MARK CHRISTIAN MILLER

STRANGE MEADOWLARK

Sliding Jazz Door Productions

Mark Christian Miller, vocals/arranger/piano; Chris Dawson, piano/arrangements; Joe LaBarbera, drums; Chuck Berghofer, bass; Robert Kylse, tenor saxophone/flute/alto flute/arranger; Josh Nelson, piano/arranger.

Mark Christian Miller always surrounds himself with the Los Angeles crème de la crème of the jazz community. This album is no exception to that rule. This is his fourth album as a band leader.  His smooth tenor voice and swing delivery opens this recording with a 1962 Oscar Brown Jr. original that was popularized by Jerry Raye in 1967, featuring Fenwyck. Oscar Brown Jr. was such an amazing composer and lyricist. It’s nice to hear Miller rejuvenate his song.

The “Strange Meadowlark” album cover is an acrylic on canvas that the multi-talented Mark Christian Miller has painted. On a lovely medley, that features special guest, Josh Nelson with his sensitive piano accompaniment on this Dave and Lola Brubeck’s tune. This medley of the title tune with Carmichael and Mercer’s familiar “Skylark” tune gives Miller a platform to show his skills as a vocalist and storyteller.  At first, it’s a duet, just voice and piano. Soon they are joined by Berghofer on bass and LaBarbera’s sensitive drums. Mark’s final note of this song trembles in the air, like a bird fluttering its wings before taking flight.  Mark Christian Miller expresses himself with humility and creativity, inviting the listener to hang on his every word.

It was a nice touch adding the Johnny Mercer opening verse to the old and familiar “Dream” tune. Miller seems to enjoy ballads, but I like to hear him ‘swing’ like on the shuffle arrangement of Irving Berlin’s  “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm.” Chris Dawson’s piano solo is lighthearted.  He and Chuck Berghofer on bass share the solo spotlight.

One of the things that calls attention to this jazz vocalist is his careful selection of repertoire. He picks songs you may not have heard before, or compositions that recall historic eras of jazz. Another thing I appreciate about Mark Christian Miller is that he doesn’t try to copy the voice or style of Frank Sinatra. He is emphatically himself.  Like any captivating storyteller of cabaret singer, he knows how to sing the lyrics and sell the song.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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