User:Tamarprod/Marcus L. Miller

Marcus L. Miller He is not just a drummer!

He has worked with many talented artists and musicians. Miller's musical journey began playing drums in his mother's Pentecostal church in Virginia. He recorded three albums with various choirs between 1983-87. After his "college years" in Virginia, he moved to the San Francisco Bay area in 1993 and immersed himself in the local music scene. There he continued to hone his chops by playing and recording a plethora of alternative rock/fusion music. He continued his pursuit of jazz by playing with various Bay area groups until he connected with L.A. based percussionists angel Figueroa & Leon Mobley.

Between 1994 and 1996 he performed and toured with Ben Harper & the innocent criminals. After this stint he moved to Los Angeles and embarked on his professional career as a drummer and artist. There he met his teacher legendary jazz drummer Clarence Johnston and sat with the late great master drummer Billy Higgins. It was at this time that he began his journey into the world of West African, Afro-Cuban, & Brazilian styles of percussion.

Marcus has performed with artists the likes of Sheila E., Ashanti, Brenda Russell, Darius Rucker, Tony Furtado, Tim Reynolds, Giovanni Hildago, Ozomatli, The Watts Prophets, Michelle Shocked, Vinx, Steve Coleman, Bennie Maupin, & Bobby Bryant. A versatile drummer, Marcus' range includes recording sessions in reggae, West African traditional drumming, jazz, spoken word, hip hop, rock, blues, gospel, and alternative rock music genres/styles.

Since 2000, Miller has focused most of his creative efforts and energies into his writing and development as a composer and proficient [jazz] drummer. With his jazz based ensemble Freedom Jazz Movement, he has recorded eleven albums and composed well over 100 songs. Miller serves as In-house composer and head of Jazz and Percussion for Heavy Harmony music where he composes music for TV, film, and video.

Marcus performs in schools & universities with his jazz ensemble as a roster artist for the Segrestrom Center for the Arts. His workshops, MarcusMillerDrums, have been a regular fixture in Southern California libraries, schools, and museums since 1998. Miller also serves as the director of a youth performance ensemble called the Young Drummers of Los Angeles. Marcus is also a percussion instructor for the City of Los Angeles at the William Grant Still art center and works regularly with the Percussion Artists Workshop in Los Angeles, CA.

Marcus is the Music Director and principle accompanist for the Lula Washington Dance Theatre. Together they have toured throughout the United States, Mexico, Russia, & China. Many of his compositions are used by various choreographers for their Modern dance pieces. He has composed music for choreographers Lula Washington, Tamica Washington-Miller, Winifred Harris, & Jordi Caballero. He has worked with Debbie Allen, Cleo Parker- Robinson, Jasmine Guy, and various dancers from The Alvin Ailey American Dance company and The Dance Theatre of Harlem.

Marcus L. Miller Discography 2011 - Afrodisiac - Marcus L. Miller (Universe Soul Records) 2011 - A Place Nobody Knows- Chris Leva 2010 - Hammer, Brush, & Bucket  (Universe Soul Records) 2010 - Sound Machine 2010 & Beyond (Universe Soul Records) 2010 - Sankofa – Marcus L. Miller (Universe Soul Records) 2010 – Concert 4 a Green World - Marcus L. Miller w/Freedom Jazz Movement (Universe Soul Records) 2010 - Quintessential – Marcus L. Miller w/Freedom Jazz Movement (Universe Soul Records) 2009 - Focus for our Children United Strong- Anna Fisher 2009 - Dream Box – Tony Brucco 2007- Back Again - Marcus L Miller w/Freedom Jazz Movement (Universe Soul Records) 2005 - Body, Soul & Spirit - Marcus L Miller w/Freedom Jazz Movement (Universe Soul Records) 2003 - It's Miller time - Marcus L Miller w/Freedom Jazz Movement (Universe Soul Records) 2001 - All same to God -BoujouBumBastick (Universe Soul Records) 2001- Open door orchestra - Shannon Michael Terry 2000 - Flowers stolen from the yards of old folks – Jazz Poetry Collective 1999 - Why walk when you can fly - Angel City Chorale 1999 - Los Angeles view suite - Marcus L Miller w/Freedom Jazz Movement (Universe Soul Records) 1998 - United States of Africa - Wadada Khu Fu 1997 - DaLion live at the Great Negus - Leon Mobley & Da Lion 1997 – Liquid - Liquid Amber 1988 - Staved on Jesus - Virginia District Mass Choir 1986 - United Holy Church of America Mass Choir 1983 – Alright- Virginia District Mass Choir