MARCUS MILLER: ELECTRIC MILES at Jazz at Lincoln Center - A Concert for the Ages

Marucs Miller, the world renowned composer, producer, arranger and jazz bassist is the music director Electric Miles which performed to percussive standing ovations at Jazz at Lincoln Center Saturday evening.  Miller has multiple Grammys and Achievement awards.  He's written for & collaborated with numerous legendary jazz artists such as Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Aretha Franklin.  Miller's ELECTRIC MILES was an homage to the legendary music of Miles Davis.  Miller first set the mood putting us back into the mid 70s with Afros, platform heals and the free jazz and fusion music of Davis.  Davis was embracing new polyrhythm and polytonal melodies and sounds hat were both subtle and penetrating.  Miles had a 5 year hiatus from 1975-80.  Working towards a comeback, Miles reached out to 21 year old Miller who brought together other young jazz musicians and became an influential composer, arranger and producer for Davis' career through the 80s.  The compositions performed last night came from the defining sounds of Davis' final era which included the Grammy winning albums "Tutu" (1982) and "Aura" (1989) which Miller helped co-write and arrange.  All the musicians on stage were phenomenal artists and given their solos in the spotlight.  Included in Miller's band was percussionist Mino Cinelu who along with Miller recorded with Davis in the 80s.  Russell Gunn, 2 time Grammy nominated trumpeter was amazing.  Miller had Gunn imitate the sounds of Davis' playing when Davis first began playing again and then the later richer fuller sounds of Davis.  Gunn's playing was another high note of the evening.  Miller talked about his composing for Davis and had the drummer Alex Baily demonstrate the beat he knew Miles liked and added the bass sounds played by lead guitarist Vernon Reid and himself and then added in the winds.  This peek into the composing process was phenomenal.  Alex Han on saxophone was sensational. Han rebased his debut album "Spirit" produced by Marcus Miller which received a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album.  The other musicians included Marquis Hill on trumpet who won the Thelonious Monk Institute o Jazz Competition ('14), Brett Williams on keyboards also featured on Miller's "Laid Back" album, Alex Baily on drums currently touring with Miller and Vernon Reid lead guitarist whose worked with Defunkt and Public Enemy.  Miller demonstrated how he knew when Miles liked what he was hearing.  Miles would rock up and down on his toes, slowly nodding his head.  The audience jumped to their feet throughout the performance with thunderous applause leaving no doubt to the extraordinary music performed by Marcus Miller and the members of his band.   Miller is a highly sought after artist whose released 10 critically acclaimed albums including his most recent Grammy nominated "Laid Black".  I will see out future performances and albums by the immensely talented Marcus Miller.