Groove Podcast: Marcus Miller | Episode #139

The legend is back! Marcus Miller occupies a rare place in modern music… equally celebrated as a player, composer, producer, arranger, bandleader, film scorer, and one of the defining bass voices of the past half-century.

Whether writing and producing for artists like Miles Davis, David Sanborn, Luther Vandross, and Aretha Franklin, composing award-winning film scores, or building a remarkable solo career that has earned multiple Grammy Awards, Marcus has always resisted being defined by a single role.

This conversation, our second together, was recorded in person at this year’s Montreal International Jazz Festival at a particularly meaningful moment in his career… just hours before the world premiere of We Want Miles! His ambitious new project celebrating what would have been Miles Davis’ 100th birthday.

Rather than simply revisiting his own remarkable years alongside Miles, Marcus reunited members of the legendary early-1980s comeback band to create something that honors the spirit of Miles while remaining true to the one lesson Miles taught everyone around him… never stand still.

Throughout our conversation, Marcus shares vivid stories of joining Miles Davis at just twenty-one years old, the making of The Man With The Horn, We Want Miles, and Tutu, and why understanding Miles the person was every bit as important as understanding Miles the musician.

He reflects on revisiting music he hadn’t played in more than four decades, the strange experience of listening to his twenty-one-year-old self again, and why evolution has always mattered more than nostalgia.

We also explore Marcus’ philosophy as both a bassist and composer, how listening remains more important than technique, and why great musicians develop their ears before they develop their fingers.

Beyond Miles, we dive into the remarkable success of his partnership with Sire, creating professional-quality instruments that have introduced a new generation of players to great basses without extraordinary price tags, along with his continued work composing film scores, hosting his SiriusXM radio program, recording new music, and balancing an astonishing range of creative projects.

Equal parts history lesson, masterclass, and thoughtful reflection on creativity, legacy, and the future of music, this conversation captures Marcus at a fascinating crossroads… honoring one of the greatest artists who ever lived while continuing to prove that his own story is still very much being written.

Enjoy the conversation…