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Scottie Miller and the Re-Uptake Inhibitors: Elixir for the Soul (2007)
$15.00
SCOTTIE MILLER - ELIXIR FOR THE SOUL
This is indeed music for the soul. If there is any question about this singer-songwriter-pianist's abilities to knock the keys right out of a piano, you may as well put it to rest and go see a show for yourself!
Scottie Miller & The Re-Uptake Inhibitors dig satisfyingly into Southern soul, slow blues and a bit of Latin/Caribbean jazz on their self-released 'Elixir For The Soul', the project is dominated by dramatic ballads and greasy funk. Under the fingers of Minneapolis keyboard ace Miller, the welcome retro sounds of clavinet and Fender Rhodes in addition to piano and Hammond organ, lend varied textures to the Inhibitors' superbad grooves. Sounds like Dr. John meets The Band at Bruce Springsteen's house. - Blues Revue Magazine
"Scottie Miller has a soulful way of writing and delivering a song that will improve your mood and lighten your load. Thus, the new release "Elixir For The Soul," as the name implies, is almost medicinal.
Helping spread the tonic are his Re-Uptake Inhibitors, who "funkify" and soularize" this gumbo of piano driven blues-soul. This record is a snapshot of fine players working through well-crafted tunes and coming up with a sound and style that, in a fairly crowded niche, is all their own.
"We've been playing together since the year 2000, and each of us in the band have seen our share of good and bad times, depression, loss of family and loved one's, relationship's gone bad, and to perform and record music that reflects our daily lives is a true blessing. (I've also had my experience with seratonin re-uptake inhibitors, hence the name on this release). I believe music is an elixir that can lift you up or cradle you when you're down," says Scottie.
"Move On" is a relationship tune that, in its medium funk groove, describes the situation where the fork in the road is to either get past the problem or separate and move on. Lines about "forget about the past" mix with searing horn lines from
Brian "Zoot Simonds" and a solid guitar solo by David Barry (Janet Jackson), that builds volcanically. It starts the disc on a dynamic note.
Miller has a natural feel for gospel music that is not copied or studied but just oozes out on the uplifting "Sweet Babe", which was nominated as a Top 50 single by City Pages, Minneapolis in 2008. "I've always been drawn to Gospel music, and it comes out on each of my recordings." ("Days of Reckoning" ,"The Other Side)." I guess Gospel sort of found me. I just write what I feel and hope that it relates to other peoples lives in some way", says Scottie.
With the Twin Cites as home base, Miller studied in Boston at the renowned
Berklee College of Music where he enjoyed a partial Chick Corea scholarship in 1986. He returned to Minnesota to play in a series of blues and R&B bands, including Big John Dickerson and Blue Chamber, and also toured for two months across the USA with the late rock 'n roll pioneer Bo Diddley in 2006.
In 2005 Scottie was selected to represent The Greater Twin Cities Blues Society at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis where he went on to the Top-5 Finalist category. While on route to Memphis he was fortunate enough to meet John May of BB's Jazz Blues & Soups in St Louis. After playing there and cultivating an instant batch of new fans, he continues to be invited back to headline shows with The "Inhibitors". One night during a show at BB's, legendary pianist Johnnie Johnson came to hear Scottie play. "John May gave me a couple nice cigars and told me to bring them to Johnnie and introduce myself," Scottie states. "He graciously asked me to sit down and I gave him the cigars, and he was like, alright man, now you're talkin'!" Scottie and Johnnie sat at the table laughing and reminiscing about his days with Chuck Berry. Johhnie enjoyed Scottie's set so much he sat in with the band. "He played a version of "Georgia" that had that homogenized-jazz Johnnie Johnson arrangement style I will never forget. It was beautiful. I've been playing that song on my gig's ever since that night," says Scottie. One month later to the day, Johnnie passed away.
Scottie was then invited to play for Johnnie's tribute concert at Mississippi Nights, and Jefferson Barracks in St Louis to perform his song "The Other Side". He was also invited to sit in with Bo Diddley. That started his connection to Bo Diddley, and a year later found himself on the "Bo Diddley & Friends" two-month tour of the USA featuring Alvin Youngblood Hart and Ruthie Foster." Bo and Scottie shared one evening before a concert on the east coast jamming together; "I was just sitting in one of the green-rooms playing an old upright piano, when Bo came in a started improvising lyrics and singing a bunch of church, chant type stuff. We couldn't stop, it was such a blast! I think Alvin recorded some of it on his phone. I wish I had that recording," says Scottie.
Along the way Scottie has met many of his favorite artists; Robert Lockwood Jr, Henry Townsend, Dr. John, Henry Butler. "I feel so blessed to have met so many blues greats and piano icons. Before his passing, Scottie visited with Henry Townsend at his home in St Louis. He asked Scottie to play a tune on his piano, and afterwards told him, "Man.you got nothin' to worry about."
Pinetop Perkins himself has come to watch Scottie play at Antone's in Austin, TX and gave him his blessing after a recent show telling him, "I really like what you're doing."
Scottie continues to headline clubs and blues festivals, such as the Big Muddy Blues Fest, Bayfront Blues Festival, Quincy Blues Festival, Praire Dog and Boundary Waters Blues festival's. He is featured on the "BB's Presents" blues series filmed by Front Row Music to be featured on PBS syndicates around the world. He performs regularly at the twin-cities' premier jazz and blues venue, The Dakota Jazz Club.
"Scottie Miller is a world class lyricist with working class sensibilities. He sings from the heart with old school soul and plays the funkiest New Orleans piano this side of Dr. John. This cat's got the goods!" – The Blues Hound (KPFT Houston, TX)
"As a promoter you dream of bands like this. What a treat for everyone! Scottie and the boys left 'em sweaty and hollering for more."
Michael Jankovec (Boundary Waters Blues Festival)
Scottie's previous CD releases; "The Other Side", "Days of Reckoning" and
"Livin' Between The Black n' White", have garnered much positive press here and overseas, and sold nearly 10,000 units without any formal distribution or record label backing. His "Livin Between The Black n' White" tribute to piano greats such as Otis Spann, and Roosevelt Sykes was nominated for "Best Self-Produced CD" in 2006 for the Blues Foundation's "Keeping the Blues Alive" awards. "You were right if you thought I'd like it! It's great to hear Scottie is keeping up the tradition" - Ann Rabson
In 2008, Scottie was inducted to the Minnesota Blues Hall of Fame for his contributions in Blues Literature for "Rock Keyboards", published by Hal Leonard Corporation.
Currently, Scottie divides his time between playing solo, fronting
The Re-Uptake Inhibitors, and touring with the "Phenomenal" Ruthie Foster (Blue Corn Records). "I'm touring with Ruthie every couple of months now. She is a shining star and has shown me so much about performance. Reminding me of the light you can give out through music, and how to handle this sometimes crazy business".
It's a complete package: Well-written tunes sung with heart and commitment. A band that can handle everything from gut-bucket blues to funk to dynamic soul to elegant jazz. "Elixir For The Soul" shows over and over how music can be, and often is, the best tonic around." - John Ziegler - Duluth News Tribune - August 2008
The Other Side (2002)
$12.00
Days of Reckoning (2004)
$15.00
In 2006 Scottie released a solo Piano/Vocal CD titled "Livin' Between The Black 'n White". Unlike his previous original recordings, this was an intent dedication to our piano-blues forefathers, especially Otis Spann.
Livin' Between The Black 'n White (2006)
$15.00
Scott was the Featured Local Celebrity on the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue Tour featuring Tommy Castro in May '07.
In 2006, Scottie was the keyboardist on a 2-month USA tour with Bo Diddley and Friends - Alvin Youngblood Hart and Ruthie Foster.
Scott was nominated for "Best Self-Produced CD" for "Livin' Between the Black 'n White" - 2006 (IBC/Blues Foundation-Memphis).
Scottie was a Top-5 Solo Finalist at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis TN in 2005 (sponsored by The Blues Foundation).
Published "Rock Keyboards" (Hal Leonard Corporation) in 2003.
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