The Man Behind Female

Misha Segal is widely known as an Emmy® award-winning composer and accomplished recording artist, songwriter and producer. He was born to a Russian father and Hungarian-Viennese mother, who each settled in Israel to escape political and religious persecution. His father befriended Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie and Misha grew up with his ears filled with American jazz...along with plenty of Russian folk tunes and Johann Strauss.

Educated in composition, orchestration and conducting in Israel, Germany, at the Guildehall School of Music in London and Berklee College of Music in Boston, Misha's compositions reflect a musical intelligence that could only be the result of talent shaped by true study of his craft. Thus, he is fast gaining the reputation as 'The Anti -New Age Adult Contemporary Instrumentalist'.

In his native Israel, Misha's jazz, American rock and pop influences helped change the face of music, garnering numerous #1 hits. His classical compositions have been performed by the Israel Philharmonic and the Israel Chamber Ensemble.

In the U.S., Misha worked with some of Motown's greatest artists and the world's finest jazz musicians. His own jazz CD, Zambooka , which featured Freddy Hubbard and Chick Corea, enjoyed heavy rotation on the smooth jazz stations.

His second jazz CD, Connected to the Unexpected , was awarded Critic's Choice in Jazziz Magazine. Too hip for mainstream, the album was eaten up by college stations across the country.

Also to Misha's credit is his extensive television and film music work. His scores to the feature films Phantom of the Opera and The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking continue to receive worldwide acclaim.

His latest CD release, a mostly improvised solo piano collection called Female , has been compared by fans to a cross between Chopin's Nocturnes and a laid-back Keith Jarrett.

Female forms the core of Misha's 'Beauty Found in Unlikely Places' concert series, dedicated to his mother who died of lung cancer on Mother's Day, 2001. 

Female elicits declarations of love for the music and its composer. Why? Listen to the CDs at the end of a long day. Turn the lights out. You'll understand....