Allison Miller

NYC-based drummer Allison Miller defies all boundaries bringing her individual sound to diverse types of music while preserving their stylistic authenticity. Allison goes from playing with legendary songwriting vocalists Ani DiFranco, Brandi Carlile and Natalie Merchant, to touring with avant- garde saxophonist Marty Ehrlich and legendary organist Doctor Lonnie Smith. She approaches each of these musical situations with her own stylistic identity and a creative, fresh and energetic approach. Allison was chosen as “Rising Star Drummer” in Downbeat’s 53rd Annual Critics Poll.

Raised in the Washington D.C. area, Miller began playing the drums at the age of ten, studying with Walter Salb, and was soon thereafter featured in Downbeat magazine's "Up and Coming" section in 1991. Five years later, after graduating from West Virginia University she moved to New York City to study with Michael Carvin and Lenny White and pursue what has became a fruitful career as a freelance drummer, composer, producer, and teacher. Miller’s talents have landed her gigs in the mainstream music world, with artists like Natalie Merchant, Ani DiFranco, and most recently, singer Brandi Carlile; and her jazz skills have been embraced by everyone from avant-garde saxophonist Marty Ehrlich to organ legend Dr. Lonnie Smith, with a wide range of leaders in between, including Steven Bernstein, Kenny Barron, Erik Friedlander, Mark Helias, Ray Drummond, Peter Bernstein, Sheila Jordan, George Garzone, Mike Stern, Rachel Z, Kevin Mahogany, Bruce Barth, Mark Soskin, and Harvie S.

Allison is currently celebrating the release of her second solo leader album, BOOM TIC BOOM (Foxhaven Records, March 2010). This album pays homage to and is inspired by all of the important women in Millers life. The album features pianist Myra Melford, violinist Jenny Scheinman, and bassist Todd Sickafoose. Together, they musically collaborate, creatively expounding on compositions written primarily by Miller and Melford.

She also leads or co-leads several other bands, including EMMA, with singer/songwriter Erin McKeown; TILT, with pianist Taylor Eigsti and bassist Jon Evans; and Agrazing Maze, with trumpeter Ingrid Jensen, pianist Enrique Haneine, and bassist Carlo DeRosa. Miller has also been recognized by the Showtime network, which featured her music in the series The L Word, and by the US State Department when she was chosen to tour East Africa, Eurasia and Southeast Asia as a Jazz Ambassador.

Allison also produced the critically acclaimed children's album. Ask the Planet (2009). Organized by the Biomimicry Institute, Ask the Planet connects environmentalism with song, while educating children about respecting the environment and learning from nature's plan.

Artemis: Arboresque

Read "Arboresque" reviewed by Mike Jurkovic

by Mike Jurkovic
March 15, 2025

The virtuoso musicians of Artemis--pianist Renee Rosnes trumpeter Ingrid Jensen saxophonist Nicole Glover bassist Noriko Ueda, and drummer Allison Miller --get down to business quick on their third for Blue Note Arboresque. A testament to collaborative intuition and instinct, Arboresque may vary more in tempo and mood than its acclaimed predecessors--2023's ringing In Real Time and 2020's standard-setting debut Artemis--but it never lacks purpose or promise. It never goes looking for something it does not find. Jumping off with unsung pianist Donald Brown's ...

Radio & Podcasts

Allison Miller, GOGODUCKS, An Pierlé, Allegra Levy & More

by Ludovico Granvassu
February 21, 2025

Allison Miller front and center in a playlist which features her new big band album and her contribution to the new records by ARTEMIS and Allegra Levy, as well as the architectural jazz of GOGODUCKS, the music without borders of An Pierlé and a heartfelt tribute to Joni Mitchell.Happy listening!Playlist Ben Allison “Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" 0:00 Allegra Levy “Should I Stay Or Should I Go?" Out of the Question (SteepleChase) ...

Live Review

Allison Miller and Michelle Dorrance at 92NY

by Paul Reynolds
February 7, 2025

Allison Miller and Michelle Dorrance 92NY “Rivers in Our Veins"New York, NY February 2, 2025 Jazz and tap have long been enthusiastic dance partners. With “Rivers in Our Veins," drummer and composer Allison Miller adds further art forms to the mix. The 80-minute piece celebrating America's waterways marries tap from dancers led by the acclaimed Michelle Dorrance to solo conventional dance, performed to music by Miller's sextet--all to a backdrop of live ...

Radio & Podcasts

Checking in with Allison Miller

by David Bixler
February 5, 2025

Drummer and composer Allison Miller begins 2025 with several diverse and exciting projects. Big and Lovely, a recording of her original music with the University of North Texas One O'Clock Lab Band was released on January 10. On February 2 at 3pm at the 92nd Street Y in NYC Allison will present Rivers In Our Veins, an ambitious multi-media work featuring the award-winning dancer Michelle Dorrance as a special guest and features three additional dancers: Claudia Rahardjanoto, Maleek Washington and ...

Album Review

Lux Quartet: Tomorrowland

Read "Tomorrowland" reviewed by Vincenzo Roggero

by Vincenzo Roggero
December 30, 2024

Tomorrowland è il debutto di un quartetto all stars formalmente accreditato alla coppia Myra Melford--Allison Miller, completato dal sassofonista Dayna Stephens e dal bassista Scott Colley. Quattro grandi personalità, quattro protagonisti a diverso titolo della scena improvvisativa nordamericana, quattro interpreti sopraffini degli otto brani contenuti in Tomorrowland. Le tre composizioni a nome Melford sono caratterizzate dalla complessità delle trame, da improvvisazioni tutt'altro che lineari, da movimenti a scacchiera che confluiscono in incastri perfetti, da improvvisi sbalzi d'umore. La ...

Album Review

Lux Quartet: Tomorrowland

Read "Tomorrowland" reviewed by Jerome Wilson

by Jerome Wilson
October 14, 2024

Lux Quartet is a new combination of four musicians who are all part of the more progressive branch of the jazz world, pianist Myra Melford: drummer Allison Miller, saxophonist Dayna Stephens and bassist Scott Colley. All four members contribute compositions to the band on this album which show off different facets of what the band is capable of. Melford brings in three pieces. “Intricate Drift" has the sax and piano navigate a swirling, angular melody while the bass ...

Album Review

Todd Sickafoose: Bear Proof

Read "Bear Proof" reviewed by Vic Albani

by Vic Albani
February 19, 2024

Era dai fasti di Tiny Resistors (uscito nel 2008 per la Cryptogramophone dell'amico Jeff Gauthier e che invitiamo a riascoltare per la bellezza che lo ammanta) che il signor Todd Sickafoose non regalava al mondo un nuovo lavoro. Inneggiato da più voci quale coerente ed intelligentissimo musicista nonché compositore e produttore Sickafoose è stato talmente occupato da non avere avuto tempo per dilettarsi ancora una volta con l'idea che lo ha subito posto all'attenzione del mondo musicale sin ...

Performance / Tour

World-Renowned Smoke Jazz Club Announces March Concert Line-Up From One For All’s Album Release Celebration To Leading Female Artists Allison Miller And Mary Stallings

Source: AMT Public Relations
February 1, 2024

Rated the #1 jazz club in New York City (Secret NYC), SMOKE Jazz Club welcomes both legendary and emerging jazz artists in March. The month begins with two of the great jazz artists of the past 50 years: pianist George Cables leads his Quartet (March 6-10) followed by tenor saxophonist George Coleman performing as special guest and influence of One of All’s new album Big George (March 14-17) on the club’s eponymous label SMOKE Sessions Records. Women’s History Month culminates ...
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Event

Asheville Percussion Festival To Take Place June 17-19, 2016

Source: Glass Onyon PR - Keith James
May 5, 2016

Please join Asheville Rhythm for our Fifth Annual Asheville Percussion Festival on June 17-19, 2016 at the Odyssey Community School, 90 Zillicoa St. among the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains in Asheville, NC. This year’s festival will feature teaching artists from around the globe, including NYC-based drummer and composer Allison Miller, who has performed with Natalie Merchant, Ani DeFranco and voted “Rising Star Drummer”and “Top 20 Jazz Drummers” in Downbeat Magazine’s acclaimed Critics Poll, Portuguese World Music Hand Pan artist Kabeção, ...
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229

Interview

Drummer Allison Miller Interviewed at AAJ

Source: All About Jazz
May 17, 2010

It takes a rare individual to excel in multiple artistic genres, particularly when success unfolds in the public spotlight and presents very different contexts. Certainly technical ability is important, but it also takes a peculiar blend of flexibility, curiosity, and determination. Perhaps that is what makes drummer, composer, bandleader, and outspoken feminist Allison Miller such a charismatic musician and personality.

Miller released her second disc as a leader earlier this year, and Boom Tic Boom (Foxhaven, 2010) is an unmistakable ...
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356

Recording

Allison Miller - Boom Tic Boom (2010)

Source: Something Else!
March 30, 2010

By Pico Drumming ace Allison Miller might not be a household name, but, boy, she sure is linked to a whole host of them. The Washington, DC-born Miller has recorded and toured with Ani DeFranco, Natalie Merchant and Brandi Carlile. She's also drummed for major figures on the jazz side, too, like Dr. Lonnie Smith, Erik Friedlander, Kenny Barron, Harvie S and appeared on this fantastic record last year by Linda Presgrave. I'd imagine only Brian Blade and Manu Katch ...
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180

Recording

Fully Altered Media Drummer Allison Miller Releases 2nd Album, Boom Tic Boom March 23rd

Source: Fully Altered Media
March 6, 2010

Drummer Allison Miller Releases Second Solo Leader CD, BOOM TIC BOOM, Performing Music Composed For and Inspired by Important Women in the Drummer/Composer's Life Release Date: March 23, 2010 Album Features: Myra Melford, Todd Sickafoose & Special Guest Jenny Scheinman “Some of my closest friends are extremely smart and powerful women," Allison Miller says. “I can't stress enough the importance of this community. There've been several women who've really helped me out in my career. I hope that I do ...
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Recording

Lindsey Horner – the Sidemen Chronicles: Allison Miller

Source: All About Jazz
July 13, 2009

Lindsey Horner's new ArtistShare project Undiscovered Country is derived from a large variety of influences and styles.

This exciting, genre bending project is made possible by a stellar team of sidemen. This week, we'll be focusing on the drums, played by Allison Miller. Allison has a most impressive resume, and her energy will undoubtedly bring a great vibe to the project.

In Lindsey's own words:

Allison Miller is one of the finest drummers around. We've played together with Susan McKeown ...
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101

Performance / Tour

Allison Miller's Agrazing Maze (Tonight) James Carney (Sat) Jessica Jones Qt (Sun) & More at the Cornelia Street Cafe

Source: All About Jazz
October 28, 2005

October 28, 2005 To: Listings/Critics/Features From: JAZZ PROMO SERVICES Press Contact: JIM EIGO, [email protected] Cornelia Street Cafe 29 Cornelia Street Greenwich Village, NY 10014 Tel: 212-989-9319 Fax: 212-243-4207 Web: corneliastreetcafe.com between West 4th and Bleecker Sts, Greenwich Village 1,9 Subway to Sheridan Square; A, C, E, B, D, F to West 4th St. “a culinary as well as a cultural landmark" Mayoral Proclamation, City of New York 1987 This Weekend at Cornelia Street Cafe Oct. 28 thg Oct. 30 Fri ...
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"The superb drumming of relative newcomer Allison Miller revealed that high-quality talent continues to flow into the jazz mainstream" - Don Heckman, LA Times