Meet Mikailo Kasha | Bassist, Composer, Director of Concerts & Events, Educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mikailo Kasha and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mikailo, why did you pursue a creative career?
The story I often tell is that, as a kid, I asked my mom for a Nintendo so I could play Pokémon. Instead, she got me a piano. And, well, here we are.

Music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I grew up surrounded by it—listening to Lou Rawls, learning piano, cello, and alto sax in elementary school, and composing from a young age. In fact, I’ve kept every idea or piece I’ve ever written since 5th grade, all stored on a hard drive.

All through middle and high school, I was immersed in music, participating in ensembles both in and out of school, including the San Francisco High School All-Stars. I was constantly listening, playing, and creating music, which ultimately led me toward toward the artistic path I’m on today.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Many people write songs inspired by love, life, or some other driving force. My process is a bit different. I don’t necessarily write for a specific reason—it’s more like, “It’s been a few months, and I should probably do something productive.”

This brings up a dilemma—how do I come up with a title? There have been plenty of times when working with a lyricist where they’ll ask what the song is about, and at first, I don’t have an answer. My solution? I listen back with a blank slate and let the music guide me. I pay attention to the high points, the energy shifts, and how it makes me feel. Does it build excitement? Does it tell a story?

Turns out, most of my songs are pretty fun and optimistic.

Some exciting things that are happening soon! The first one is that I have a single out on March 14th, entitled “Juice Break”. It features vocalist Justine Garcia, saxophonist Dayna Stephens, pianist Connor Rohrer, and drummer Jonathan Ziegler.

I have so much music to share with the world! This year, I’m releasing five albums, each showcasing different styles and collaborations. On top of that, I’ve been stockpiling around 20 unreleased albums—helped by the fact that I’ve saved every musical idea I’ve ever written since I was 10.

The next release I’m especially excited about is MKDOUBLETRIO, a band I formed with two drummers, two pianists, and myself on bass. The music has been described as epic, cinematic, and downright crazy. That album drops in June, and I can’t wait to share it!

Beyond creating music, here are a few other ways I spend my time:
1. I’m the Director of Concerts for the Miami Jazz Cooperative, a nonprofit that has been bringing jazz to the community for over 15 years. We organize concerts that showcase both local talent and musicians from around the world. It’s been an incredible experience to help make these events happen, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to support and grow the arts community. One of my current projects is launching a Youth Jazz Big Band, giving high school students in the South Florida area a chance to rehearse and perform in a large ensemble—an opportunity that doesn’t really exist for them right now.

2. I’ve had the incredible opportunity to direct the Honors Jazz Combo at Miami Country Day School for the past year, and it’s been an amazing experience. Huge shout-out to the talented students and the fantastic team at MCDS!

3. I have a side passion for video editing and drums—though, for the record, I don’t actually play drums. A few years ago, I started a YouTube channel called Mostly Bop Drums, dedicated to jazz drumming and educational content. It’s been an rewarding experience featuring some truly mind-blowing drummers, and I’m excited to see where it goes next.

I guess I should also say that I play bass. That’s definitely my main creative outlet. I’ve been playing bass (both upright and electric) for about 15 years. I studied at Florida State University and the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami.
You can catch me playing around town pretty regularly (All my shows are on my website!)

I should probably mention that bass is my main creative outlet. I’ve been playing both upright and electric bass for about 15 years. I studied at Florida State University and the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, which helped shape my musical journey. As a participant in exclusive music workshops worldwide, I have received mentorship from masters like Rufus Reid at Ravinia’s Steans Music Institute for Jazz, Christian McBride at Jazz Aspen’s JAS Academy, Ben Wendel at the Siena Jazz Workshop in Italy, and Maria Schneider at the Generations Workshop in Switzerland. As a sideman, I’ve had the privlige of performing with Nestor Torres, Nick Finzer, Dave Meder, Stephen Scott, and Sal Valentinetti, among others.

You can catch me playing around town pretty regularly—check out my website for all the details on upcoming shows!

The biggest lesson I’ve learned: This one’s crucial—nobody cares more about your success than you do. If you want something done, you have to take the reins and do it yourself. No one else will invest as much effort into your passion as you will.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
In no particular order:

Food!
Le Parc Cafe, Coral Gables – They have some ridiculous pastries and crepes
Red Rooster, Overtown – amazing southern comfort food and nice vibes!
Master Ba Hot Pot, Davie (I know, not close) but it’s all you can eat and AMAZING
Ayesha Indian, Palmetto Bay, really delicious!
Sabor A Peru, Miami – the ceviche is INSANE

Fun Places!
Mondays – Ball & Chain
Tuesdays – Crossbridge Pinecrest (Shameless plug for the concerts we put on for Miami Jazz Cooperative)
Neme Gastro Bar – has awesome music
The Gibson – fun bar with music
Fridays – Jazz at Moca (every last friday of the month) and you can check out the Museum of Contemporary Art
Dante’s HiFi – cool spot with vinyl spinning
Yellow Green Farmers Market – A huge farmers market with music and great food

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First and foremost, my parents – Lorraine and Nicolas Kasha
My brother, Gialon Kasha
My high school band directors – Ted Ferrucci & Chris Ortega
My Mentor – Rodney Jordan

Website: https://www.mikailokashabass.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikailokasha/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikailo-kasha-020905107/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0CJR18SKY4fnC_m0dJibnQ

Image Credits
Nicole Yarling
Kishore Seshadri
Andy Valdivia