Remembering Mulgrew Miller on the 70th Anniversary of his Birth

 

From Bret "Jazz Video Guy" Primack.

Mulgrew Miller (1955 – 2013) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and educator—one of the most respected and in-demand pianists of his generation. Background & Career • Born: August 13, 1955, Greenwood, Mississippi • Died: May 29, 2013, Allentown, Pennsylvania • He grew up immersed in gospel and blues, started piano at age 6, and discovered jazz as a teenager after hearing Oscar Peterson. • In the late 1970s, he began touring with the Duke Ellington Orchestra (led then by Mercer Ellington) and later worked with Betty Carter, Woody Shaw, and Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers—earning a reputation for swing, elegance, and versatility. • He was a member of Tony Williams’ quintet in the mid-to-late ’80s and recorded extensively as a leader, including albums such as Keys to the City, Hand in Hand, and Live at Yoshi’s. Style & Influence • Miller’s playing blended bebop, post-bop, blues, and gospel elements, with a strong rhythmic drive and a crystalline touch. • He was admired for his harmonic sophistication, ability to adapt to many bandleaders’ styles, and his balance of tradition with modern jazz vocabulary. • Though he never courted stardom, he was deeply influential among peers and younger musicians. Teaching • Served as Director of Jazz Studies at William Paterson University, mentoring a new generation of pianists. Miller passed away at 57 from a stroke, leaving behind a body of work that’s revered among musicians for its integrity, depth, and artistry.