Marcus Miller Releases “Afrodeezia”

Marcus Miller: AfrodeeziaMarcus Miller’s latest album, Afrodeezia, is influenced by the wide variety musical styles that can trace their roots to Africa.

The bassist is a UNESCO Artist For Peace and spokesperson for the organization’s Slave Route Project, and his role with the group affected Afrodeezia. ”The power of music has no limits,” states Miller. “Through spirituals, jazz and soul we were able to preserve our history, because all the rest had been erased. What I wanted most was to go back to the source of the rhythms that make our musical heritage so rich, to follow them like footprints from their beginnings in Africa all the way to the United States. That journey took us from Mali to Paris, from New Orleans to Sao Paulo and across the Caribbean.”

He collaborated with musicians from around the world and within the United States on the music. “This is my way of paying tribute to the long journey of my African ancestors who became African-Americans. The melodies and rhythms they carried with them from Africa have exploded into a ‘dizzying’ array of musical styles and genres that have changed the world.”

The album, Miller’s first for Blue Note Records, also features Public Enemy rapper Chuck D., vocalist Lalah Hathaway, keyboardist Robert Glasper, guitarists Keb’ Mo’ and Wah Wah Watson, bassist/producer Mocean Worker, cellist Ben Hong and organist Cory Henry (Snarky Puppy).

But you can hear all about the album from Miller himself:

Afrodeezia is available on CD and as a digital download (iTunes and Amazon MP3).

Afrodeezia Track List:

  1. Hylife
  2. B’s River
  3. Preacher’s Kid (Song for William H)
  4. We Were There
  5. Papa Was a Rolling Stone
  6. I Still Believe (feat. Ben Hong)
  7. Son of Macbeth
  8. Prism (Interlude)
  9. Xtraordinary
  10. Water Dancer
  11. I Can’t Breathe (feat. Mocean Worker)

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Leave a Reply to Gregg Cancel reply

  1. tomas

    why he doesn’t play with his new sire signature bass?

    • Freetrademan

      Because it’s not for professionals. It’s an inexpensive instrument for young learners.

  2. Just an amzing bassist and producer .Love what he has accomplished with this new project …Speaks volumes about the man and his legacy.

  3. I’ve recently gotten into Marcus Miller and he is amazing. Haven’t heard this new one yet, but it sounds like it may be a continuation taken further from the Renaissance compilation

  4. Really nice music, I like the maple neck on his bass , it seems to stand out better than rosewood, but everyone has their own opinions on that, I happen to like the maple neck matching the headstock and the natural wood look. I tried buying a Fender bass similar to the one Marcus plays but it turned out to be a disaster I had to get out from under. I did finally get the correct Fender bass and I’m very satisfied .I do want to try the black nylon wrapped strings to see how they feel and sound..

  5. Anthony

    I am just a little younger than Marcus Miller. I have seen him progress from a young session hotshot, to Miles Davis’ right hand man, to a great leader in his own right. Now that he is closing in on 60 (it feels weird saying that,) he has emerged as a true master of his instrument, and a major composer of his generation. Marcus Miller has been huge in transforming the bass guitar into a “true” instrument with a brilliant body of compositions dedicated to it.