Ms. Miche
Diva Out Of Bounds
Ms miche," believes in giving every performance her all. There could thousands of people out front, or maybe less than a dozen. Either way, she will deliver a powerhouse show not to be forgotten.
MICHE (pronounced "Mickey") BRADEN is a singer, actor, musician, songwriter, arranger, and musical director.
Miche is presently perfoming in the dual capacities of actor and Musical Director for THE PEOPLE'S TEMPLE by Leigh Fondakowski ( The Laramie Project ) at Berkeley Repertory Theater in California .
In addition, Miche plays the lead & is Musical Director in collaboration with Director Joe Brancato (Cobb ) and playwright Angelo Parra for “THE DEVIL'S MUSIC: The Life & Blues of Bessie Smith”. The show received rave reviews in Manhattan , West Palm Beach , FL & Hartford , CT. It placed third in THE DAILY NEWS Top Ten Off Broadway shows for 2001. She was also nominated for the coveted Carbonell Award for 2001 in Florida & the Connecticut Critics Award in 2003.
Miche is a product of the rich musical heritage of her hometown, Detroit , Michigan . In Detroit she was the founder and former lead singer of Straight Ahead (women‘s jazz band), a was a protegé of Motown musicians Earl Van Dyke (leader of The Funk Brothers), Thomas “Beans” Bowles & Jazz Master Composer Harold McKinney.
As a singer, Miche has worked with Milt Hinton, Lionel Hampton, Regina Carter, and James Carter. She is the first vocalist to appear on a James Carter release. Gardenias For Lady Day (Sony/Columbia 2003).
As a musician/director, she is Vice President, Artist, & Musical Director of PMP RECORDS & ENTERPRISE where she is currently promoting her own CD, “ DIVA OUT OF BOUNDS”, and is Minister of Music for the UNITY FELLOWSHIP CHURCH of New Brunswick , pastored by the Rev. Kevin E. Taylor (producer at Black Entertainment Television).
As an actor, she has portrayed some of the greatest Divas of the 20th Century. Billie Holiday in “LADY DAY AT EMERSON'S BAR & GRILL”, Valaida Snow in "HOT SNOW," and Ma Rainey in “MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM."
Miche frequently tours Japan performing in a series of jazz concerts and teaching gospel workshops with Jazz saxophonist MASA . She was a featured artist in Osaka , Japan 's first INTERNATIONAL WOMYN'S JAZZ FESTIVAL 2002.
She is also a contributing writer for the Human Rights Coalition of Osaka's newsletter, “ NINGEN” (Human).
Additional accomplishments include being the winner of Washington Mutual's BIG SHOT ON BROADWAY . Called Joel's Piano Woman by Fox News, her prize was replacing the star MICHAEL CAVANAUGH in singing & playing the finale “ NEW YORK STATE OF MIND ” in the Broadway show "MOVIN' OUT”.
Notable Achievements
• Connecticut CRITICS' CIRCLE Award Nominee – Best Actress in a Musical & Best Musical - The Devil's Music (2004)
•BIG SHOT ON BROADWAY- WINNER – MOVIN' OUT - (2004)
•JAMES CARTER RECORDING – Featured Vocalist – “Gardenias for Lady Day” Sony/Columbia Records (Released 11/03)
•CARBONELL AWARD NOMINEE – Best Actress in a Musical & Best Musical - The Devil's Music (2001)
•PMP RECORDS – CD Releases - DIVA OUT OF BOUNDS & I AM
• MASABAND - OSAKA , JAPAN – Jazz/Gospel Concert Tours (Featured Artist & Workshop Director) (1997 - 2003)
•Performed with Lionel Hampton, Milt Hinton, Regina Carter, James Carter
Spoken Word: Prose