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Miguel Balmaceda
was born January 31, 1953 in Colon, Panama. His hard working parents migrated their way to New York City, where he was raised until his teens. The migration continued west to California, where his ear latched on to an eclectic blend of pop, rock and jazz influences. Everything from Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, to L.A.'s Doors, to John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra, to Carlos Santana.
"It was Carlos who influenced me the most, particularly on a spiritual level. Of course musically as well, but it was the completely inspirational quality of his mid-70s recordings 'Caravanserai', 'Welcome', and 'Borboletta' which really drove me to become a player. Eventually, I wanted to generate in my own playing, the same kinds of inspired emotions Carlos had evoked in me. There were other albums from that period which moved me as well. Robin Trower's 'Bridge of Sighs', and McLaughlin's 'Birds of Fire' were eye opening masterpieces. But it was Carlos who made my heart soar the highest."
In 1984 Miguel enrolled in Hollywood's Guitar Institute of Technology (now the Musician's Institute). "That experience at G.I.T. was the turning point for me as a player. Until then I had always had the desire and talent I think, but not the confidence to believe I could ever develop a career in music. But, it was that experience which led me to develop a jazz vocabulary, composing, and eventually the recording of my first album 'The San Miguel Project'."
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