Is Marcus Miller overrated?

[Chuck M]

It has already been said...."NO"!!!

Marcus Miller

Ray Brown

Anthony Jackson

The cream of the crop.

[rockosocko]

Marcus is far from overrated. As a sideman, he plays what the music calls for and his parts fit almost perfectly. Technically, he is something to aspire to. Having said that, I have always felt, and still feel that Flea is overrated and probably would not wish to go head to head with Marcus.

[AudioDwebe]

Originally Posted by DiabolusInMusic

EDIT: Just watched the what is hip vid posted above. OP is entitled to his opinion, but it is wrong...

LOL!

Marcus, in my opinion, is first and foremost about the music.

I've been a fan of his for about...gosh, like, 30 years. Wow, how crazy is that!

A truly amazing and awe-inspiring artist, IMO.

[Tin Cadillac]

Originally Posted by JPSBassist

No... because ultimately the best bassists have impeccable timing and not the ability to riff or throw out notes like Steve Vai.

I think there's something to be said for a bassist that can lay down the groove and support the low end of the melody, creating a perfect lock with the drummer, and push the time while adding depth and dimension to the melody.

Marcus Miller does this incredibly well.

+1000!

The bassists who can hold down a groove and support the rest of the cast will be called waaaay before some hot-shot who only knows how to pop, slap, and play lots and lots of notes!!!!

[svtb15]

I was at Bass Player live in NYC a few years ago.. There was a bass jam with Marcus, Stanley and someone else.. Hate to say it but Stanley just wanked out on his alembic that sounded like a banjo.. the other guy wanked out a trillion notes. Finally when Marcus stepped up. .He laid it down.. Heads bopped, and he got the best crowds response.. ANd he played minimally.. But had a tone that was not like a banjo... Marcus is one bad *** motha if you have ever seen him play in person.

[echoSE7EN]

Originally Posted by colcifer

Stuff like that seems to be them cashing in. Don't forget-Miles didn't hire him for nothin'.

Marcus gave a master class / clinic at Chuck Levins, in DC, a couple of years ago (I won a MM sig bass that night...woot!), and during the discussion he told an anecdote about first auditioning for Miles. It was something like this:

"I was nervous. I mean, this is Miles. But, I knew my 'sound' and my chops were what got me to the studio, playing for Miles. The song started, and I laid into it.

"Miles stops the tune. Looks at me at says, 'You're playing too much m-----f-----! You ain't being paid by the note.'

"Now I'm second guessing myself for a minute. THIS IS MILES!

"So, we start a second try at it...and I wait. I'm just playing (Marcus hums a whole note...another whole note...another note...uber boring stuff), and Miles yells, 'STOP! You ain't playing enough m-----f-----! What is that!?"

Everyone at the clinic laughed. My takeaway was this: Miles Davis could have called up anyone, and kicked anyone out of the studio after the first go at it. He didn't. Marcus said he learned a ton of stuff from Miles during his time with him. I learned a ton of stuff from Marcus in that one story.

It should also be noted that he was truly a very cool dude to listen to for a few hours on a "school night". I think it was nailed higher in the thread, but as an innovator (and now someone often copied) he is a top level player.

[CntrlScrtnizr]

OP is either young, or a troll...or a young troll.

[cire113]

Originally Posted by CntrlScrtnizr

OP is either young, or a troll...or a young troll.

young troll hahahahaha

[BobaFret]

Originally Posted by DWBass

We must be related in some way..............

brotha's from another mutha.

keeping slap bass alive and well.

[M.Wrenn]

I used to think so, but eventually I realized he does pretty much every style of music he plays very well (knowledge gained from his sideman work) however, I can't stand his solo. Just really doesn't appeal to me, but i definitely see its value.

[deste]

NO.

If you don't like his kind(s) of music(s) it's a different matter, but I think it's quite hard to say he's overrated.
IMO, if you search for taste, musicality, groove, virtuosity (when needed) and simplicity (when needed), he's the man. Or, at least, a good example of it.

[bass12]

An interview with the man: Marcus Miller Remembers Playing With and Producing Miles Davis - YouTube

[willgroove2]

Marcus is not over rated at all,he is the next step after some of the original innovators of the electric bass guitar. Marcus is IMO as noted for his sound (Tone whatever you want to call it) literally there is a whole industry built around the "Marcus sound" including changes in speaker cabinet design.

I went to go see the SMV tour at their stop in Chicago a few years ago and left even more impressed by Marcus's sound and touch,I love all 3 of those guy's but Marcus stood out with out trying too

[Dr. Cheese]

Probably the only thing that Marcus Miller is not at least very good at doing is singing lead vocals. He is a decent background singer. He is a great arranger, song writer, world class producer, and seems to be a solid bandleader. He is a a good to great composer on his solo projects, but not everything he writes is a gem.

As a bassist, he has the greatest gift of all: he is recognizable within one to two notes. For the last thirty years, he has been one of the greatest influences on bassists in r&b and jazz, or any music related to those genres.

Given his historical significance, it is impossible for him to be overrated. As others have said, Marcus Miller being good and you liking his music are two very different things.
As for his solo on Run for Cover, I have been able to play it for twenty-five years. That does not mean that I sound anywhere near as good as Marcus Miller doing it. I seriously doubt if you would sound as good as him either.
More importantly, could you have actually created it out of the blue, the way Marcus Miller did?

That is the most important question of all.

[lucas vigor]

I second the request from Jaquo for the OP to provide a link to his playing. I too would love to see his mad skilz in axion! Werd!

I mean, since he feels he can play better then the grammy p-bassists and Marcus Miller to boot......now I am curious!

[Jrussblues]

Originally Posted by lucas vigor

I second the request from Jaquo for the OP to provide a link to his playing. I too would love to see his mad skilz in axion! Werd!

I mean, since he feels he can play better then the grammy p-bassists and Marcus Miller to boot......now I am curious!

I dont think he said he was better? Why is everyone so sensitive about this? My 7 year old hates Marcus millers music ,go figure, I don't tell her "well if your so good let me hear you play".
Anyway, it seems like the op is more wondering why he is so highly praised and flea is perhaps not.
I think all great musicians leave behind a legacy, no matter how big or small. We should probably focus more on showing why mm is a great bassist and get him turned on to something that he may like...leave a better legacy. Up to him if he wants to listen.

[JAUQO III-X]

Originally Posted by Jrussblues

I dont think he said he was better? Why is everyone so sensitive about this? My 7 year old hates Marcus millers music ,go figure, I don't tell her "well if your so good let me hear you play".
Anyway, it seems like the op is more wondering why he is so highly praised and flea is perhaps not.
I think all great musicians leave behind a legacy, no matter how big or small. We should probably focus more on showing why mm is a great bassist and get him turned on to something that he may like...leave a better legacy. Up to him if he wants to listen.

I fully understand what the op was asking and saying.

And again sometimes when kats are so quick to dismiss another individuals talent or contribution I think they should step up to the plate, not so to much prove anything but at least let those who may be interested see what they are bringing to the table.

I would normally not ask to see what some one is capable in their own right but there have been a few posts from the op where it was expressed that kat's just weren't bringing the goods. And maybe they weren't.

[Jrussblues]

Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X

I fully understand what the op was asking and saying.

And again sometimes when kats are so quick to dismiss another individuals talent or contribution I think they should step up to the plate, not so to much prove anything but at least let those who may be interested see what they are bringing to the table.

I would normally not ask to see what some one is capable in their own right but there have been a few posts from the op where it was expressed that kat's just weren't bringing the goods. And maybe they weren't.

I hear what your saying..

What would really suck is if he posts a video that is amazing...and were all trying to learn his licks..major foot in mouth. im a firm believer that there's some 5 year old in a basement putting us all to shame.

If he is the best, and that's the legacy he chooses to leave behind, then he won't have many fans...that parts on him.

[JAUQO III-X]

Originally Posted by Jrussblues

im a firm believer that there's some 5 year old in a basement putting us all to shame.

I agree.

[willgroove2]

Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X

I fully understand what the op was asking and saying.

And again sometimes when kats are so quick to dismiss another individuals talent or contribution I think they should step up to the plate, not so to much prove anything but at least let those who may be interested see what they are bringing to the table.

I would normally not ask to see what some one is capable in their own right but there have been a few posts from the op where it was expressed that kat's just weren't bringing the goods. And maybe they weren't.

My thing is this;everybody is entitled to have a opinion but when you say something like "all he's doing is blah blah blah" that imply's that your level of ability is such that what Marcus is doing is easy to do.

I remember reading a book about Charlie Parker and it talked about him being involved in a cutting session with another sax player who was already touring with a territory band while Charlie was still in Kansas City. CP and this guy went head to head for quite a while and at the end of the jam session the touring guy was looking dejected and when his friends ask why and told him he had played everything Charlie Parker played he replied "yeah but he played it first" Marcus is much the same way,he's been playing on hit's since the 70's so for over 30 yrs we the public have had a chance to analyze every note he plays as well as every body who try's to sound like him.