Today we’d like to introduce you to Mikhail Danilov.
Misha Danilov is a bass player, jazz composer, arranger and big band director from Uzbekistan. In December 2015, he graduated from Berklee College of Music, majored in Performance and Jazz Composition.
As a bass player, Misha worked with many internationally recognized musicians from Uzbekistan, such as Mansur Tashmatov (People’s Artist of Uzbekistan), Yunus Gulzarov (Honored Artist of Uzbekistan), Davron Gaipov and his first in UzbekSSR rock band Original.
Misha has performed in many international jazz festivals, including Golden Fall (Uzbekistan, 2005); Astana Blues (2006), where he shared stage with legendary trumpeter Randy Brecker; 5th International Bishkek Jazz Festival.
In 2015, Misha was finalist in ASCAP Young Jazz Composers competition with his big band composition Brainwash. Brainwash was later selected and recorded by Jazz Revelation Record label for their 2016 CD.
Since then, Misha and his big band has been recording and performing his original compositions featuring great musicians such as Donna McElroy, Ricardo Monzon, and Yazhi Guo.
As a result of collaboration with the best suona player from Hong Kong Yazhi Guo, Misha’s arrangement of a traditional Chinese tune Jin She Kuang Wu was featured and performed in Gateway Performance Series by ASCAP award-winning composer Alan Chan and his Jazz Orchestra in LA.
Misha’s big band adaptation of arrangement of Black National Anthem “Lift Every Voice and Sing” was featured in S.O.A.R 2016 outdoor event for audiences of 10,000 people.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has never been a smooth ride. One of my biggest dreams was to study at Berklee College of Music. And I was the first person from Uzbekistan to study there. It was a big challenge for a person from Uzbekistan, something like going to space.
While I was at Berklee I lost my dad and my sister. My wife, who was my first-semester classmate at Berklee was a big support for me. I took some time to get back to music. Even to enjoy listening to it. All those emotions made me write a song that I dedicated to my dad. It’s called “Stay”. I had a wonderful singer, who had been nominated for Grammy singing on the record – Donna McElroy.
Moving to LA was another challenge. I got my Green Card as a composer (applied for a visa “Alien of Extraordinary Ability”). So, the government recognized my achievements, but it seems to be way harder to make the music industry to recognize them.
Can you give our readers some background on your music?
While I was in Uzbekistan, I was experimenting with sound of jazz and Uzbek ethnic music. My band was recognized for that. We were invited to many jazz festivals.
I didn’t stop experimenting with ethnic jazz after I moved to the US. This time I did an arrangement of a Chinese ethnic tune in a contemporary jazz style played by big band.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Reach your goals, set new once and reach them. Then repeat.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mishadanilovmusic.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Misha-Danilov-Tashkent-197642463586641/
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwXnGfz5w0dC0C9BqxSd70g
Image Credit:
Yunyun Huang Danilova, Evgeniy Gikharev, Shukhrat Kamalov
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