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Tim Miller

Guitarist Tim Miller contributes his fiery playing and distinctive sound to a variety of musical statements ranging from jazz to rock. He can currently be heard on two self-produced CDs, "Sides" and "Trio". Miller was profiled in Guitar Player Magazine, which characterized his playing as "pure melody consciousness... [with] remarkable control, a breathy, violiny tone [and] bell-like consistency." Miller's music combines explosive raw energy, artistically balanced with soulful melodic compositions.

Miller is a native of Michigan whose musical interests have taken him to Texas, Paris, New York and presently, Boston where his is currently an Assistant Professor of guitar at Berklee College of Music. He spent 1991-1997 in Dallas attending the prestigious University of North Texas Music School. It is here that he recorded "With the Distance", an original instrumental mixture of rock and jazz textures. Miller spent 1997-1998 in Paris where he played extensively with drummer Aldo Romano. This led to recordings and European concerts and jazz festivals. Upon returning to the US, Miller joined the faculty of Berklee College of Music and recorded "Sides" with saxophonist George Garzone. He also played in a guitar quartet with Mick Goodrick. His recent performances in the US and abroad include performances with Randy Brecker, Mark Turner, Gary Husband among others.

Tim is currently composing and recording music for his future trio album and working on a transcription book from his latest album "Trio" which is receiving critical acclaim world-wide.

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Radio & Podcasts

Steps Ahead, Steve Smith, Frank Gambale and Tim Miller's new release Synergy

Read "Steps Ahead, Steve Smith, Frank Gambale and Tim Miller's new release Synergy" reviewed by Len Davis


Today's program features the band Steps Ahead and their album Vibe with music from musicians who played on that session, including Donny McCaslin, Victor Bailey and Adam Holzman. Plus the new release from guitarist Tim Miller with Synergy. Playlist Steps Ahead “Vibe" from Vibe (NYC) 00:00 Donny McCaslin"Stadium Jazz" from Casting For Gravity (SelfProduced) 07:22 Larry Coryell-Victor Bailey-Lenny White “low Blow" from Electric (Chesky) 14:42 Adam Holzman “Mean O'l Cinelu" from Overdrive (Lipstick) 22:00 Steve Smith “Flashpoint" from ...

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Radio & Podcasts

Frank Gambale, Tribal Tech, Scott Kinsey, Steve Vai and Tim Miller

Read "Frank Gambale, Tribal Tech, Scott Kinsey, Steve Vai and Tim Miller" reviewed by Len Davis


New releases from Tim Miller, Steve Vai and french progressive band Yang. Plus Frank Gambale and Tribal Tech. Playlist Frank Gambale “Smug" from Raison D'Etre (Wombat) 00:00 Oz Noy “Seven" from Schizophrenic (Magnatude) 07:16 Tribal Tech"Jakarta" from Reality Check (Blue Moon) 14:42 Scott Kinsey “Shinjuku" from Kinesthetics (Abstract Logix) 22:00 Tom Coster “Voyage To Nowhere" from The Forbidden Zone (JVC) 29:12 Steve Vai “Candlepower" from Inviolate (Favoured Nations) 36:32 Yang"Flower You" from Designed For Disaster (Cuneiform) 40:05 Soft ...

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Album Review

Tim Miller: Trio vol 3

Read "Trio vol 3" reviewed by Mike Jacobs


Best not to bury the lead. Tim Miller's Trio Vol 3 sets a new high-water mark for the guitarist's output, an advance from and worthy successor to his last trio recording nearly a decade ago. There, a potential pull-quote is out of the way... Before returning to the review, something--what many newcomers to Mr. Miller's work might find to be the elephant in the room--begs addressing. (Legato-philes and T.M. fans, feel free ...

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Extended Analysis

Tim Miller: Trio Vol. 2

Read "Tim Miller: Trio Vol. 2" reviewed by Phil DiPietro


Tim Miller Trio Vol. 2 Avenir Records 2008

Very few guitarists have digested, head-on, the daunting influence of Alan Holdsworth, and then assimilated it into their own playing. Fewer still have combined Holdsworth's no-longer-futuristic linearity with the science of melodic chord permutation, as promulgated by the likes of George Van Eps, Ted Green and Mick Goodrick. Even fewer are in their thirties, like Tim Miller.

These qualities alone would make Miller's current release--the second ...

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Album Review

Tim Miller: Trio

Read "Trio" reviewed by Phil DiPietro


Tim Miller's third indie effort stands out by manifesting his influences as an aural whole. Compositionally, the freedom and openness in the music reflects the deep influence of Keith Jarrett, while sonically, the air-infused yet electric guitar sound dances with bass and drums mixed in a pastoral acoustic style. Even with headphones, the listener hears the trio of instruments entwined in the air, coupled by intense playing and musicianship.

From the perspective of guitar-related influences we hear the chordal inspiration ...

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Album Review

Joshua Davis: Squashua

Read "Squashua" reviewed by Mark F. Turner


Now this is a different twist: performing the music of Sting, Brahms, Beethoven, and Tchaikovsky with jazz interpretations. Jazz artists have at many times translated classical and pop music into their repertoire, and bassist Joshua Davis takes an interesting approach with his release Squashua. Not only is Davis an accomplished musician who has performed with names like Clark Terry and Gene Bertoncini, he also holds the position of Director of Jazz/Commercial Studies at Towson University near Baltimore, Maryland. Joined by ...

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Album Review

Tim Miller: Sides

Read "Sides" reviewed by Phil DiPietro


Boston's (by way of Michigan, North Texas State and Paris) 29-year old Tim Miller shows the world some very impressive bop-fusion guitar chops on this auspicious 40-minute indie release. He also shows that he's the latest honcho who's deeply felt the influence of Allan Holdsworth. That last statement is now akin to saying, “here's a new saxophonist that's felt the influence of Coltrane." Speaking of which, one of the world's greatest post-'Trane saxophonists, underheralded Boston institution and fellow Berklee faculty ...

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Guitar Player Magazine

"...pure melody consciousness... [with] remarkable control, a breathy, violiny tone [and] bell-like consistency."

Minor 7th

"Tim Miller's current release, "Trio," is quite possibly one of the most groundbreaking and enthralling collections of contemporary jazz guitar music recorded in the last decade."

AllAboutJazz.com

"In fact, Miller's work throughout should garner him well-deserved notoriety. His lines are executed with a legato virtuosity, springing off the fingerboard as if they are tapped out by mallets, not fingertips. More importantly, they are extremely non-guitarcentric and have a rhythmic sensibility and motion found at the highest echelons of the music. In other words, you simply won't hear Miller run a scale throughout, and when he plays you get a sense of movement akin to a kick-returner weaving through an entire defense on a 110 yard runback. The phrasing and melodic contour on “Time” in particular are exemplary-not many guitarists can blow in inside territory with as many novel ideas as Miller who, at 31, provides a fresh, promising new voice in jazz guitar. " —Phil DiPietro

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Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Galactic Warrior

Self Produced
2019

buy

Trio vol 3

Self Produced
2017

buy

Trio Vol 2

Self Produced
2008

buy

Tim Miller: Trio Vol....

Avenir Records
2008

buy

Trio

TimMillermusic.com
2005

buy

Squashua

Self Produced
2005

buy

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