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Mulgrew Miller

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Mulgrew Miller (1955 to 2013) was an American jazz pianist, composer and teacher. He was born in Greenwood, Mississippi, into a family without musicians, but with a piano that nobody could play. From the age of six he played songs by ear, and from the age of eight he had piano lessons. As a child he played blues and rhythm and blues at dances and gospel in churches. His great example was at first Ramsey Lewis. When, at fourteen, he saw Oscar Peterson on television, he knew he wanted to become a jazz pianist.

Music and breakthrough

After his studies he played for three years in Duke Ellington's orchestra, and then accompanied the singer Betty Carter. Three years with the trumpeter Woody Shaw and three years with the Jazz Messengers of the drummer Art Blakey followed. By the end of that he was already leading groups of his own and recording under his own name, with records such as Keys to the City, Work! and Wingspan. He was then a member of Tony Williams's quintet from the beginning.

Influence

Miller developed as a hard bop player and gave it the harmonic freedom that he took from McCoy Tyner, while something of Lewis and Peterson remained in his playing. In this way he found a style of his own that influenced others from the 1980s onwards. From 2005 he headed the jazz programme at William Paterson University, and he kept performing until his death from a stroke at the age of fifty-seven.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to a track from Keys to the City or Wingspan and notice how his right hand plays flowing lines, while the left hand drives the band forward with heavy chords.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

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Categories: Artists