composer... guitarist... vocalist... teacher...

šŸŒ¹ PRESENTLY

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composing new music...

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forming new band...

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teaching privately...

ā€œMusic is intangible, yet can express our Soulā€™s deepest meaning and value, and somehow, that is something tangible!ā€ šŸŒ¹Cjm

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Michael received his Bachelor of Music degreešŸŽ“ in 1983 from the University of Minnesota. He studied Classical Guitar with Jim McGuire and majored in "Composition & Theory"Ā studying private composition involving 'counterpoint &Ā harmony' with Paul Fetler. Michael further studied orchestration with Dominick Argento and orchestral conducting. He sang as a tenor with University Symphony Chorus with the opportunity to perform great works like Beethovenā€™s 9th Symphony and Verdiā€™s Requiem with the Minnesota Orchestra and Robert Shaw guest conducting.

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In 2021, Michael released his song ā€œTAXIā€ with himself as Vocalist, Guitarist & Composer of all tracks including: Bass Guitar, Cello, Kora, Ngoni, Dununba, Cajon, Ghatam, Agogo, Krin, Guiro & Shekere.

Michael has been recognized as a ā€˜Signature Artistā€™ with his original published arrangements at musicnotes.com.

Michael continues to teach privately one-to-one. He taught Guitar, Vocals, Songwriting, Composition and Full Rock-Bands as an instructor at Guitar Center Studios, Phoenix from 2014 to 2019. He has taught privately since his early days at University to students from ages 6 up to 82 years!

In 2016 Michael released his jaZZy-Flamenco twist on the Christmas standard ā€œWe Three Kings - Star of Wonderā€ arranged for 3-guitars, stand-up bass, and a fusion of percussion from India, China and traditional Rock.

In 2013 Michael released his debut album ā€œEarth Riseā€ arranged for Solo Guitar of Classical and Jazz Infusions amid Rich Orchestrations, Piano and World Rhythms.

His releases are available at Apple Music, Spotify, and his website jmichaelchristophre.com.

In the early ā€˜90s, Michael formed a ā€˜jazz-rockā€™ fusion band with himself as Lead Singer-Songwriter. The 5-piece band ā€œTain Reimeiā€ comprised of Vocals, lead-Guitar, Bass & Chapman Stick, Keyboards & Synthesizers and Drums & Percussion performed at several venues throughout Minneapolis, including the famed 7th Street Entry at First Avenue.

In Michaelā€™s early days, he began playing guitar at the age of 9, taught by his father, and then moved on to private teachers who steered him into Classical Guitar. In High School he performed solo guitar at variety shows and sang in the Choirs and Pop-Madrigal Group.

šŸŒ™Influences

French composer Claude Debussy is my favourite classical composer and one of my most profound influences with his depth of rich harmonies and expressive melodies.Ā  Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos is a powerful influence in my guitar playing with his inventive harmonies and Latin rhythms. Peter Gabriel is one of my favourite contemporary composer-musicians with his dynamic infusion of world rhythms and inventive rock. Icon David Bowie is my most influential artist for me as a vocalist and songwriter.

šŸŒ™Instruments & Tools

IĀ play Classical, Acoustic and Electric guitars, with my own style being an infusion of classical, flamenco, jazz & rock. Primarily self-taught at keyboards & synthesizers, Ii love to play piano as well, especially to improvise.Ā  My debut album Earth Rise is composed and mixed in Logic Pro 9 with all of its rich sampled orchestral and world instruments. The piano is a Bƶsendorfer from Logic Pro 9.Ā 

My primary electric guitar is an Ibanez RG 550 and use my own custom designed amps in Logic X and Guitar Rig 5 Pro from Native Instruments.Ā 

My classical/flamenco guitar is a Cordoba GK Studio Negra using Savarez 500CJ Cristal Corum high-tension strings that Ii used on We Three Kings. Also using myĀ Ramirez Cut 2 Cut-away Classical GuitarĀ with integrated Fishman Prefix Pro-Blend pick-ups.

Currently composing in Logic Pro XĀ with its amazing sounds in conjunction with my sound library Native Instruments Komplete 13.Ā 

Releases

WE THREE KINGS

single Ā©2016

jaZZy-Flamenco twist on the Christmas standard 'We Three Kings-Star of Wonder'

arranged for 3-guitars, stand-up bass, and a fusion of percussion from India, China and traditional Rock.

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EARTH RISE

debut albumĀ©2013

my debut album...

arranged for Solo Guitar of Classical & Jazz Infusions amid Rich Orchestrations, Piano and World Rhythms.

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Uplifting šŸŒ¹ Relaxing šŸŒ¹ Contemplative šŸŒ¹ Sensual šŸŒ¹ Meditative

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