Marcus Miller: Renaissance (2012)

John Kelman

Senior Editor since 2004

With the realization that there will always be more music coming at him than he can keep up with, John wonders why anyone would think that jazz is dead or dying.

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Published: December 4, 2012

Some things change, other things stay the same. Marcus Miller—producer and performer with everyone from soul singer Luther Vandross and pianist Herbie Hancock Herbie Hancock
b.1940
piano to guitarist George Benson George Benson
b.1943
guitar and Miles Davis Miles Davis
1926 - 1991
trumpet , composing and producing the trumpeter's late period classic Tutu (Warner Bros., 1986)—has been releasing solo albums since 1983, but it was with The Sun Don't Lie (PRA, 1993) and Tales (PRA, 1994) that the bassist/bass clarinetist established a modus operandi that has served him well in the ensuing decades. Renaissance fits comfortably within Miller's overall discography, with plenty of the cornerstones upon which he's built his audience, but there are some differences as well...and, in this case, that's a very good thing.

As undeniably talented a player as he is—hundreds, if not thousands of recording sessions as a sideman can't be wrong—Miller's penchant for making overly bass-heavy albums has, to some extent, begun to render his own records a little too predictable. Still, his records are always profoundly deep in the groove department, with Miller quite possibly the funkiest bassist to emerge from the Stanley Clarke Stanley Clarke
b.1951
bass and Jaco Pastorius Jaco Pastorius
1951 - 1987
bass, electric camps of the 1970s. There's still plenty of groove on Renaissance, and still plenty of room for Miller's irrepressible virtuosity, but the writing is broader, the arrangements more instrumentally balanced and, even though there are a few guests, he's largely working with a stable core group that includes keyboardist Federico Gonzales Peña and saxophonist Alex Han, both of whom appeared on Miller's recent A Night In Monte Carlo and the also-live Tutu Revisited, both released in 2011 on the Dreyfus imprint.

Guitarist Adam Rogers Adam Rogers

guitar , appearing on half the album, and singer Gretchen Parlato Gretchen Parlato

vocal , who contributes wordless vocals alongside Ruben Blades on the lovely Brazilian-informed ballad "Setembro (Brazilian Wedding Song)"—one of six covers that also includes an impressive and moving a cappella closer by Miller, the Jackson Five hit, "I'll Be There," paying tribute to the late Michael Jackson Michael Jackson
1958 - 2009
vocal —are surprise participants, but suggest that Miller's far more attuned to what's going beyond his usual circles than might be expected. And that's also a very good thing.

It's a more diverse program than usual that, amongst its seven Miller originals, includes the dark ballad, "Gorée (Go-ray)," a gorgeous feature for his bass clarinet work that kicks into double time for a more dramatic climax, and "Cee-Tee-Eye," Miller's visceral tribute to producer Creed Taylor's influential CTI label of the 1960s and '70s. Elsewhere, a lengthy look at WAR's hit, "Slippin' Into Darkness" is equally booty-shaking, with strong solos from guest pianist Kris Bowers Kris Bowers
and Cleveland trumpeter Sean Jones Sean Jones
b.1978
trumpet (one of the set's most impressive) before opening up for one of Miller's staggering, lightning fast but always in-the-pocket features.

For those who've always appreciated Miller's multifaceted talents but have grown a little tired of the sameness of his recent solo recordings, Renaissance is a refreshing reminder that he's as good a writer, a bassist and a producer as ever and, in a career now in its fourth decade and with a little better balance across the board, is still capable of making compelling music that's as good as—or, in this case, even better than—either of those seminal mid-'90s PRA dates.

Track Listing: Detroit; Redemption; February; Slippin' Into Darkness; Setembro (Brazlian Wedding Song); Interlude: Nocturnal Mist; Revelation; Mr. Clean; Goréee (Go-ray); CEE-TEE-EYE; Tightrope; I'll Be There.

Personnel: Marcus Miller: bass, fretless bass (5), bass clarinet (5, 10), acoustic bass (5); Louis Cato: drums, djembé (3), conga (11); Kris Bowers: piano (1, 4, 12), Fender Rhodes (1, 11); Adam Agati: guitar (1, 7, 8, 11, 12); Alex Han: alto saxophone (1-12); Maurice Brown: trumpet (1, 3, 11), muted trumpet (4); Federico Gonzales Peña: Fender Rhodes (2, 5, 9), piano (2, 3, 5-8, 10); Adam Rogers: guitar (1, 4, 6, 9), acoustic guitar (2, 10); Sean Jones: trumpet (2, 4, 6, 9); Gretchen Parlato: vocals (5); Ruben Blades: vocals (5); Ramon Yslas: percussion (4, 5, 7, 8); Bobby Sparks: organ (4, 6, 9), clavinet (9); Paul Jackson, Jr.: guitar (11); Dr. John: vocals (12).

Record Label: Concord Music Group
Style: Funk/Groove