spongebob Posted August 26, 2013 Share Posted August 26, 2013 Bought this on a a whim yesterday on download. Never really heard much MM before, but the reviews were good, so.... What can I say? What an amazing album. I've not been excited by a bass tone on records for years - but MM sounds sublime. Not just the bass - production is excellent, as it the material. I'm really impressed. Just when I thought that there would never be a good 'new' album again (guess I'm hard to please), then up pops this! If there's anything similar out there, I'd love to hear about it. I did peek at MM's early LP's, but they sounded a bit to 80's with the clangy synths, etc. But if there's similar stuff like this around - please share! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Clayton Posted August 26, 2013 Share Posted August 26, 2013 Renaissance is the best Marcus Miller album in some time in my opinion. That said, Silver Rain, The Sun Don't Lie and Tales all have excellent moments as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted August 26, 2013 Share Posted August 26, 2013 He's a very talented producer and probably doesn't get the recognition in this capacity that he should. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubinga5 Posted August 26, 2013 Share Posted August 26, 2013 Yeah i really dug that album and im not really into solo bass albums. Jekyl and Hyde is a killer fingerstyle groove. a great allround productionm and some great music.. of course some of the bass playing is incredible.! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Academy Posted August 26, 2013 Share Posted August 26, 2013 Arguably the world's greatest living bass player. The most recognizable sound and style, and a great producer and writer. He has it all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoombung Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 I must get around to listening to him properly as I don't really understand why he gets so much praise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alibabu Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 I have always loved MM's playing, in fact he was one of the reasons I picked up the bass in the first place. However, I much prefer his playing on other artists records to his solo albums. The Lee Ritenour "Rio" album, and Al Jarreau's live album "Tenderness" (which MM also produced) are good examples. I have all the solo albums, and always try to go to his concerts when not too far away, but more of interest as a bass player than for the music itself. As an analogy, I love spicy food, but the MM solo albums is a bit like only eating the spice. I am of course exaggerating, there are absolutely beautiful moments on the solo albums as well, but in general i prefer smaller portions of Marcus. I feel the same way about other bass players as well, Jacos best moments in my opinion is on the Joni Mitchell albums. Speaking of which, the same applies also to other instruments, like the late great sax player Michael Brecker, who plays absolutely brilliant on Joni's "Shadows and Light" and with Brecker Brothers, but can easily be a bit to much on his solo efforts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoombung Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 Well I've had a good listen but it doesn't appeal to me, personally. its all well played I suppose but he has a generic slap sound and writes rather ordinary jazz funk compositions. Is there something he does that stands out from other bass players that I've missed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urb Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 This is the best album he's made in years - the title pretty much sums it up - the man is having a 'renaissance' and is totally back on form, soloing less but writing and playing like a demon... still great live too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urb Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 [quote name='Spoombung' timestamp='1377594248' post='2189047'] Well I've had a good listen but it doesn't appeal to me, personally. its all well played I suppose but he has a generic slap sound and writes rather ordinary jazz funk compositions. Is there something he does that stands out from other bass players that I've missed? [/quote] Er... he [b]invented[/b] that[i] generic[/i] slap sound... it became generic because every f*cker out there copied him - perhaps his music isn't your thing - no biggie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoombung Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 There's a bit of Stanley Clarke in his sound - I can hear that, however I don't think playing with a scooped sound on a jazz bass means he invented a genre, surely? There were always people doing that.. including Stan Clarke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urb Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 [quote name='Spoombung' timestamp='1377605548' post='2189269'] There's a bit of Stanley Clarke in his sound - I can hear that, however I don't think playing with a scooped sound on a jazz bass means he invented a genre, surely? There were always people doing that.. including Stan Clarke. [/quote] I didn't mean he invented a 'genre', I'm not sure you could attribute a bass sound to being an entire genre in itself - and yes I agree that Clarke was around before Miller and no doubt had an influence, same for Jaco - but my point was that his particular sound and approach, i.e. playing melodic lines and more involved/complex slap parts - rather than Mark King style triplets in E-minor - was massively influential. But in the case of his new album he's slapping less, playing some great melodic bass parts, and fretless too and getting away from his obvious / trademark slap sound. I'll also add that as a reviewer of many a bass-led album I can't tell how many times a 'new' bass talent would send me their latest solo album and as soon as they'd finished doing their Jaco impression they'd go straight into their Marcus Miller one Anyway if you don't like it it's cool - I don't think everyone has to like Marcus Miller because he's a great bass player etc - it's obviously not your bag which is totally fine with me - it's all a matter of taste innit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoombung Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 Yeah of course! I'm just curious to see why bass players regard him so highly. I've met a lot of bass players who love his style. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubinga5 Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 (edited) [quote name='Spoombung' timestamp='1377607266' post='2189295'] Yeah of course! I'm just curious to see why bass players regard him so highly. I've met a lot of bass players who love his style. [/quote] i dont think you need to be curious to see why bass players regard Marcus Miller so highly. ? im no fan boy, but i think Marcus Miller gets caught up in the "hes just another slap bassist" but to me hes much more innovative than that. its not just his playing that is great, its all there to hear. i think hes gone past having a flawless sound and technique many years ago. its about his music. why cant people look past his slap.? there are lots of stuff hes played on that arent slap. there is so much stuff hes done over the years as a session bassist. even if you dont like his music, i cant see why anyone wouldnt at least acknowledge him as one of the greats. i dont like Elvis i still think he was great. Edited August 27, 2013 by bubinga5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoombung Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 [quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1377612055' post='2189366'] i dont think you need to be curious to see why bass players regard Marcus Miller so highly. [/quote] You mean because I should know already? It's certainly not obvious to me what makes him 'great'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubinga5 Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 [quote name='Spoombung' timestamp='1377613867' post='2189398'] You mean because I should know already? It's certainly not obvious to me what makes him 'great'. [/quote] well i meant bass players generally, but of course. music is very subjective. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Academy Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 His sound is sublime and instantly recognizable. His style is too. His melody lines on bass have the flavour of a vocalist. He is probably the most recognizable bass player on the planet. His compositions are unique. Look at his list of credits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubinga5 Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 (edited) like Pete said, he plays like a vocalist, i was reading an interview when he said that he gets his influence from vocal and horns, from Anita Baker to John Coltrane to Miles obviously. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Njwasr1OOuc[/media] Edited August 27, 2013 by bubinga5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 (edited) Apart from MM's sound etc, he is very much in the pocket with his playing. His timing is spot on and effortless. That's what most like about him. His Fretless playing is very lyrical and melodic. Edited August 27, 2013 by lowdown Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urb Posted August 28, 2013 Share Posted August 28, 2013 (edited) [quote name='Spoombung' timestamp='1377613867' post='2189398'] You mean because I should know already? It's certainly not obvious to me what makes him 'great'. [/quote] This might give you a better idea of why he's not just considered 'great' by bassists, his contribution to music goes way beyond whatever he can do (and he can do a hell of a lot) on the bass - he really is one of [i]the greats[/i] - full stop. Biog: [url="http://www.allmusic.com/artist/marcus-miller-mn0000673114/biography"]http://www.allmusic....73114/biography[/url] He's made a few records too: http://www.allmusic.com/artist/marcus-miller-mn0000673114/credits Edited August 28, 2013 by urb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoombung Posted August 28, 2013 Share Posted August 28, 2013 [quote name='urb' timestamp='1377676720' post='2190097'] Biog: [url="http://www.allmusic.com/artist/marcus-miller-mn0000673114/biography"]http://www.allmusic....73114/biography[/url] He's made a few records too: [url="http://www.allmusic.com/artist/marcus-miller-mn0000673114/credits"]http://www.allmusic....0673114/credits[/url] [/quote] Well he's versatile, I'll give him that. Wow, Impressive list...and several things I like on there too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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