Artist: Big Miller & Tommy Banks
Title: Legacy
Year Of Release: 2017
Label: Chronograph Records
Genre: Jazz Vocals
Quality: 320 kbps
Total Time: 36:48
Total Size: 101 MB
Tracklist:
1. Hey There (2:34)
2. When Sunny Gets Blue (3:30)
3. Bye Bye Blackbird (4:30)
4. Without A Song (5:35)
5. If I Ruled The World (5:14)
6. But Beautiful (4:07)
7. All Of Me (2:36)
8. Since I Fell For You (5:17)
9. We'll Be Together Again (3:21)
The Edmonton Jazz Society and the Yardbird Suite are pleased to host the official release of a new duet album featuring the late and legendary jazz singer, Clarence "Big" Miller and Canadian jazz icon, Tommy Banks on piano.
The new release, Legacy, was produced by Edmonton native George Blondheim. Blondheim is recognized internationally as a multi-award winning composer, producer and pianist.
The nine never-before heard songs were originally recorded in August 1989 at Edmonton's Beta Sound Recorders. With Big's untimely passing in 1992, the recordings remained stored away on a hard drive. Now, almost 30 years later , Legacy is being released by Chronograph Records in conjunction with the Yardbird Suite's 60th Anniversary celebrations, with proceeds in support of the educational programs of the Edmonton Jazz Society and Yardbird Suite.
Those who remember Big will now be able to hear that terrific voice, warm personality and unique delivery once again. A new audience of jazz lovers will appreciate his beautiful tone and timeless style. Big and Tommy began working together in the 1970s and travelled across Canada performing in many musical settings including duo concerts and CBC broadcasts. This rare moment in studio was intended as a demo session working toward an album, but fate intervened and Big and Tommy were never able to make the final recording Blondheim envisioned.
About Big Miller (1922-1992):
Clarence "Big" Miller was a jazz musician, blues singer, trombonist, and educator born in Sioux City, Iowa. By 1960, Big Miller had sung with the Jay McShann and Duke Ellington orchestras and recorded with Bob Brookmeyer, Rex Stewart and Jon Hendricks. Miller made his Canadian debut in 1962 and took up residence in Vancouver in 1967 before settling in Edmonton by 1970 where he went on to make a significant impact on the musical and cultural scene. He subsequently led a variety of small jazz and blues bands in western Canada but also toured nationally with Phil Nimmons, and travelled abroad as a soloist. He taught at the Banff Centre and Grant MacEwan College, and was awarded an honorary doctorate by Athabasca University in 1985. The subject of the National Film Board documentary Big and the Blues (1980), Miller recorded several albums during his Canadian years, including the JUNO Award-winning Jazz Canada Montreux with the Tommy Banks Orchestra (1978), Live from Calgary (1982) and Live at Athabasca College (1989). Big Miller with Tommy Banks' Big Band was released posthumously in 1997. He touched many lives with his beautiful voice, his energy and most of all, his love and respect for his fellow human beings. He was an absolute original soul and talent.
