When Marcus Miller comes to town, the question seems to always be which part of his illustrious career as a bassist/producer is he going to emphasize?
The good news for the packed house at Catalina’s is that the Grammy Winning artist used the 90 minute set as a type of old fashioned variety show, which had the band feature moments ranging from soundtracks to soul jazz, funk and dashes of Miles. What more are you looking for?
Miller’s team of Donald Hayes/as, Xavier Gordon/keys, Russell Gunn/tp and Anwar Marshall/dr was as soulful as Don Cornelius and as flexible as Cirque du Soleil, able to supply a sleek funk fest for Miller’s solos and lines on “Panther Power” and getting down on it on “Run For Cover”. Hayes and Gunn swung back and forth and front to back over Marshall’s irresistible back beat and sizzling high hat, while Miller slid, slapped, picked, plucked, patted and strummed his bass to the wonderment of the audience.
His latest arsenal is to treat the bass strings like a harp, and it created exotic tones on the African mooded “Sublimity” with Gordon’s keys adding stirring atmosphere’s and Hayes’ clipped notes worked like accent marks to the musical sonnet.
Just when you thought the pace of the evening was set, up to the stage jumped Temptation and Tower of Power man Larry Braggs, who took the mic and delivered a tribute to Al Green that turned Hollywood into a Memphis stomp fest. “Let’s Stay Together” was as silky as Irish whisky, while a foot stomping “Love And Happiness” shook the very foundations of the stage. WHEW!
From there, Miller shared stories of his family and inspirations, leading into a kinda bluish “Mr. Pastorius” that had a muted Gunn and a gospel drenched Gordon go from blues to double time and solo arias before Miller reigned in the stallions and closed the evening with a calypso’d “Da Butt” that took a Caribbean sea cruise through the blue yonder.
Miller’s devotion to family, faith, fun and the music was evident in each song, as his smiling face and walking fingers pointed to the Ebenezers in his life that have made him one of the leaders of his art, and which can only be done by serving others.
Upcoming events at Catalina’s include Gordon Goodwin 12/27-28, Poncho Sanchez 12/31, Lee Ritenour & Dave Gruisin 01/10-12, Tierney Sutton 01/17-18 and Simon Phillips 01/23-25