MEIR BEN MICHAEL
Meir began playing in a unconventional way, following his brother Mordechai Bouzaglou was killed in a car accident who was a gifted guitar player, and as a child Meir had a strong desire to continue his brother's love for music and fulfill his dream.
Meir was born in Casablanca Morocco and grew up in Israel. At the age of twelve, he began playing the guitar. As a child he heard and absorbed liturgical music and poetry along with French chansons and Umm Kulthum. His father Mahluf Bouzaglo (its Meir original last name) was a cantor with a caressing voice, all the dynasty of Bouzaglo's family in Morocco were cantors and musicians in exile over the centuries.
As a youngster he grew up playing in various rock bands playing the music of Deep Purple, Jimmy Hendrix, Santana, and the Beatles.
At age fifteen he started his classical guitar studies at music conservatory in Ein Harod Kibbutz.
At the age of eighteen he joined the Israeli Army Band, and his fascination for jazz began during his service, he became interested and fell in love with Chick Corea Album Light as a Feather which influenced and inspired his musical path in jazz.
Meir's first jazz guitar teacher was the great Carol Abramovich in Israel and everything started right there, after serving three years in the army band.

Meir decided to take a big step and moved to Boston to study at Berklee College of Music.
He graduated and received his associate degree in music.
Then moved to New York city and study privately with Gene Bertoncini, Atilla Zuller and Jack Wilkins. He met the great Jazz Pianist Gil Coggins. Gil played with such players as Miles Davis, Jackie McLean, John Coltrane and Sonny Rollins to name a few. The collaboration with Gil lead Meir
to meet and play with some of the great players of our time.
"When we first met at the Village Door, Meir came up with his guitar on to the bandstand. That's when I heard this promising talent" - say's Gil Coggins.
In 1990 played with the famous guitar player George Benson who had a great influence on him. Meir also played guitar with other famous musicians as: Bobby Watson, Ted Carson, Joe Pass,
Lou Donaldson, Grady Tate, Victor Jones, Ran Berton, Gill coogins, Victor Ponamarov, Max Roach, Frank Wess, Arnei Lawence, Victor Jones, John Hicks, and Rahn Burton.
In 1995 his first album Relief was released.
The musicians who participate in this album were: Andy Macke, Victor Jones, Jay Rodriguez, and Yaron Gershovskey.
Meir initiated a special Pop project called Piutay Bop where he combined Moroccan music with BeBop. It was played in the Red Sea Jazz Festival. As well Meir participated in Le Turiga festival, and a music project with sax player Jess Koren Touch the spirit in the framework of the Jazz Blues Videotape Festival TLV.
His second album Leolam feature Israeli classic songs among originals.
Its originals songs compose and arranged by Meir Ben Michael soul jazzy type.
Featuring top Israeli musician's singers-songwriters, such a Yitzhak Klepter, Mazzie Cohen
Dafna Armony, and Peter Wertheimer.
In 2013 Meir won the best guitarist of 2013 Master Jam Festival in Ukraine Odessa supported by United Nations.
In 2015 is about to release a ballad Album Meir's mood,
Featuring: Vocalist Mazzie Cohen, and Jimmy Lloyd,
Gideon Pesachov (Drums), Omer Ritzi (Hammond B3), Victor Jones Jay Rodrigues.
Meir guitar playing has a unique energy that combines the tradition of Bebop with Contemporary musical influences.
For the last two years Meir is working on his fourth album Deep After, featuring Randy Brecker, and Victor Jones. It will be released in 2022 that will include originals with strings orchestra and new arrangements which combine between Israeli classic melodies and American jazz harmony.
One of the most extraordinary musicians that I adore is the great guitarist George Benson who has influenced my way of feeling the music. He has also changed my conception of rhythmical ideas.
Some of my other influences are the sensitivity of Bill Evans, the rhythm of Chick Corea and the warmth of Clifford Brown.
Meir.