Track Listing

1. If I Were a Bell
2. Waltz for Monk
3. O Grande Amor
4. Organ Grinder
5. Peace
6. Don't You Know I Care?
7. What a Diff'rence a Day Makes
8. Pressing the Issue

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #76953 in Music
• Released on: 2004-05-25
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Dimensions: .18 pounds

Album Description
Miller takes it to the next level now by recording his first live album. Recorded July 22-23, 2003, at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square – one of the world’s premiere jazz clubs - Live At Yoshi’s (Volume One) is Miller’s second release on MAXJAZZ. Unlike The Sequel, where he presented eight original tunes, on Live At Yoshi’s, Miller puts his stamp on ageless standards in an intimate trio format. Miller’s trio is comprised of Derrick Hodge on bass and Karriem Riggins, who played on The Sequel, on drums.

The recording presents over 70 minutes of fresh repertoire the trio performed at Yoshi’s. Miller’s crisp, upbeat take on "If I Were A Bell" by Frank Loesser opens the CD with great energy. Donald Brown’s beautiful composition "Waltz For Monk" follows, leading into Miller’s fluttering, graceful opener of "O Grande Amor" by Antonio Carlos Jobim. The trio folds in effortlessly and then moves together at a faster pace for "The Organ Grinder" by Woody Shaw. Miller draws us in with another slow, intimate opening solo, this time to begin "Peace" by Horace Silver. On "Don’t You Know I Care," by Duke Ellington and Mack David, the trio is seamless and fluid, allowing Miller to float on top ofthe rhythm. Miller adds a slight swagger to the classic tune, "What A Difference A Day Makes," by Maria Griver and Stanley Adams. He closes at a rapid pace with his one original composition on the recording, "Pressing The Issue."

Amazon.com
On his fine 2002 release, The Sequel, pianist Mulgrew Miller mostly led a sextet (a new incarnation of his late-'80s band Wingspan, hence the title) and showed off his flair as a writer. Live at Yoshi's, Vol. 1, featuring the pianist's trio of several seasons, is dominated by standards and tunes by his contemporaries. Together, these two MaxJazz releases go a long way toward re-establishing Miller as a creative force. As prolific as he has been in the employ of others, he hadn't made much of a splash on his own in many years. Here, teaming with bassist Derrick Hodge and drummer Karriem Riggins at the well-known Oakland nightclub, he uses the three-man format as a kind of flying wedge to open up and expansively propel tunes ranging from an 11-minute-plus reading of the Guys and Dolls classic "If I Were a Bell" to late trumpeter Woody Shaw's "The Organ Grinder." Though the McCoy Tyner influence will forever shadow his playing, Miller has mastered a lighter intensity, making understated use of the dark notes while luxuriating in breezy single-note passages up top. His version of Horace Silver's "Peace" stands out for its emphasis of lucidity over sentimentality. On "Waltz for Monk," by his generational running mate Donald Brown, he plays a clever game of hide and seek with his own Thelonian debt. --Lloyd Sachs

Village Voice
"Miller’s shrewd tunes are crafted to put his players in a groove."

Customer Reviews

Easy Listening At Its Best
I've listend to Mulgrew Miller since before his first recordings under his own leadership, from the period he held the piano chair in Woody Shaw's band. He is consistent. His playing feels like that awe inspiring player playing at the piano in your living room. He'll have you in a serious grove without you knowing how it happened. His playing doesn't have the driving charge that some player can have - Take McCoy Tyner (percussive), John Hicks (hard swinging), or James Williams as an example. Millers playing conveys an ease of style like that of Thelonious Monk. Though he sounds nothing like Monk. However I realize his playing is powerful as it is subtle.

He has the range of McCoy Tyner and the other pianist, however he creates magic differently than they. On this recording his imaginative and fluid style is commanding and pleasant. He is good at playing ballads as he is at swinging. I appreciate each of the tunes especially 'Waltz For Monk', 'The Organ Grinder', and 'Pressing The Issue'.

Both Derrik Hodge (bass) and Karriem Riggins (drums) are new to me, yet they play with years of wisdom. Karriem is outstanding, his timing is like that of Max Roach, perfect; his touch is beautiful like that of Billy Higgins and Victor Lewis. Check him on 'The Organ Grinder' and 'O Grande Amor'.

Derrik Hodge's sound is very rich, it's deep and pleasant. He reminds me of Curtis Lundy with a tone for ballads that brings tears to the eyes. Derrik makes me wish there were more ballads on this recording just to showcase his sound which is resonant.

I wish there were twice the music on this disc. Bring on volume 2!

Thank you Mulgrew
Mulgrew Miller is one of the greatest & most authentic younger jazz pianists in our era. I adore jazz in 50-60s and I feel like a part of me die every time each of great jazz musicians from the era passes away. Someone like Mulgrew Miller, who has the tremendous swing and real substance in his touch, tone and improvised melodies that he creates, deserves much more attention. I love his "The Sequel", a perfect studio recording. This CD is a great live recording; you can enjoy his TRUE improvisation and a sense of REAL JAZZ in a live setting. I appreciate both Derrick Hodge and Karriem Riggins who provided a great support to Mulgrew. Especially Karriem Riggins, he did a tremendous job in "The Sequel" and in this one, too. Thank you MAXJAZZ, please keep recording Mulgrew Miller's historical great playing to our later generation.

actually i did not hear the cd..
...but I was at yoshi's during one of the recording night, and mulgrew was fantastic. Hope 'you and the night and the music' will be on vol. 2. kareem riggins on drums was quite impressive. I have been waiting impatiently for this cd to be released, so I went straight here when I heard 'if i were a bell' one the radio (it's the first track): he had me wondering "mmm, that's pretty cool, who's playing this?". Excellent version if very standard.