MARKET WATCH 

November 26, 2018  /  Jazz Network Worldwide 

Kevin Michaels has a whole-new musical journey to enjoy as he carves out his new website launching his new single "Superman Lover" from his upcoming The Enigma Project CD Release early 2019. 

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- His band The Enigma Project is carving out its place in the music industry gaining popularity at record speed having been featured at many popular music festivals. Leader Kevin Michaels is a perfectionist and demands excellence from himself and his bandmates, always looking to expand drum and percussion boundaries in all genres. His original compositions include lyrics that are literate, self-consciously meaningful and fearless. As a musical-genre-spear-header, he emphasizes blends of diverse rhythms adding scintillating and energetic flavors and feels to his music. As a true artist, he's passionate about incorporating heavy elements of Jazz, Rock, Fusion, R&B, Latin, Cuban, Brazilian, Country and Classical styles, which includes Worldbeat and pure African rhythms. The Enigma Project's "Superman Lover" is its recent offering to the marketplace as a sneak peek of what's to come early 2019. 

"I was blown away by The Enigma Project band, all seasoned musicians who have a history of playing with signature bands. In today's musical landscape, this myriad of blended styles would be welcome on most any musical stage. You get the sense that these guys will really tap all the great remembrances of tunes you love, played as a new arrangement, with identifiable blends of other styles embracing the forward moving groove. I also enjoyed working along Kevin Michaels in creating his new website, his jovial spirit, intense intellect and a keen eye for presentation, which is always in forward  momentum mode," says Jaijai Jackson of The Jazz Network Worldwide. 

Having played with hundreds of bands and recorded on The Beach Boys "Holland Album", including credit on the 2013 "Made in California" album as well as an audio/visual music credit on the 2006 Jack Nicholson/Leonardo DiCaprio film "The Departed" adds to his credits. 

"The Enigma Project delivers a show comprised of high quality, jazz, rock, r&b, blues, funk, and reggae styles morphing from rock  into jazz-latin  and crosses jazz into jazz-rock, r&b-funk-reggae styles. The band does its own arrangements to all types of originals and covers that cross broad musical spectrums.  Each song that is delivered is unique, and packed with power to extremely subtle details, with deep heavy grooves, great time, and wonderful feels. This band starts growing on you from the moment you hear it. Over time, you realize that you've been missing quality music for longer than you thought.  For those not familiar with the band, the music it presents will give you a deeper understanding of what true music is," says Kevin Michaels. 

The current line-up of The Enigma Project is Kevin Michaels (dr.), George M. Webster (bass), Ronnie Good, John Gulack (Keys), Mike Nelson (saxes), Roy Wiegand Sr. (trombone), Roy Wiegand Jr. (trumpets), Riki Hendrix (guitars/voc.),guitar/voc.)guitar/voc.)Kevin Michaels has made his mark when it comes to blending his drumming ability creating a fresh and newly vibrant musical experience with anyone's style. This gift comes organically to Kevin since he is a composer, arranger, audio guru, author and educator who offers consultations. In addition, he is a powerful producer of all types of music, video, including artistic, musical, and stage events. 

To learn more and to purchase the new single "Superman Lover" from the upcoming The Enigma Project CD check out the official Kevin Michaels website at kevinmichaels.us as well as his feature on The Jazz Network Worldwide this week at thejazznetworkworldwide.com. 

Follow Kevin Michaels on social media: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EnigmaProject2017/ 

SOURCE The Jazz Network Worldwide 

Copyright (C) 2018 PR Newswire. All rights reserved

INDIE PULSE MUSIC 

January 09, 2018 / IndiePulse Magazine 

Enigma Project is a new, Southern California-based band with a unique approach: To not only play original Blues, but also creating two separate tribute bands re-imagining the music of guitarists Jimi Hendrix and Robin Trower. 

We knew that while everyone does covers of blues, R&B, funk, rock and country, no one was doing strictly a Robin Trower tribute,” explains Kevin Michaels, Enigma Project’s drummer and de-facto band leader.  “His music sounds easy, but actually has some very innovative parts.” Enigma Project also hosted a successful weekly Jam Session in the High Desert. 

Michaels was recently interviewed by IndiePulse Music about the group’s plans for 2018, here’s how it went. 

Michaels was recently interviewed by IndiePulse Music about the group’s plans for 2018, here’s how it went. 

IPM: How did you come up with the name ‘Enigma Project’? 

KM: After having auditioned last July July for a band called SIR REAL, a few of the guys (in SIR REAL) and I started discussing what the future of this band would be. The main issue we wanted to address was about not being pigeon holed sound-wise, because we liked playing Rock, Latin, R&B, Funk and some Jazz.  One of us mentioned that we should pick a name that would represent our artistry without the industry pigeon holing us. At that we came up with Enigma Project. 

IPM: Let’s talk a little bit about your musical background ? 

KM: All my family, including grandfathers and grandmothers, uncles and aunts, were in the music business when I was growing up. I went to a party hosted by Emil Richards who was a great Hollywood percussionist. I saw some drums and attempted to play. I wasn’t very good.  At this same I met Joe Porcaro, whose late son Jeff became a famous drummer in Toto. That was the start of me learning how to play drums, from one of the best. 

My Uncle John was also touring with the Beach Boys as a trumpet player. John was responsible introduced my father to the Beach Boys, whom they hired to do sound engineering for them.  My father’s job got me my first trip to Europe going to England and Holland in 1972, where I met the Beach Boys.  These experiences also gave me insight into music production, a few guitar lessons from Carl Wilson and Blondie Chaplin, and a few drum lessons from Ricky Fataar. Carl actually asked me to play some percussion on a few tracks. 

Recently I’ve been credited on one (Beach Boys) track, but not the other. I realized that music and big concerts is where I needed to be. Shortly after that I started doing Top 40 gigs in Southern California with several bands, and had numerous original bands in San Diego. I also got a credit on the Robert DeNiro movie, THE DEPARTED. 

IPM: Seems that initially, Enigma Project is primarily hosting a Weekly Jam session, as opposed to booking regular club gigs. What’s the method to your madness? 

KM: I was checking out venues and found Mattie’s Blues Cafe in Apple Valley. We started playing there last September and had a successful stint as the weekly House Band until the club got sold in late-December. This was really great for us because we didn’t have to pay for a studio, there was potential for the public to come to the venue and see us playing, and at the same time, we helped build the club’s client base – upwards of thirty-plus people per night, and up to 15-20 musicians show up regularly each week. 

In the meantime we gained a reputation as being one of the best bands up in the High Desert/ San Bernardino area. 

IPM: Enigma Project currently plays both original Blues, and tributes two greats, Robin Trower and Jimi Hendrix. What goes into the decision process here? 

KM: Our first priority was to perform tributes to Jimi Hendrix and Robin Trower. No one is doing strictly a Robin Trower tribute. His music might sound easy to play, but it has some innovative parts that must be addressed. If you don’t play them properly, you’ll sound like an amateur band. I chose all of the tunes based on different feels, rhythms, and the uniqueness of each of the tunes. 

IPM: Are there any Enigma Project recordings (CDs) in the works? 

KM:  We are planning on releasing a ten-song video of our versions of blues, funk, r&b, reggae, and rock songs that could also have certain jazz incorporated into them, a high-energy projection of our fluid, dynamic and diverse playing style as a band. 

IPM: Any plans to tour in the near future? 

KM: We’ve been contacting people to go on the festival circuit since July, and have found some wonderful blues festivals that we’re about to send out our EPK to. 

IPM: Where can people find out more about the Enigma Project ? 

KM: People can contact us through our Facebook page.