Mike Miller - 2001 "Save The Moon"

The playful cover art immediately draws your attention -- it's like wacky video game characters, including a Planet of the Ape guy -- but it might not give off the right impression of the nature of this disc, which is a hip fusion explosion led by one of L.A.'s most ubiquitous guitar heroes who is known mostly as a first-call sideman. Though there's rhythm and melody to spare, the best way to describe Miller's brand of eclecticism is experimental rock. Over a bouncy bed of blues organ laid by Mitch Forman, Miller lives up to the title of "The Sky Lights Up," modulating his electric strings at different pitches while tweaking out a melody line over the moody grooves. "Beatnik" is less involving melodically, but has an irresistibly creepy groove, featuring Jimmy Johnson's throbbing low-end bass and the trombone harmonies of Bruce Fowler. The title track works as a funky rock-flavored anthem without words, highlighted by a sizzling duet by Miller and Fowler at their most intense. After the intentionally abrasive distorted guitar piece "Rocket Dog," a moody cover of John Lennon's "Julia" is a relief, introducing not only Miller's romantic side but also his love for the Beatles, which puts him on the musical path. He then goes "Lennon extreme" on a booming twist of "I Am the Walrus," which is psychedelic guitarisma at its finest. "A Dark Waltz" cools the pace for another romantic interlude. Miller's a bit all over the map, but that seems to be the point and such characterizes his life as an L.A. musician. Guitar fans will love this best of all, but Beatles fans really need to hear two of the finest instrumental covers ever.

I saw Mike and his California quintet at the Baked Potato in LA about 3 years ago. I had never heard of him, I actually went to see Chad Wackerman and Jimmy Johnson from Holdsworth's trio who were playing with him. I was simply killed. Mike's got to be one of the most imaginative, original guitarists anywhere. His playing is unique and defies description. This CD is a pretty good representation of his sound. He actually wails a little bit harder live.

The first time I had heard Mike's guitar was on the Yellowjackets 2nd LP.. Loved the phrasing. Saw him live at the Mt.Fuji Jazz Festival with Chick Corea in 1984, along with Band Overboard. Mike Miller is truly a great guitarist as well as a composer. Wish more people knew about him.

Mike Miller is clearly one of the most underrated,gifted guitarists of our time. This album clearly shows this. A great combination of taste and texture, harmonic simplicity and complexity, and chemistry between the players. Simply a joy to listen to all the way through. My favorite track is "Save The Moon". It's like Flim and The BB's crossed with an old Jazz Crusaders vibe. The build-up at the end is damn near orgasmic!
Mike Miller will absolutely blow you away live as well. He really deserves his due. See for yourself.

Mike Miller is a guitarist whose playing and writing communicates a stunning musical universe. While much is made of individuality and originality among musicians, Miller seems beyond those qualities: he is unlikely in the way he defies description. Consider that Miller has worked with jazz pianist Chick Corea, diva/comedienne Bette Midler, pop craftsmen Gino Vanelli and Burton Cummings, the Los Angeles Philharmonic New Music Group, british jazz-rock band Brand X, Wall of Voodoo´s Stan Ridgeway, film composer and former Devo front man Mark Mothersbaugh, the Frank Zappa Banned from Utopia alumni band, and many others. This is a range of experience that challenges the imagination -- edgy spontaneity in Corea´s electric jazz, slapstick \"comedy guitar\" with Bette Midler, and complex orchestration in the writing of Marc Anthony Turnage and Frank Zappa.

Then listen to his first solo CD, Save the Moon, which features Jimmy Johnson, Tom Brechtlein, Mitchel Forman, Peter Erskine, and Ralph Humphrey. The music on this CD reflects Miller´s commitment to develop his own voice, which juggles a rich and wonderful contradiction of qualities: the raw excitement of the electric guitar with a technique that pushes the boundaries of the instrument, and a broad vocabulary with a mischievous sense of humor -- he might play a part a pianist would work out with two hands, or grace the end of a bebop phrase with a Chuck Berry lick and dip of the tremolo bar. Miller is a riveting improviser who can draw you to the edge of your seat as you follow one musical idea developing into another or bending through a series of unexpected twists and turns... and the results are complex, yet melodic and accessible. A simple path lies beneath the surface of all this activity, revealing a guitarist engaged in a playful search for constant musical growth.

https://jazz-rock-fusion-guitar.blogspot.com/2015/09/the-outsidemen-1996-band-overboard.html

https://jazz-rock-fusion-guitar.blogspot.com/2018/08/chick-corea-elektric-band-ii-1993-paint.html

Track listing:

1. The Sky Lights Up
2. Beatnik
3. Save The Moon
4. Gold
5. Rocket Dog
6. Julia
7. I Am The Walrus
8. Dark Waltz
9. A Hair Less Bass

Personnel:

Mike Miller: Guitar, Keyboards, Loops
Mitchel Forman: Keyboards 1,4,6,7,8,9
David Witham: Keyboards 3
Bruce Fowler: Trombone
Jimmy Johnson: Bass
Peter Erskine: Drums 2,4,8
Tom Brechtlein: Drums 1,3,6,7,9
Ralph Humphrey: Drums 5