Barry Miles (musician)
Barry Miles | |
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Background information | |
Born | March 28, 1947 |
Genres | Jazz, pop |
Occupation(s) | Musician, pianist, composer, producer, arranger, author |
Instrument | Keyboards |
Years active | 1956–present |
Website | www |
Barry Miles (born March 28, 1947[1] in Newark, New Jersey) is an American pianist, drummer, composer, producer, arranger and author.
Life and career
Miles was born in Newark, New Jersey and grew up in North Plainfield, New Jersey.
He joined the musicians union at age nine in 1956 as a child prodigy drummer/pianist/vibist appearing with Miles Davis and John Coltrane among other talents of the day[2][3][4][5][6][7] live and on TV shows including To Tell The Truth, Dick Van Dyke's variety show, and The Andy Williams Show.[8] He made his solo artist debut recording at age fourteen in 1961, "Miles Of Genius", as drummer and composer with sidemen Al Hall and Duke Jordan.[9] Miles continued to perform with his own band in the early 1960s in which he composed the material that enabled up and coming talents such as Woody Shaw, Eddie Gómez and Robin Kenyatta to display their talents.
He wrote the instruction book, "Twelve Themes With Improvisations", published in 1963 by Belwin-Mills, and currently out of print.
While a student at Princeton University, Miles concentrated his efforts on his piano playing, recording a live album in 1966 entitled Barry Miles Presents His Syncretic Compositions. He applied the philosophical term "syncretic" to music, defining the process of melding any combination of musical influences and styles together in the improvisational jazz idiom with originality.[10] The combination of Miles's early jazz influences, his early Rock and roll background from the late 1950s and early 1960s,[11] and his innovative "melting pot of musical styles" concept, resulted in this recording.
Miles followed this release in 1969 with the eponymously titled album, Barry Miles, incorporating electric instruments including the electric piano.
In 1971, Miles recruited his brother Terry Silverlight on drums along with guitarists Pat Martino and John Abercrombie to record his White Heat album which is regarded as one of the pioneering fusion jazz recordings.[12]
For the next decade, Miles recorded several albums in which he developed the principle of fusing styles together in jazz.
In the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s, Miles embarked upon a prolific career as a keyboardist and Minimoog soloist on many recordings in the heyday of studio work, while working as Roberta Flack's musical director for a stint that lasted fifteen years. During that time, he composed, produced and recorded songs that Flack recorded in the film Bustin' Loose, and on her album Oasis. After Al Di Meola's stint as the guitarist in Miles's band on live performances and Miles's PBS special "Fusion Suite" in 1973,[13] a long-lasting relationship developed between Miles and DiMeola that resulted in Miles's frequent appearances as keyboardist on DiMeola's albums along with co-production credits.
Discography
As leader
- Miles of Genius (1961)
- Barry Miles Presents His Syncretic Compositions (1966)
- Barry Miles (1969)
- White Heat (1971)
- Scatbird (1972)
- Barry Miles and Silverlight (1974)
- Magic Theatre (1975)
- Together with Eric Kloss (Muse, 1975)
- Sky Train (1976)
- Fusion Is...Barry Miles (1977)
- Zoot Suit Stomp (1986)
As sideman
- Oasis – Roberta Flack
- Best Of: Softly With These Songs – Roberta Flack
- Imagination- Gladys Knight & the Pips
- I Feel a Song – Gladys Knight & the Pips
- Very Best Of – Patti Austin
- Land of the Midnight Sun – Al Di Meola
- Elegant Gypsy – Al Di Meola
- Casino – Al Di Meola
- Kiss My Axe – Al Di Meola
- Consequence of Chaos – Al Di Meola
- Capricorn Princess – Esther Phillips
- Tenor Saxophone – Nino Tempo
- Calello Serenade – The Charlie Calello Orchestra
- Jimmy McGriff featuring Hank Crawford – Jimmy McGriff
- Bodies' Warmth – Eric Kloss
- Miami – Gumbi Ortiz
- The London Sessions – Mel Tormé
- Road Song – Vic Juris
- Horizon Drive – Vic Juris
- Celebration – Eric Kloss
- Seven Deadly Sins – Phil Woods
- Shoogie Wanna Boogie – David Matthews with Whirlwind
- Terry Silverlight – Terry Silverlight
- Diamond in the Riff – Terry Silverlight
- The Fox – Urbie Green (CTI, 1976)
- End of a Rainbow – Patti Austin (CTI, 1976)
Charting songs
- "Midnight Train To Georgia" – Gladys Knight & the Pips
- "Dynomite" – Bazuka
- "I Feel a Song (In My Heart)" – Gladys Knight & the Pips
References
- ^ http://www.searchdictionaries.com/?q=Barry+Miles
- ^ Feather, Leonard. The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz. Oxford University Press.
- ^ Kernfeld, Barry. "The New Grove Dictionary Jazz". Oxford University Press.
- ^ NJ.com. "Art Ford Jazz Party". NJ.com.
- ^ ArtsJournal.com. "Art Ford Jazz Party". ArtsJournal.com.
- ^ Library of Congress. "Art Ford Jazz Party". Performing Arts Encyclopedia.
- ^ Downbeat. "Jazz Poster". Terry Silverlight.
- ^ Various. "Late 1950's, early 1960's Accolades". Charlie Parker Records.
- ^ Nurse, Seymour. "Barry Miles interview". The Bottom End UK.
- ^ Wilson, John S. "New York Times Articles". New York Times.
- ^ Royal Lancers. "Rock 'n Roll Poster". Terry Silverlight.
- ^ Various. "Current Accolades". Terry Silverlight.
- ^ DiMeola, Al. "Al Di Meola". Al Di Meola.
External links
- Official website
- Barry Miles discography at Discogs
- Barry Miles artist page at The Bottom End