Akin to the icons who preceded and influenced him- namely Stanley Clarke, Jaco Pastorius, and Larry Graham – Marcus Miller has expanded the language of the instrument and the jazz fusion genre as a player, recording artist, producer, and composer. And like all the great ones, his tone – the Fender Jazz “scoop” – is instantly recognizable. In fact, Miller’s timbre is now universally acknowledged as a standard electric bass tone.

Born into a musical family in Queens County, New York 1959 – Miller was classically trained on the clarinet. Still in his teens, Marcus became a first call session cat – playing on scores of record dates, jingles, and soundtracks during the golden era of the New York City studio scene of the 70s -80s.

His first high-profile gigs were with Lenny White, David Sanborn, and Miles Davis. With Davis, during the jazz icon’s much heralded comeback in the 1980s, Miller served as the trumpeter’s musical anchor. Marcus composed and produced Davis’ final masterpiece, and one of the greatest cross-over jazz slabs of all time Tutu (1986). 

Marcus’ Grammy Award nominations as a producer include Davis, Luther Vandross, David Sanborn, Chaka Kahn, and Wayne Shorter.

As a bandleader he nailed a Grammy for Best Contemporary Jazz Album in 2001 for M2, in addition to several nominations throughout his career. The list of major artists Marcus Miller has collaborated with is inexhaustible. Marcus has scored nearly thirty films, and he’s always busy on the concert circuit on every continent.  

To bring the instrument to a new generation, Marcus teamed with Sire guitars for his affordable, signature bass. And in his spare time, Marcus is a Sirius/XM radio host of Miller Time which covers “360 Degrees of jazz, from hip-hop to be-bop!”

Marcus Miller Sound & Vision…

Grover Washington “Just the Two of Us” https://youtu.be/Bw68MDfeN9I

Selah Sue “Que Sera Sera” https://youtu.be/Ld6yvfsSMJY

Miles Davis “Tutu” https://youtu.be/0Jnqz62d9oM

David Sanborn “Let’s Just Say Goodbye” https://youtu.be/Bw68MDfeN9I

With Bryan Ferry at Live Aid 1985 https://youtu.be/FxXw8gZIfc4

Marcus pays homage to Jaco “Teen Town” https://youtu.be/bE2pAU9LIgI

Marcus Miller:

“Power” https://youtu.be/1X2tHJ5gUek

“Blast” https://youtu.be/S1Anp9WxD30

From the City University of New York, Queens College, session bassist and producer Harvey Brooks was the go-to player on the New York City studio scene in the 1960s and 1970s and helped to establish the instrument in modern popular music and jazz.

As the electric bass was essentially in its infancy, Brooks brought his understanding of blues, pop, soul, folk, and jazz to the instrument, appearing on such influential albums as Bob Dylan’s Highway 61 Revisited, Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew (with Dave Holland), Al Kooper’s Super Sessions, the Doors’ Soft Parade, and The Electric Flag’s A Long Time Coming, to cite a very select few few.

Harvey mastered the pocket, and no matter how far he extended the harmonic and rhythmic possibilities within a chord, he always managed define the changes. In the process he taught Miles to rock, added zest to Dylan’s libretto, and gave Mike Bloomfield the support he needed to extend the language of blues guitar.

HUFFINGTON POST / Tom Semioli: Harvey Brooks: Eleven Bass Players Who Belong in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame https://bit.ly/2hOLzO3 

Be sure to check out Harvey’s YouTube Video Blog and book “View from the Bottom.”  Harvey’s weapons of choice are the Fender Precision and Jazz basses, with LaBella strings, and Ampeg amplification.

Harvey Brooks Sound & Vision…

Bob Dylan: “It Takes A Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train To Cry” https://youtu.be/SN1ACh8lzHg

Electric Flag “Groovin’ Is Easy” https://youtu.be/Zl29ULtQKXc

Super Sessions “Harvey’s Tune” https://youtu.be/QUT_NQ4tbTI

Miles Davis “Bitches Brew” https://youtu.be/Q26k14yBAnM

The Doors “Touch Me” https://youtu.be/8lVqEchxIxw