Calgarian composer, performer, producer, Mike Fijal is a trumpet, flugelhorn and guitar player steeped in the practice of space jazz improvisation. My favourite style of music that I produce is called "space jazz". My space jazz is improvised and composed; usually restful and contemplative; and sometimes comes from deep space. Around the turn of the century, on the old mp3.com I managed to collaborate with many musicians all over the world sharing our files over the internet to produce our music together. One such musician was Shigero Toonoka (Cari). I eventually visited him in Tokyo where we recorded music that to this day remains some of my favourite space jazz. In 2006 I produced Joelle Gilmoure's cd "Light of the Unknown" which is on cdbaby. Studied classical guitar and trumpet since a young teen. First job was teaching guitar when I was 15. Attended classical guitar master class with Venezuelan, Alirio Diaz. Studied at Grant MacEwan college in Edmonton starting with guitar and trumpet and ended up graduating as a trumpet performance major. Composed originals and performed them with jazz groups that I led in Edmonton and Calgary. Recorded and produced as well. Played in R&B, pop, blues, ska and jazz bands. Promoted my recordings on local radio stations, and won a contest at the U of A radio station. Space jazz collaboration with Ed Patterson resulted in a feature interview on CKUA and airplay. Left Edmonton to join the Canadian Forces Band Branch and was eventually posted back to my hometown of Calgary. After being laid off due to government cutbacks, studied film at SAIT to eventually become a movie editor and post production sound editor at Citytv. I am now working full time for Fijal Space Media, having fully returned to my Space Jazz mission.... and beyond! Influences: ECM space jazz, Egberto Gismonti, Charlie Haden, Pat Metheny, Milton Nascimento, Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, Tomas Stanko, Bill Frisell and many others.