Guitarist Miles Okazaki on the Rhythms of Bach and Monk

Guitarist and composer Miles Okazaki has been an important guitarist in the New York jazz scene for over twenty years. His latest album is Boomtown, featuring a large chamber jazz ensemble playing his jagged Americana. Miles is best known for his solo-guitar recording of the complete works of Thelonious Monk, and we discuss the art of rhythmic placement in Bach and Monk.

Featured are excerpts of Miles’ performances of Bach’s BWV 1005 and one of the Fugues in A Minor.

Miles Okazaki

• Website: milesokazaki.com

• Instagram: @okazakistudio

• YouTube: milesokazaki playlists

Boomtown (Pi Recordings, June 26, 2026)

• Apple Music

• Bandcamp

WORK (2018), the complete Monk compositions on solo guitar

• Bandcamp

• Full liner notes, track-by-track commentary, and press

Artists mentioned:

Andrés Segovia · Julian Bream · John Williams · The Beatles · Jascha Heifetz · Glenn Gould · Thelonious Monk · Charlie Parker · Charlie Christian · Art Tatum · Brad Mehldau · Matt Mitchell · Igor Stravinsky · Nat King Cole · Ella Fitzgerald · Jimmy Scott · Julie London · Frank Sinatra · Coleman Hawkins · Iannis Xenakis · Dan Weiss · Kim Cass · Patricia Brennan · Steve Cardenas · Don Sickler