Robert Miller

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Born: July 13, 1951 Primary Instrument: Bass, electric

Robert Miller plays electric bass and composes. Robert has two CDs as a leader: “Child's Play (Wildcat Records - 1994) and “Prisoners of Love” (32 Records - 1996).

Robert's new group is called PROJECT GRAND SLAM. The band also features Haim Cotton (keyboards), Gilad Ronen (saxophone) and Ron Thaler (drums).

PROJECT GRAND SLAM released its debut album, “Play” (Cakewalk Records) in 2008. “Play” includes “The Captain of Her Heart” featuring Judie Tzuke, renowned English vocalist. The balance of “Play” features 11 original compositions - five by Robert - and was produced and engineered by the legendary Frank Filipetti (Grammy Award as producer/engineer for James Taylor's “Hourglass” album).

PROJECT GRAND SLAM and the group's music was featured in the NBC series “Lipstick Jungle”, starring Brooke Shields, Kim Raver and Lindsay Price. Five tracks from “Play” were featured in the episode aired on March 11, 2008, and the group had an on-air appearance as well.

Recently, PROJECT GRAND SLAM has teamed up with saxophonist Danny Lerman and appeared together at Iridium in New York. The band looks forward to continuing this collaboration.

PROJECT GRAND SLAM's web site is at www.projectgrandslam.com and the group's MySpace site is at www.myspace.com/projectgrandslam.

Robert has played with the likes of Anton Fig, Randy Brecker, Jaki Byard, Sonny Stitt, Al Foster, Tim Ries and Jon Lucien, and gained an impressive reputation from appearing at all the major jazz clubs in the New York City area, including the Blue Note, Metronome and Birdland, as well as the jazz festival circuit, including The Telluride Jazz Festival, The San Bernadino Jazz Festival and the South Street Seaport Festival with his band, “The Robert Miller Group”. The Group appeared on programs with such music luminaries as Bruce Hornsby, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Kenny Barron, War and Regina Carter.

Robert is also known for being the co-founder of 32 Records and its sister label 32 Jazz, an innovative record label that released “Jazz For A Rainy Afternoon” and the other “Jazz For...” recordings, in addition to recordings by The Jazz Passengers (featuring Debbie Harry and Elvis Costello), Pat Martino, Houston Person, David “Fathead” Newman, Mose Allison, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Eddie Harris, Kronos Quartet and compilations such as “Hit Jazz” and “Party Jazz”. In 1999, 32 Jazz simultaneously held the number 1-4 spots on the Billboard Jazz chart with its “Jazz For...” series, a first time feat in the music industry.

Last Updated: July 13, 2009

”Project Grand Slam is a spectacular mix of jazz, fusion and rock that combines melody, groove and great improvisation!” - Acid Jazz Magazine;

“To the extremely hip, tight yet edgy Robert Miller Group, Child's Play involves taking live improvisational excursions over basic trios and quartets in styles ranging from pop/rock to blues and straight ahead jazz. Any ensemble just as comfy around a gritty, funk driven Hendrix cover ('Fire”) as it is invoking images of Miles (”All Blues”), Chick Corea and Charles Mingus clearly has a wild dance in mind. And yet for all the experimentation, bassist Miller and cohorts like speed demon pianist Haim Cotton are at their most provocative when stripping away the blowtorch and playing it ultracool and simple. As solid as Miller is, his real job is laying foundations for all the jamming. In a land where everything seems tailored for radio play, Miller's boys don't mind stretching the limits.” - Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide;

“Miller's edgy electric bass work is perfectly suited for a program of brisk, rhythmically turbulent pieces featuring superlative trumpet work from the underrated Randy Brecker. Further enhancing this eclectic, but impressive instrumental date are moody vocals by Jon Lucien on Miles Davis.. ..All Blues.. and Ada Dyer on Jimi Hendrix..s ..Fire..” - Don Heckman, Los Angeles Times;

“Robert plays the bass with ease..This is just great jazz music” - Strictly Jazz;

“Appealing mainstream jazz from the electric bassist, joined by a stellar cast of musicians. Miller is miles ahead...” - The Music Paper;

“Miller's bass invigorates jazz standards, a few originals, and a boppish take on Jimi Hendrix's ..Fire... Guests include drummer Anton Fig and trumpeter Randy Brecker...” - Bass Player Magazine;

“The Robert Miller Group has acquired rave reviews from many publications. Child's Play is over 55 minutes of high quality music. This disc is packed with progressive and soulful tracks that grab your attention until the end. The band is hard driving and reminiscent of the old masters. I highly recommend Child's Play by The Robert Miller Group.” - Bill Heinrichs, Polytechnic

Child's Play (Wildcat Records) (1994)

Prisoners of Love (32 Records) (1996)

Let's Play (Project Grand Slam) (Adrenaline Records) (2008)

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