Bassist, bandleader, and host Marcus Miller sits down for an insightful and entertaining one-on-one session with his friend and comedian-in-residence, Alonzo Bodden. Recorded on The Smooth Jazz Cruise 2019, Miller discusses the definitive chronology of his life, clarifying that he was 21 years old when he started playing with Miles Davis, not 14. The conversation also delves into his prolific career as a New York studio musician, the story behind his signature pork pie hat, and how he mentors the next generation of jazz talent.

Key Takeaways

• Career Output: Marcus Miller estimates he has performed on somewhere between 500 and 700 records or sessions.
• The Studio Musician Era: Miller detailed the demanding nature of being a studio musician in New York during that era; they were prized for being excellent readers who could get recordings done quickly because studio time was very expensive. He recalls that for a recording date with Frank Sinatra, conductor Quincy Jones required the big band to have the music ready for a single take.
• Early Milestones: Miller's professional timeline included going on the road with flute player Bobby Humphrey at age 16 and touring with Lenny White at age 18. At 19, his reading ability—which he attributed to his classical clarinet background—impressed producer Ralph McDonald, leading to Miller working in studios from 9:00 a.m. until midnight every day.
• Joining Miles Davis: Miller confirmed he was 21 years old when Miles Davis called him. He recounted that the call came with only a couple of hours' notice, which was "perfect" because it prevented him from making himself nervous by practicing every Miles Davis song he knew.
• Mentorship: Now the veteran, Miller enjoys playing with young musicians because their energy reminds him of his own youth and they "hip you to stuff that's current". He believes this practice of incorporating young talent is what Miles Davis wanted when using new musicians—to stay tied into what was happening now.
• Creative Inspiration: Miller often finds musical inspiration from everyday life, such as the rhythm of windshield wipers while waiting at a red light. He shared a memorable anecdote about Luther Vandross requesting that a mix sound like "Skippy Peanut Butter Chunky" rather than "Skippy peanut butter smooth," meaning he wanted the instruments popping out of the mix.
• Hearing and Focus: Miller revealed that he lost hearing in one ear due to measles or scarlet fever when he was two or three years old, but does not recognize it as a handicap. He noted that his wife, Brenda, is careful to place herself on his non-working side at restaurants so he doesn't have to strain to hear or stare at people while they talk.
• The Pork Pie Hat Image: The hat became his professional look after he wore it on The Arsenio Hall Show in the early 90s. He realized taking it off allowed him to move around unrecognized, like Clark Kent's glasses. He appreciates the connection the pork pie hat gives him to the tradition of old bebop musicians, citing Lester Young and Charles Mingus's song "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat".
• Staying Grounded: Family is crucial for keeping Miller grounded, preventing him from "believ[ing] the hype". He noted that after profound moments with fans, he returns home to real-life issues, like his wife mentioning, "the toilet's been stopped up for three weeks".
• Musical Prejudice: Miller uses his band's knowledge of jazz history to combat musical snobbery in audiences.

Send us Fan Mail

• Listen to more episodes of Jazz Cruises Conversations on Spotify, iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts. The back catalog contains more than a hundred interviews from past sailings.
• Theme Music: Provided by Marcus Miller from his song "High Life" on his album Afrodeezia on Blue Note.