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Robert
Michaels
 Robert
Michaels: Juno Award winning Canadian artist
This country’s most accomplished Latin Jazz guitarist has won
two Junos, achieved platinum and gold status with record sales,
has legions of fans who are drawn back time and time again to
every show and yet you likely don’t know his name.
To see where Robert came from is to look at a fourteen year-old
boy growing up in Toronto wanting, more than anything in the
world, to learn how to play guitar. Initially his parents
doubted his dedication and refused to buy him one. Undaunted, he
picked up a piece of wood, drew on some frets and nailed six
pieces of plain string on to it. He then sat in his room for
hours on end practicing silent chords. Eventually his parents
relented and bought him his first guitar and from that day he
soared.
 Robert
Michaels released his debut CD Paradiso in 1996, and from that
time has released 4 more albums. Following on from the success
of 2003’s JUNO award-winning Allegro, the new self-titled album
from ROBERT MICHAELS is now available. This 2-CD set includes
both a vocal disc of beautiful new songs and an instrumental
disc highlighting Robert’s unique acoustic guitar style.
Robert’s new album (self titled, "Robert Michaels") displays
amazing growth and introduces a number of musical elements. In
addition to his own vocals tracks it also includes renowned
vocalist Jennifer Warnes (Famous Blue Raincoat) who makes a rare
guest appearance on “So Sad”, and “Emporte-Nous” features
acclaimed musical stage actress Louise Pitre (Mamma Mia!).
Respected Canadian singers Luba and Coral Egan are also special
guest vocalists.
 This
collection of 18 unique songs ranges in style from pop to
flamenco. Much of Robert’s earlier recordings were described as
“flamenco-jazz” but these new songs have a much broader musical
palette. Robert explains, “From the beginning I didn’t play
flamenco or Latin jazz in any traditional way. I had experience
playing so many other styles that I merely incorporated all of
the influences. My style was never planned. I arrived at it
spontaneously while playing in front of the audiences.”
Through his tireless schedule of concerts and television
appearances, Robert’s independently released debut album
Paradiso went on to achieve Platinum status in Canada, selling
over 100,000 copies – an incredible feat for any artist, but
even more so for an instrumental musician. That success led to a
second album, Arizona, which earned Robert a 1997 JUNO
nomination for Instrumental Artist of the Year. His next
release, Allegro, won the JUNO for Best Instrumental Album in
2003. Robert admits, "It’s all been word of mouth, really. Every
time we did a show, people came up to us and asked where we were
playing next and if they could buy an album. Then they’d show up
and bring their friends and it just grew from there." |
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WHAT THE |
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CRITICS SAY:
"Flamenco's version of
Led Zeppelin axe-god Jimmy Page."
Ottawa Sun
"Every inch a dazzling
guitarist."
Ottawa Sun
"Just playing his
six-string with dazzling flourishes of macho colour and, on occasion, with
alarming speed."
Ottawa Sun
"The people in the crowd
are spellbound." "...they watch him, they listen, they are caught as
Michaels music travels past the neck of the guitar and creates his signature
sound. A sound so intense the listeners must hold their breath."
Toronto Star |
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