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Mulgrew Miller

Mulgrew Miller is an American jazz pianist born in 1955 in Greenwood, Mississippi. In a childhood filled with early musical experiences, mostly playing gospel music in his church and R&B and blues at dances. Mulgrew was constantly meddling in jazz piano, and established a trio in high school that would play cocktail parties. Miller admits that they didn't really know what they were doing and were merely "approaching jazz". Miller is said to have set his mind definitely to becoming a jazz pianist after seeing Oscar Peterson (a first for Mulgrew) on television. “It was a life changing event. I knew right then that I would be a jazz pianist”.

Mulgrew did indeed become a jazz pianist, and has adopted more from Peterson than his profession. Much of Mulgrew's playing has the same technical prowess so often connected with Peterson. Currently, Mulgrew maintains a working trio with Derrick Hodge on bass, and Karriem Riggins on drums. With this trio he has released two albums to date (both on the label Max Jazz Records): Live At Yoshi's Vol. 1 (2004), Live At Yoshi's Vol. 2 (2005).

On May 20, 2006, Miller was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Performing Arts at Lafayette College's 171st Commencement Exercises. Mr. Miller currently resides in Easton, PA.

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3
Catching Up With

Meet Mulgrew Miller

Read "Meet Mulgrew Miller" reviewed by AAJ Staff


From the 1995-2003 archive: This article first appeared at All About Jazz in June 2002. All About Jazz: You were born in Greenwood, Mississippi, and grew up listening to blues, gospel and R&B music. What attracted you to jazz? Mulgrew Miller: The thing that pulled me toward jazz was jazz itself. By the time I really discovered what jazz was all about, I'd been playing rhythm and blues-mostly for dances. And I'd played gospel music in ...

10
Album Review

Roy Hargrove / Mulgrew Miller: In Harmony

Read "In Harmony" reviewed by Pierre Giroux


In ballet, a “pas de deux" is a dance or figure for two performers. In jazz, the concept of two musicians playing together called a duo, has been a fairly familiar concept and undertake by the likes of Stan Getz and Kenny Barron, Chick Corea and Gary Burton as well as pianist Bill Evans and Tony Bennett. Trumpeter Roy Hargrove and pianist Mulgrew Miller have now added their names to this construct with the issuance of ...

7
Album Review

Roy Hargrove: In Harmony

Read "In Harmony" reviewed by Thomas Fletcher


Roy Hargrove is a trumpeter often affiliated with styles of music beyond jazz including hip-hop and soul. In addition, Mulgrew Miller is character that has always proven his versatile piano playing. However, this album is a melting pot of well-loved standards and compositions written by an array of influences. In Harmony presents previously unreleased live recordings by these two from Merkin Hall, New York City (2006) and Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania (2007). Both musicians, who left to ...

11
Album Review

Roy Hargrove and Mulgrew Miller: In Harmony

Read "In Harmony" reviewed by Troy Dostert


While the good folks at Resonance have labored mightily to unearth hidden gems from some of the undisputed legends of jazz--Eric Dolphy, Bill Evans, Stan Getz, Wes Montgomery and Sonny Rollins are just a handful worthy of note--more recent figures have been largely absent from their roster. But this excellent live document bucks the trend, recorded in 2006 and 2007 by two exceptional talents whose careers were cut short before they could finalize their own legacies as titans of the ...

2
Album Review

Roy Hargrove, Mulgrew Miller: In Harmony

Read "In Harmony" reviewed by Angelo Leonardi


È sempre stato così nella storia del jazz. I documenti musicali più preziosi vengono dalle piccole etichette indipendenti piuttosto che dalle major dell'intrattenimento. La storia della Resonance Records è un chiaro esempio: in questi anni ha reso disponibili magistrali incisioni o concerti inediti di Bill Evans, Eric Dolphy, Sonny Rollins, Stan Getz, Wes Montgomery e molti altri. Questa sua ultima uscita conferma il trend. Da qualche settimana sono disponibili due magistrali concerti inediti del trombettista Roy Hargrove ...

211
Live Review

Mulgrew Miller at Dazzle Jazz in Denver, June 19, 2008

Read "Mulgrew Miller at Dazzle Jazz in Denver, June 19, 2008" reviewed by Geoff Anderson


Mulgrew Miller Trio Dazzle Restaurant & Lounge Denver, Colorado June 19, 2008, First Set

In a rare Denver appearance Thursday, June 19, pianist Mulgrew Miller and his trio showed what sophisticated jazz is all about. Using a program of popular and jazz standards as a launching pad, the group swung through an evening of adult entertainment. No, wait a minute, not that kind. Miller plays elegant, grownup music that's tasteful, melodic and rhythmic.

245
Multiple Reviews

Piano Trio: Mulgrew Miller & Armen Donelian

Read "Piano Trio: Mulgrew Miller & Armen Donelian" reviewed by Francis Lo Kee


Mulgrew Miller Live at the Kennedy Center, Volume Two MAXJazz 2007 Armen Donelian Oasis Sunnyside Records 2008

The piano trio in jazz is possibly analogous to the string quartet in classical music. Both are established performing vehicles with long, important conventions and traditions but also with a history of innovation. Students ...

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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Mulgrew Miller

Jazz Musician of the Day: Mulgrew Miller

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Mulgrew Miller's birthday today!

Mulgrew Miller is an American jazz pianist born in 1955 in Greenwood, Mississippi. In a childhood filled with early musical experiences, mostly playing gospel music in his church and R&B and blues at dances. Mulgrew was constantly meddling in jazz piano, and established a trio in high school that would play cocktail parties. Miller admits that they didn't really know what they were doing and were merely “approaching jazz". Miller is ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Mulgrew Miller

Jazz Musician of the Day: Mulgrew Miller

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Mulgrew Miller's birthday today!

Mulgrew Miller is an American jazz pianist born in 1955 in Greenwood, Mississippi. In a childhood filled with early musical experiences, mostly playing gospel music in his church and R&B and blues at dances. Mulgrew was constantly meddling in jazz piano, and established a trio in high school that would play cocktail parties. Miller admits that they didn't really know what they were doing and were merely “approaching jazz". Miller is ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Mulgrew Miller

Jazz Musician of the Day: Mulgrew Miller

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Mulgrew Miller's birthday today!

Mulgrew Miller is an American jazz pianist born in 1955 in Greenwood, Mississippi. In a childhood filled with early musical experiences, mostly playing gospel music in his church and R&B and blues at dances. Mulgrew was constantly meddling in jazz piano, and established a trio in high school that would play cocktail parties. Miller admits that they didn't really know what they were doing and were merely “approaching jazz". Miller is ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Mulgrew Miller

Jazz Musician of the Day: Mulgrew Miller

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Mulgrew Miller's birthday today!

Mulgrew Miller is an American jazz pianist born in 1955 in Greenwood, Mississippi. In a childhood filled with early musical experiences, mostly playing gospel music in his church and R&B and blues at dances. Mulgrew was constantly meddling in jazz piano, and established a trio in high school that would play cocktail parties. Miller admits that they didn't really know what they were doing and were merely “approaching jazz". Miller is ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Mulgrew Miller

Jazz Musician of the Day: Mulgrew Miller

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Mulgrew Miller's birthday today!

Mulgrew Miller is an American jazz pianist born in 1955 in Greenwood, Mississippi. In a childhood filled with early musical experiences, mostly playing gospel music in his church and R&B and blues at dances. Mulgrew was constantly meddling in jazz piano, and established a trio in high school that would play cocktail parties. Miller admits that they didn\'t really know what they were doing and were merely “approaching jazz"... Read more. ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Mulgrew Miller

Jazz Musician of the Day: Mulgrew Miller

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Mulgrew Miller's birthday today!

Mulgrew Miller is an American jazz pianist born in 1955 in Greenwood, Mississippi. In a childhood filled with early musical experiences, mostly playing gospel music in his church and R&B and blues at dances. Mulgrew was constantly meddling in jazz piano, and established a trio in high school that would play cocktail parties. Miller admits that they didn\'t really know what they were doing and were merely “approaching jazz"... Read more. ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Mulgrew Miller

Jazz Musician of the Day: Mulgrew Miller

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Mulgrew Miller's birthday today!

Mulgrew Miller is an American jazz pianist born in 1955 in Greenwood, Mississippi. In a childhood filled with early musical experiences, mostly playing gospel music in his church and R&B and blues at dances. Mulgrew was constantly meddling in jazz piano, and established a trio in high school that would play cocktail parties. Miller admits that they didn\'t really know what they were doing and were merely “approaching jazz"... Read more. ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Mulgrew Miller

Jazz Musician of the Day: Mulgrew Miller

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Mulgrew Miller's birthday today! Mulgrew Miller is an American jazz pianist born in 1955 in Greenwood, Mississippi. In a childhood filled with early musical experiences, mostly playing gospel music in his church and R&B and blues at dances. Mulgrew was constantly meddling in jazz piano, and established a trio in high school that would play cocktail parties. Miller admits that they didn\'t really know what they were doing and were merely “approaching jazz"... Read more. ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Mulgrew Miller

Jazz Musician of the Day: Mulgrew Miller

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Mulgrew Miller's birthday today! Mulgrew Miller is an American jazz pianist born in 1955 in Greenwood, Mississippi. In a childhood filled with early musical experiences, mostly playing gospel music in his church and R&B and blues at dances. Mulgrew was constantly meddling in jazz piano, and established a trio in high school that would play cocktail parties. Miller admits that they didn\'t really know what they were doing and were merely “approaching jazz"... Read more. ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Mulgrew Miller

Jazz Musician of the Day: Mulgrew Miller

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Mulgrew Miller's birthday today!

Mulgrew Miller is an American jazz pianist born in 1955 in Greenwood, Mississippi. In a childhood filled with early musical experiences, mostly playing gospel music in his church and R&B and blues at dances. Mulgrew was constantly meddling in jazz piano, and established a trio in high school that would play cocktail parties. Miller admits that they didn\'t really know what they were doing and were merely “approaching jazz"... Read more. ...

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