Mulgrew Miller

Mulgrew Miller was born August 13, 1955 in Greenwood, Mississippi. He started playing piano in early childhood and would play gospel music in his church. In high school he formed a jazz trio that would play at parties.

In 1977 he made his recording debut with Woody Shaw on an Album titled "Live Volume 3." In 1984 he played with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers on the album "New York Scenes." He recorded 4 albums with Blakey and left that group in 1986.

In 1985 he recorded as a leader for the first time. It was a Landmark recording titled "Keys to the City." Throughout the late 80's and early 90's he recorded almost an album every year on Landmark and Novus.

In 1987 he formed a group called Wingspan and recorded a self-titled album for 32 Jazz. In 2002 he reunited the group on a recording titled "The Sequel" on MAXJAZZ.

In 2006, Miller became Director of Jazz Studies at William Paterson University. He continues to play as a sideman and leader of a trio. In 2010 he recorded a solo album titled "Solo."

I just finished listening to "The Sequel," with Mulgrew Miller and Wingspan. It is a 2002 release on MAXJAZZ. It is modern mainstream jazz at its finest.

Wingspan is comprised of Miller on piano, Steve Nelson on vibes, Steve Wilson on soprano sax, Duane Eubanks on trumpet, Richie Goods on bass, and Karriem Riggins on drums.

There are 10 songs on the album and Mulgrew wrote 8 of them especially for this recording. The remaining two are the Mancini standard "Dreamsville," and the Rodgers and Hart favorite "It Never Entered My Mind."



Here's a video of Mulgrew in a trio playing "I Hear a Rhapsody."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0f0v2uT3ONA&feature=player_detailpage