2015 · Album
Afrodeezia
Blue Note Records · Released: March 16, 2015 · Type: Studio album, debut for Blue Note Records
Tracing Routes Through Sound and History
Miller's most ambitious work yet: funky, serious about its subject, and genuinely inventive.
Afrodeezia marks Miller's first album for Blue Note Records, and it's his most deliberately conceptual work to date. The project follows the Atlantic slave trade routes, bringing together musicians and instruments from the regions historically affected by that diaspora. It's a formidably funky record—no surprise from Miller—but what distinguishes it from his previous work is the scope of his thinking. Rather than simply assembling a stellar lineup and letting the music speak, Miller has imposed a framework. He's asking the listener to hear connections between places, to feel how rhythm and instrumentation carry memory across oceans.
Musically, the album doesn't announce itself as heavy or solemn. Jeff Tamarkin in JazzTimes called it "formidably funky," and that's the right word. The grooves are serious and the band swings hard, but Miller never lets the music become preachy or self-important. He's balanced the historical weight against his instinct for a clean groove and accessible melody. John Fordham of The Guardian noted that despite the weight of the subject matter, "the versatile Miller's work never altogether shakes off an air of expert slickness"—and that's not a flaw. The slickness is part of the appeal. You can dance to this, or sit with it, or both at once.
All About Jazz gave the album a perfect score, and Jazzwise rated it highly as well. Those aren't votes from critics known for throwing high marks around casually. What they're recognizing is genuine ambition executed with skill—Miller reaching beyond what he's done before without abandoning the things that have made him valuable as a musician. This is the album to hear if you want to know what he's capable of when he decides to say something.
Who's playing
Marcus Millerbass guitar
Brett Williamspiano
Robert Glasperguest, Rhodes piano, solo
Adam Agatiguitar
Guimba Kouyateacoustic guitar, guest
Keb’ Mo’guest, guitar
Melvin “Wah Wah” Watsonelectric guitar, guest
Alex Hanalto saxophone
Lee Hoganstrumpet
Etienne Charlesguest, trumpet
Michael “Patches” Stewartguest, trumpet
Cory Henryguest, organ, solo
Cliff Barnesguest, organ
Louis Catodrums
Adama Bilorou Dembeleguest, percussion
Marco Loboguest, percussion
Munyungo Jacksonguest, percussion
Lamumba Henrypercussion
Chérif Soumanoguest, kora
Ben Hongcello, guest, solo
Where next?
The musicians on this record
Their own records, close in time
