Marcus Miller - Silver Rain (2005)
MP3 | 320Kbps | RS.com | 100mb + 71mb
Genre: Jazz / Jazz-funk/Fusion
Jazzitude.com:With Silver Rain Marcus Miller has crafted a really sharp amalgam of funk, rock, jazz, and R&B styles that has just the right amount of sheen without slipping into glibness. This is going to be a classic album a few years down the road, one that numerous young musicians will cite as having been influential in their development. Despite many triumphs as a leader, part of Miller's reputation has always rested on his years in Miles Davis' band and as the collaborator in creating the sound of Miles' last several recordings. Silver Rain makes clear how influential Miller was in crafting such Davis recordings as Tutu and Amandla. Davis must have been influential on Miller as well. Coming from a time when many styles of popular African American music were being brought back together to form a cohesive, whole musical language, Miller must have been drawn to Davis' constant challenge to himself to continue to innovate at all costs...
Amazon.com:Marcus Miller is foremost known as a Grammy-winning bass player, but as he proves on Silver Rain, Miller is equally formidable as an arranger. Taking songs from a disparate mix of artists that includes Stevie Wonder, Duke Ellington, Jimi Hendrix, Edgar Winter, Beethoven and Prince, Miller's skills are in almost embarrassing abundance here. On Edgar Winter's 70s rock jam "Frankenstein", his band (including the likes of Kirk Whalum on tenor and Kenny Garret on alto) flat out wails, but Miller's slapping bass keeps the groove completely locked down. In contrast, his take on Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" sets the stage for Miller's mellow-groove skills while the cover of Stevie Wonder's "Boogie On Reggae a Woman" is Miller at his intricate, funky best. On Prince's "Girls & Boys", Macy Gray adds her swooping, sensual vocals while Eric Clapton sits in on the title track. Clocking in at around 75 minutes, this CD is full to bursting, but what's striking here is not the quantity, but the quality. Miller is able to effortlessly make this material his own; moreover he is able to take an impossibly diverse set of songs and construct an album with real cohesion and flow. There is a lot happening on this album, as multi-instrumentalist Miller swaps instruments, moods and musicians from tune to tune, to his credit, however, he never loses the trail. The result is an extremely enjoyable album and an apt platform for Miller's many, many talents. --Steve Duda
Amazon.com reviewer:Hard to believe that Marcus Miller's first recorded appearances were nearly three decades ago. Easier to believe -- based on his track record (solo, as a producer, etc.) -- that anything new he puts out will offer a variety of fresh musical twists. Such is the case with SILVER RAIN, an album that should have considerable genre-crossing appeal. His fluid and funky electric bass playing is sharper than ever, and it should be noted that on the softer tunes he plays with as much or more nuance than perhaps I've ever heard by an electric bassist (almost like an acoustic guitar, yet without losing the deep qualities expected of a plugged-in bass). As if that's not enough, he assertively takes the lead with his bass clarinet on several cuts.
Besides Marcus' bass playing and overall musical direction, two aspects of this album stick out in particular. First, his eclectic choice of tunes. Of course, there's an update or two of the funk/jazz genre ala his days with Miles Davis (including "Bruce Lee"). Yet look how far and wide he reaches for material. There are personalized takes on material as diverse as Jimi Hendrix's "Power Of Soul," Stevie Wonder's "Boogie On Reggae Woman, a funk/jazz take on Edgar Winter's "Frankenstein" (air guitar, anyone?), Prince's "Girls & Boys," Duke Ellington's "Sophisticated Lady," Brenda Russell's "If Only For One Night" (a tune made famous by Luther Vandross), and even a bluesy adaptation of Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata."
Finally, Marcus has inserted a fine selection of guests into the mix. Veterans of past Miller CDs and tours are still on hand (trumpeter Patches Stewart, keyboardist Bernard Wright, drummer Poogie Bell, etc.), while recurring guests such as reedmen Kenny Garrett are back for more. Also on sax are the likes of Gerald Albright and Kirk Whalum. Then there are the vocalists, which include Lalah Hathaway, Macy Gray (on "Girls & Boys"), and a memorable vocal by Eric Clapton on the reggae-flavored title track (yes, he's got a guitar solo, too ... and there's an brief, unlisted reprise at the end of the CD). Familiar yet unpredictable is usually a winning formula, and that certainly holds true on this recommended album.
Personnel: Marcus Miller (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, bass clarinet, woodwinds, soprano saxophone, piano, Fender Rhodes piano, Clavinet, keyboards, synthesizer, Moog synthesizer, talk box, voice box, acoustic bass guitar, bass guitar, fretless bass, drums, udo drum, drum machine, hi-hat, tambourine, hand claps, percussion, scratches, background vocals); Eric Clapton (vocals, guitar); Eartha Kitt, Lalah Hathaway, Macy Gray (vocals); Kenn Hicks (tenor); Lucky Peterson (guitar); Dean Brown (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Gregoire Maret (harmonica); Gerald Albright, Kenny Garrett (alto saxophone); Kirk Whalum, Ronald Bruner, Roger Byam (tenor saxophone); Michael "Patches" Stewart (trumpet); Bruce Flowers (Fender Rhodes piano, organ); Bernard Wright (keyboards); Poogie Bell (drums, snare drum); Munyungo Jackson, Craig J (percussion); Adam Dorn (sampler); Mocean Worker (sound effects); Joey Kibble, Mark Kibble, Jessica Celious (background vocals).
Recording information: Hannibal Studios, Santa Monica, California (2004).
Tracks:1. Intro Duction
2. Bruce Lee
3. La Villette
4. Behind The Smile
5. Frankenstein
6. Moonlight Sonata
7. Boogie On Reggae Woman
8. Paris (Interlude)
9. Silver Rain
10. Make Up My Mind
11. Girls And Boys
12. Sophisticated Lady
13. Power Of Soul
14. Outro Duction
15. If Only For One Night
