soon as I walk outside!
♥ Cindi ♥	Apr 13 2008 5:20 AM
♥ Cindi ♥	Apr 11 2008 11:48 AM
☆JeRoMyOwEnZ☆	Apr 6 2008 11:28 AM See ya @ the ville'! Its gonna be another great on! I cant wait!
KamaNandi	Apr 2 2008 12:19 PM Thanks for the friendship, Stephan. I'm up for a collaboration or a meditative jam any time. Let me know, brother. Peace.
Joe Pet De Kat	Apr 2 2008 7:27 AM Saludos Stephan, The Beast tured me on to your wonderful Music back in the WAKI WAXY Years. Thanxs for the add. It's nice to have you virtualy at the stroke of a key aytime I want to listen to your sound. Looking forward to hearing you live soon. Keep Em Dancin Amigo....
Sri Gyan Antar	Mar 31 2008 7:48 PM Thanks for the add. as Nikhil-da used to say "Whoooooosh(that the sound he made sucking a lot of air in and saying in his Bengali accent) How is your practeece?" " Whooosh (again) very difficult 'tings you know?"
Michael	Mar 24 2008 9:17 AM Provin' I'm clueless, I've detected some etiquette: belated props for the add, Stephanus Maximus. And ('till we can spend some quality chill time)...tell me more, tell me more!
♥ Cindi ♥	Mar 22 2008 5:33 AM
Istvan Medgyesi	Mar 20 2008 7:03 AM Very cool stuff man, I dig it a lot. Thanks for the request. Peace to you and yours
♥ Cindi ♥	Mar 16 2008 8:53 AM I'm looking over a four-leaf clover That I overlooked before. One leaf is sunshine, the second is rain, Third is the roses that grow in the lane. No need explaining, the one remaining Is somebody I adore. I'm looking over a four-leaf clover That I overlooked before Words by Mort Dixon, music by Harry Woods Written in 1927 - popularized in 1948 by Art Mooney
Legend Valley Concert Venue	Mar 10 2008 8:31 AM
ONE RAGA	Mar 3 2008 10:57 AM Hi there S&B, was great to meet again the other day, hope the parcel arrived safe and sound. P
Hisham Adel	Feb 23 2008 5:39 AM thanks for being frind , beautiful music
♥ Cindi ♥	Feb 22 2008 4:48 PM
♥ Cindi ♥	Feb 13 2008 3:25 AM
Bluesmuse	Feb 12 2008 2:50 PM Just a shout out from the great white north. Don't know if you remember me or not but we talked a bit when you were up here in warm July. Will you be coming up this way again this summer? Would love to book you for a gig if you are. Namaste, Becci
♥ Cindi ♥

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