Misja Fitzgerald-Michel Quartet

A tasteful jazz guitarist, Misja Fitzgerald-Michel’s music ranges in style from Wes Montgomery to Ornette Coleman, sounding both modern and timeless. The French guitarist was born in Holland in 1973. He began playing guitar when he was 7. In 1993, Fitzgerald-Michel traveled to Banff in Canada, where he studied with Kenny Wheeler, Mick Goodrick, Anthony Braxton and Robin Eubanks. Back in France, he attended the C.N.S.M. in Paris, being a member of the French conservatory’s big band. After winning the Lavoisier Scholarship awarded by the French Ministry of Culture, he studied at the New School in New York with Jim Hall, John Abercrombie and Billy Harper. Fitzgerald-Michel also had opportunities to play with Ravi Coltrane, Graham Haynes and Billy Hart. Moving back to Paris, Fitzgerald-Michel was greatly in-demand to perform at jazz clubs and festivals. He worked with Gary Thomas, Mark Turner, Chris Potter, Rich Perry, Seamus Blake, Robin Eubanks, Scott Colley, Mark Helias, Anthony Cox and Craig Handy among others. In 1998, he made his recording debut as a leader with Live at La Villa. Since then, Fitzgerald-Michel has performed at many international jazz festivals, toured Europe with blues guitarist Otis Taylor in 2004, worked with trombonist Sarah Morrow, often performed in a variety of settings (including duo) with bassist Drew Gress, and recorded several more CDs as a leader. Misja Fitzerald-Michel’s Sunnyside CD Encounter has gained him a great deal of attention.