Who you think is better is highly personal. So one player might be overrated to you while the same player might be underrated for someone else.
That’s why these kind of topics are pointless.
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Is Marcus Miller overrated?
- Thread starter Tupac
- Start date
Who you think is better is highly personal. So one player might be overrated to you while the same player might be underrated for someone else.
That’s why these kind of topics are pointless.
As a sideman, I think Marcus is pretty close to the ultimate. If I was hiring and had my choice I would hire Marcus. He can make *anything* groove better. Anything.
It’s one thing if you think a certain player is over-rated or don’t care for the music he plays.
It’s totally another thing to come in a forum where Mr. Miller is highly respected and revered and make such a statement. I realize that “I can state my opinion!” snd whatever, but that makes me think there’s an underlying and crazy desire to just stir up people for the sake of an argument.
That’s what makes a pointless exercise.
It’s totally another thing to come in a forum where Mr. Miller is highly respected and revered and make such a statement. I realize that “I can state my opinion!” snd whatever, but that makes me think there’s an underlying and crazy desire to just stir up people for the sake of an argument.
That’s what makes a pointless exercise.
I already posted when this thread was fresh, but I've played a lot since then and reflected a lot on many of the subtle aspects of what it means to be, in my opinion, a good musician in general and a good bassist in particular. I'm more in awe of Marcus' skills now than I was when I was a teen first discovering his "The Sun Don't Lie" album and marveling at his version of "Teen Town". Take away the pyrotechnics and what is left? Well, take your pick: a studio session player who can play with rock-solid timing and dynamics, read a chart or score with ease, and add some extra flavour when appropriate without getting in the way of the song; a producer who knows his way around several instruments at a professional level and has worked with some of the heaviest hitters on his scene; a musical director and arranger; a film score composer; a solo artist/band leader who tours and plays the most prestigious jazz festivals around the world. Any one of those qualities would be worthy of admiration on its own - but Marcus encompasses them all. He can hang with anyone on the world scene and that is saying one hell of a lot. Overrated as a musician? What more would he have to accomplish to satisfy the people making such a claim? Add a few extra triplets to his solos? Play some faster runs once in a while? Play with his teeth? Fix climate change? And basing one's opinion of a player on one live solo is like basing one's opinion of a comedian on one improvised joke. Come on. 
Marcus has always been top shelf in my book. He is a top sideman as well as solo artist. He is also an extremely sharp business man and knows well how to market and brand himself. He is one of the "real deal" players out there.
Overrated? Not a chance. Over exposed? Possibly. Marcus ALWAYS delivers the goods though whenever I have heard him.
Overrated? Not a chance. Over exposed? Possibly. Marcus ALWAYS delivers the goods though whenever I have heard him.
I already posted when this thread was fresh, but I've played a lot since then and reflected a lot on many of the subtle aspects of what it means to be, in my opinion, a good musician in general and a good bassist in particular. I'm more in awe of Marcus' skills now than I was when I was a teen first discovering his "The Sun Don't Lie" album and marveling at his version of "Teen Town". Take away the pyrotechnics and what is left? Well, take your pick: a studio session player who can play with rock-solid timing and dynamics, read a chart or score with ease, and add some extra flavour when appropriate without getting in the way of the song; a producer who knows his way around several instruments at a professional level and has worked with some of the heaviest hitters on his scene; a musical director and arranger; a film score composer; a solo artist/band leader who tours and plays the most prestigious jazz festivals around the world. Any one of those qualities would be worthy of admiration on its own - but Marcus encompasses them all. He can hang with anyone on the world scene and that is saying one hell of a lot. Overrated as a musician? What more would he have to accomplish to satisfy the people making such a claim? Add a few extra triplets to his solos? Play some faster runs once in a while? Play with his teeth? Fix climate change? And basing one's opinion of a player on one live solo is like basing one's opinion of a comedian on one improvised joke. Come on.
Well said Bass12
edwinhurwitz
Supporting Member
I don't think he's overrated because when I saw him with Miles a couple of times in 1982, he was stellar. Once he started producing and getting into more straight fusion stuff, I found him to be boring, but I know he has tremendous range and imagination in there somewhere. The grooves on The Man With the Horn (especially Fat Time and Back Seat Betty) and the raw jams on We Want Miles were exceptional at the time. After that, so many people copied that style so it became cliched and pedestrian. But he was breaking ground back then and that's not something achieved by many of those who came after, including the bassists who followed him in Miles' bands.
I feel the same way about Mike Stern. Seeing him with Miles and then in the small clubs around Boston in that era was a powerful experience. He went a bit off the rails, hanging with Jaco, but then sobered up and while he's a good player, I've not heard anything like the fire I saw during the early 80s. Although on a personal note, I'm glad he got sober and didn't suffer Jaco's fate.
play with his teethI already posted when this thread was fresh, but I've played a lot since then and reflected a lot on many of the subtle aspects of what it means to be, in my opinion, a good musician in general and a good bassist in particular. I'm more in awe of Marcus' skills now than I was when I was a teen first discovering his "The Sun Don't Lie" album and marveling at his version of "Teen Town". Take away the pyrotechnics and what is left? Well, take your pick: a studio session player who can play with rock-solid timing and dynamics, read a chart or score with ease, and add some extra flavour when appropriate without getting in the way of the song; a producer who knows his way around several instruments at a professional level and has worked with some of the heaviest hitters on his scene; a musical director and arranger; a film score composer; a solo artist/band leader who tours and plays the most prestigious jazz festivals around the world. Any one of those qualities would be worthy of admiration on its own - but Marcus encompasses them all. He can hang with anyone on the world scene and that is saying one hell of a lot. Overrated as a musician? What more would he have to accomplish to satisfy the people making such a claim? Add a few extra triplets to his solos? Play some faster runs once in a while? Play with his teeth? Fix climate change? And basing one's opinion of a player on one live solo is like basing one's opinion of a comedian on one improvised joke. Come on.
There are still countless bass players doing exactly what you want and describe. Miller and a handful of others are not, at least all the time. MM's work with Bryan Ferry would neatly fit your description.
Kind of an odd thing to say when a large part of slapping and popping is the rhythmic aspect.
People often say something is generic without realizing the reason they sound so familiar is because everyone else is ripping them off. Miller has been doing this for like 40 years. So much music sounds like him because he is one of the standards in bass playing.
I like his solo work. Based on his playing style and tone, I almost always know it is him playing.
Not everyone gets everything. Most of what people talk about on TB bores me to tears. People like what they like.
I like his solo work. Based on his playing style and tone, I almost always know it is him playing.
Not everyone gets everything. Most of what people talk about on TB bores me to tears. People like what they like.
whether or not you'd "rate" someone else as better has to be subjective, right?
but honestly, i forgot what his "rating" is --- you folks who are dogging him could remind the rest of us pilgrims how that rating system works....?
TIA
11 year old post but, what the hey. He is one of the best. But, I've never seen him in cargo shorts, a wife beater "T" shirt, or sandals with socks. So, maybe my opinion is premature. Oh, I like his basses to.
