Mikael Máni
Cinematic Nordic Jazz & Instrumental Storytelling
Mikael Máni is an Icelandic guitarist and composer whose music blends mood-driven jazz with cinematic storytelling, drawing from Nordic folk traditions, Americana, and improvisation.
His solo guitar album Guitar Poetry (released on ACT, 2024) was described by DownBeat as “an impressionistic gem” (★★★★½), while his album Innermost won Jazz Album of the Year at the Icelandic Music Awards. His work has been featured on BBC Radio, and his music has reached over 1.2 million streams on Spotify.
Máni’s music is intimate, lyrical, and visually evocative—instrumental compositions that unfold like stories, balancing subtlety with emotional intensity.
Line-up Options
▪ Solo guitar – lyrical, cinematic solo guitar for an intimate seated concert
▪ Ensemble (trio / quintet) – warm, dynamic and rhythmically engaging ensemble
▪ Special collaborations – curated line-ups with Nordic and international artists
Concert Info
▪ Ideal for seated listening audiences, jazz clubs and intimate concert settings
▪ Duration: 60–80 minutes
▪ Flexible line-ups
▪ Nordic jazz / ECM
▪ Instrumental storytelling
▪ Film-influenced contemporary jazz
Live videos
Press / Reviews
“He aimed to, and succeeded in, making the sort of music that leaves an imprint on the mind ★★★★” - BBC Music Magazine
“There’s a strong sense of wide-eyed dreaming about some of the compositions... the music blurring the waking and sleeping worlds ” - Jazzwise
“Wonderful, song-like, pensive miniatures between folk, americana and nordic tradition ★★★★” - NZZ-NeueZürcherZeitung (NZZ)
“ …an impressionistic gem. ★★★★½” - Downbeat
“A storyteller of the guitar who provides templates for the cinema in the listeners head ★★★★” - Concerto