Mulgrew Miller

Mulgrew Miller (August 13, 1955 – May 29, 2013) was an American jazz pianist. Miller's style was influential in jazz during the 1980s and 90s, and in the tradition of Oscar Peterson, McCoy Tyner, and Kenny Barron.

Early life
Miller had a childhood filled with early musical experiences, mostly playing gospel music in his church and R&B and blues at dances. Miller was interested in jazz piano, and established a trio in high school that would play at cocktail parties. Miller admitted that they did not really know what they were doing and were merely "approaching jazz". Miller is said to have set his mind definitely to becoming a jazz pianist after seeing Oscar Peterson on television.

Career
Miller recorded more than 500 albums as an accompanying pianist with major jazz figures. He began his career with Betty Carter (1980), Woody Shaw (1981-1983), Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers (1983-1986), and Tony Williams (1986-1994). He made over 15 albums under his own name throughout his career including four albums with Derrick Hodge (bass) and Karriem Riggins (drums) (both on the label MAXJAZZ): Live At Yoshi's Vol. 1 (2004), Live At Yoshi's Vol. 2 (2005), Live At The Kennedy Center Vol. 1 (2006), and Live At The Kennedy Center Vol. 2 (2007).

Later life
On May 20, 2006, Miller was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Performing Arts at Lafayette College's 171st Commencement Exercises.

Miller spent the last years of his life in Easton, Pennsylvania. He was the Director of Jazz Studies at William Paterson University and the Artist in Residence at Lafayette College for 2008-2009. His last working trio consisted of Ivan Taylor on bass and Rodney Green on drums.

Miller died as a result of a stroke in Lehigh Hospital on May 29, 2013. He is survived by his wife Tanya and children Leilani and Darnell.

As leader

 * 1985: Keys to the City	 (Landmark Records)
 * 1986: Work (Landmark)
 * 1987: Wingspan (Landmark)
 * 1988: The Countdown (Landmark)
 * 1990: From Day to Day (Landmark)
 * 1991: Time and Again (Landmark)
 * 1992: Landmarks (Landmark)
 * 1992: Hand In Hand (Novus Records)
 * 1993: With Our Own Eyes (Novus)
 * 1995: Getting to Know You (Novus)
 * 2002: The Sequel (Maxjazz)
 * 2004: Live At Yoshi's, Vol. 1 (Maxjazz)
 * 2005: Live at Yoshi's, Vol. 2	 (Maxjazz)
 * 2006: Live at the Kennedy Center Vol. 1 (Maxjazz)
 * 2007: Live at the Kennedy Center: Vol. 2 (Maxjazz)
 * 2010: Solo (Space Time Records)

As sideman
With Art Blakey With Stefon Harris With Benny Golson With Betty Carter With Ron Carter With Kenny Garrett With Antonio Hart With Freddie Hubbard and Woody Shaw With Joe Lovano With Charles McPherson With Lewis Nash With Nicholas Payton With Wallace Roney With Woody Shaw '''With Alex Sipiagin '''With Terell Stafford With Superblue With Myron Walden With John Stubblefield With Tony Williams With Cassandra Wilson With Warren Wolf With John D'Earth With Pierrick Pedron With Bill Mobley
 * New York Scene (1984)
 * Blue Night (1985)
 * Live at Kimball's (1985)
 * Live at Sweet Basil (1985)
 * A Cloud of Red Dust (1998)
 * Live (1995)
 * It's Not About the Melody (1992)
 * The Golden Striker (2003)
 * Introducing Kenny Garrett (1985)
 * Garrett 5 (1989)
 * African Exchange Student (1990)
 * Beyond The Wall (2006)
 * For the First Time (1991)
 * Double Take (1985)
 * The Eternal Triangle (1987)
 * Tenor Legacy (Blue Note, 1993)
 * Quartets: Live at the Village Vanguard (Blue Note, 1995)
 * Come Play With Me (1995)
 * Jazz Museum - Tribute to Great Artists (2008)
 * From This Moment (1994)
 * Verses (1987)
 * Intuition (1988)
 * The Standard Bearer (1989)
 * Live Volume 3 (1981)
 * United  (1981)
 * Master of the Art (1982)
 * Night Music (1982)
 * Lotus Flower (1982)
 * Time is Right (1983)
 * Mirages (2009)
 * New Beginnings (2003)
 * Superblue (1988, Blue Note Records)
 * Hypnosis (1996)
 * Confessin' (Soul Note, 1984)
 * Countin’ the Blues (Enja Records, 1987)
 * Foreign Intrigue (1986)
 * Civilization (1987)
 * Angel Street (1988)
 * Native Heart (1990)
 * The Story of Neptune (1991)
 * Tokyo Live (1992)
 * Young At Heart (1998)
 * Blue Skies (JMT, 1988)
 * Incredible Jazz Vibes (2005)
 * Black Wolf (2009)
 * Restoration Comedy (2000)
 * Deep In A Dream (2007)
 * Moodscape (2007)