The Improvised Life

An aspiring jazz guitarist at 22, performing around the US, in Europe, and Japan, Minnesota born Sam Miltich experienced a serious psychotic breakdown and was later diagnosed with schizophrenia. More than a decade later, he is back on stage. He is now married, has two sons, and feels he can handle his mental illness. It was not easy to get there. Apart from a long search for the right treatment, he found strength in his music and the music of Thelonious Monk, who also suffered from mental illness. I met On his “Improvised Life” tour through rural Minnesota in 2019 with his marvelous temporary band, they did not just play jazz, but Miltich also openly talked about his personal journey, and encouraged his audience that overcoming mental illness is possible. All photos taken May 2, 2019, Bemidji. Minn.