On tour with Marcus Miller: blood, sweat and tears, sparks flying and an impressive all-star line-up (including trumpet player Michael 'Patches' Stewart and guitarist Dean Brown). Listening to the Ozell-tapes, the official bootleg - 'not just a hidden mike in the audience' as Miller himself says, but 'directly from the mixer', gives a good idea of what the live show is like. Especially the band's drive, with Miller's indefatigable rumbling bass motor as the most important factor, keeps one fascinated. As ever, New York born funky multi-instrumentalist, producer and label owner Marcus Miller achieves a balance, contrasting funk, jazz rock and R&B. A two-year tour with Miles Davis' band in 1981 was his big breakthrough. Five years later he signed on for the complete production of important Davis records such as Tutu, for which he also wrote many of the compositions. Miller made a name for himself and was able to share his brilliant musical ideas with artists like David Sanborn, Luther Vandross, Al Jarreau and Chaka Khan. With three consecutive instrumental records and a extensive tour behind him, lately the musician has been concentrating on composing film music (including Boomerang, School Daze and House Party). He also organized an exposition on funk music for Paul Allen's Experience Music Project in a Seattle museum. His latest studio CD M2 won a Grammy for 'Best Contemporary Jazz Album'.
