R.I.P Mulgrew Miller (1955-2013).

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Ian Mann on the passing of pianist Mulgrew Miller who died on May 29th 2013.

I was saddened to learn from Sebastian Scotney’s London Jazznews site of the untimely death of the American pianist Mulgrew Miller who passed away following a stroke at the age of just fifty seven.

I saw Miller play an excellent set with his trio featuring bassist Ivan Taylor and drummer Rodney Green at the 2007 Brecon Jazz Festival. Miller had also appeared at Brecon in 2002 and the London Jazz News tribute to Miller features some superb black and white images taken at both performances by photographer William Ellis. http://www.londonjazznews.com

Following the 2007 show I purchased a copy of the Miller Trio’s “Live At The Kennedy Center Volume 1” an album that I have enjoyed listening to on many occasions since. The trio featuring Miller, Green and bassist Derrick Hodge were the first jazz group to play at the Center, an honour of which Miller was justifiably proud. This 2002 recording subsequently released by Maxjazz in 2006 was one of sixteen albums released by Miller as a leader.

In a long and illustrious career Miller appeared on approximately four hundred albums, a tribute to his skills as an accompanist. Those he worked with included trumpeter Woody Shaw, drummers Art Blakey and Tony Williams and vocalists Cassandra Wilson and Dianne Reeves.

A true “musician’s musician” his presence on the international jazz scene will be greatly missed.