DESCRIPTION:
Juno Award winner Joel Miller’s latest recording invites the listener to journey back to the saxophonist’s roots - the ‘comfort food’ of his musical journey - pop. Miller reflects on the important role pop music has played in his development, and how Jazz, for him, has wandered away from its original state of a ‘current’ art form.

“Jazz really was a current thing in its heyday… now, it’s not”, Miller suggests. “[Pop music] is kind of like someone’s companion, it helps them deal with things that they’re going through”. Indeed, the driving rock piece “Streamlined” is an homage to Miller’s 14 year old nephew Isaac, an avid skateboarder who died unexpectedly.

Although pop music is sometimes snubbed for being simple, Miller praises its ability to express a powerful range of emotions and ideas. “I think it’s easier for pop music to deal with these subjects because the last thing that they’re thinking about is being ‘correct’”.

With an eclectic group of Montreal musicians, Miller has integrated sounds of bluegrass, rock & roll, folk, and of course Jazz. Featured prominently on the recording is fellow Juno winner vocalist Sienna Dahlen, who’s voice soars above the textures in instrument-like flourishes and lines. But as eclectic as the group is on paper, the music here is still pure and unmistakably Joel Miller. Within seconds, Miller’s choices make perfect sense, and genres are forgotten.

Joel Miller - saxophone & voice
Sienna Dahlen - voice
Kevin Warren - drums
Simon Pagé - bass
François Jalbert - electric guitar
Jordey Tucker - acoutsic and electric guitar
Dave Grott - trombone
David Carbonneau - trumpet

All compositions by Joel Miller
Lyrics for Streamlined by Sienna Dahlen

Recorded at Studio Pierre Marchand and Studio 451, 2014
Engineered by Pascal Shefteshy and Padraig Buttner Schnirer

Streamlined mixed by Joel Miller and Padraig Buttner Schnirer
Flying Dream & Ta Da! mixed by Randy Cole

Video & stills by Randy Cole
Photos of Isaac Miller by Andrew Miller

Isaac Miller 1999-2014

www.joelmillermusic.com