Scottie Miller

“Keyboard ace Scottie Miller has achieved national attention touring with Ruthie Foster for eight years but he’s now stepped into the spotlight on his own with “Reciprocation.” Scottie has stepped to the front in all regards penning all the songs as well as producing. His band has heavily influenced this record featuring the rhythm section of Mark O’Day drums, Dik Shopteau bass and Patrick Allen on guitar giving this CD a full blues/rock sound. Scottie was inducted into the Minnesota Blues Hall of Fame before his stint with Ms Foster so this new offering has been a long time coming. A southern soul-inflected vocal over waves of organ ushers in “Where You Been Hiding?” the tension builds as electric piano and wailing guitar fill the solos. “Bring It On” has a light reggae beat with Miller’s vocals taking on a Boz Scaggs tone and “Keep On Walking” has a loping rhythm and message of hope as the sweeping organ comes in like a ray of sunshine bursting through... *(Full”

“Festival-goers are probably most familiar with Scottie Miller thorough his work on the keyboards as a touring member of Grammy winner Ruthie Foster’s band for the past nine years, but he’s also an outstanding singer and songwriter, too, as this intense and incendiary all-original blues-rock effort clearly shows. A former International Blues Challenge finalist and Minnesota Blues Hall Of Fame inductee with eight previous solo albums to his credit, Miller is a Minneapolis native who attended Boston’s prestigious Berklee College Of Music. As a member of Big John Dickerson’s band, he was invited to play at a memorial service in St. Louis for legendary keyboard player Johnnie Johnson. A chance meeting with Bo Diddley at that event led to an invitation to become a member of what was Diddley’s last touring band. When not working with Foster, he tours the world with his own ensemble..." *(Read the entire review at the link below!)”

“Scottie Miller CD Release Party What do you get when you add a little keyboard funk to a blues-rock foundation…you get Scottie Miller funk…what do you get when you add lyrics of fortitude to that funk…you get ‘Reciprocation’. Performing to a sold-out Dakota Jazz Club, the Scottie Miller Band held a CD release party in mid-October for his 9th and newest project, “Reciprocation”. Fans of SMB know they’re always going to hear something unique, and this venture of thirteen originals that are air-wave/streaming ready will do nothing but inspire hope and healing…that’s Reciprocation. Scottie Miller instantly displayed his polish by first, dedicating the night to Mark O’Day, Miller’s long time drummer who’s on the mend from a life-threatening fall...A night where rules were broken at the Dakota, as the chair dancers couldn’t take it anymore and they could be seen dancing in the shadowed corners and vacant walkways. The club and restaurant’s tagline is Dakota Co”

“Tonight, even the slightest notion that this blessing that we do in the form of art has somehow been relegated to the annals of antiquity in favor of the "my-crow-chip" has been dispelled by my dear friends from Minneapolis as they came to town with ice in their veins and a mission in their souls. The "mission" was definitely accomplished as Scottie Miller and Band wowed the packed house at St. Louis's BBs Blues and Soup Saturday. Though the pix may seem subtle and sterile, this band was anything but as deafening applause ruptured the roof after every song. So Cheers to you Scottie Miller, Dik Shopteau, Patrick Allen and of course my pal, Bobby Vandell.”

“Minnesota Blues Hall of Famer Scottie Miller primarily is known as a north star piano professor; an ace ivories tickler adept at a wide array of roots styles originating in such seminal spots as New Orleans, Memphis and Chicago. It was that expertise that helped him land an ongoing gig as Ruthie Foster’s touring pianist. But on the revamped Scottie Miller Band’s new album, Reciprocation...opting for Wurlitzer electric, Hammond B3 organ and even guitar on one occasion to define what’s essentially a blues-saturated rock album. A solid and impressively spirited collection of Miller originals sporting gritty hooks and crafty lyrics, it cooks with infectious intensity, thanks in part to the protean escapades of new SMB guitarist Patrick Allen and the slippery rhythm section of drummer Mark O’Day and bassist Dik Shopteau. Miller is a fine, soulful vocalist who can up a powerful yowl if necessary, but is even better etching the dilemma of the hapless pot dealer on “I’ve Been Made.”

"...Clearly in a good mood, Foster, 50, gave plenty of props to the homeboys in her band – bassist Larry Fulcher, who gave shout-outs to various friends and family, and opening act Scottie Miller, whose B-3 organ and mandolin fueled and framed Foster’s music. She completely reimagined the Johnny Cash classic “Ring of Fire” as a reliving of the seduction into a relationship, set to a slow Southern drawl that made this overly familiar tune both completely unfamiliar and totally brilliant..." "...Then Foster turned to Miller, who played an instrumental version of Leon Russell’s “A Song for You” on the piano but it was really an introduction to her knockout number, “Phenomenal Woman.” With her voice soaring, she delivered this anthem of empowerment and self-love, ending with lots of “baby, baby, babies.” “Is there a phenomenal woman in the house?” she asked after the last note. “Celebrate yourself. Ain’t nothing wrong with it.” Amen.

“05/27/2013 Scottie Brings Minnesota Charm to Blues Week If you like the Blues, and you missed Blues week in St Louis -- and especially the performances over the weekend near Soldiers' Memorial- SHAME on you. You missed a good time and good music. I arrived late yesterday. But I came in time to see the Scottie Miller band. I was treated to some upbeat Blues (oxymoron? I thnk not) from a band form the headwaters of the Mississippi in MN. They specialized in more ragtime, boogie woogie, and even funk - led by Scottie's piano with a Dr John , or dare I say Screamin' Jay hawkins overtones. Scottie also had a midwestern friendly banter going with the audience which I think was endearing to them. 2013-05-26_18-47-38_345 Highlights for me were songs like East St. Louis - kind of a whimsical journey through the perceived dangers of the town at night. It also had tones reminiscent of Cab Calloway's famous Minnie the Moocher. Another tune I remember was Cry Me a River, written with”

“Mark your calendar now for the Dec. 13 CD release party by Minneapolis’ Scottie Miller. Miller’s new disc, Rise Up, is excellent. It showcases his original music that mixes New Orleans keyboard funk, blues, rock and Americana. Miller’s “day job” is playing keys in Ruthie Foster’s band. The 21st Saloon blues shows happen 5:30-8:30 p.m.”

“Scottie Miller: Rise Up (Independent) "Some of us know Mr. Miller as the keyboard player for the great Ruthie Foster Band, but few of us know his ability to rise up and shine on his own. The title track (and first cut) ‘Rise Up‘ states flatly that we need to rise up, join together and be as one as one united nation. Thrilling and quite poignant words, with a steady beat and soulful background vocals by Jennifer Grim make this an anthem for the future of us all. Mr. Miller is much at ease with whatever style he takes on. ‘On My Way’ features Dr. John styled vocals and subtle yet complex piano work that adds to the second line feel of this track. In the next instance on ‘Grace’ he utilizes a bowed upright bass, nylon stringed acoustic and some piano to create a song-prayer that is beautiful and sincere. One which is delivered with a haunting clarity that sets the scene of the road and life’s crazy hectic pace and our need for a safe haven..." ”

“SCOTTIE MILLER BAND - "RISE UP" (CD RELEASE) "What a great way to be introduced to a dozen new songs by hearing them live first; it truly adds a live feel whenever you pop in the cd. The extremely talented songwriting skills of Scottie is evident throughout the array of new material and shows up immediately in the opening title cut, “Rise Up” with its’ timely message. Clever lyrics are the perfect accompaniment to the funky beat of “On My Way”. Cruz playing acoustic guitar and Miller on dobro is a highlight in the spirited “Take Me Home”. A nice rockin’ “Let Your Soul Shine” gives you a slice of Americana, John Hiatt style. Rowe gets as low as he can, going right down to the bridge and dragging a bow across the strings on his stand-up bass starting off the beautiful ballad “Grace”. Scottie follows with the reason he’s a favorite in Minnesota, as he pays tribute to our solid foundation with “Home Town”. What a fun little number “Until the End of Days””

“SCOTTIE MILLER AT MSU "Scottie’s piano talents seem unlimited as he can romp through a barrelhouse rhythm at one moment and shift gears to a soulful ballad the next. Some times he does it in the same song, thanks to a superb rhythm section with Mark O’Day keeping time, and Kevin Rowe adding the depth with an upright bass, which the double bassist started the night off by using a bow to get the heavy low tone. All night long they provided a flawless accompaniment to what ever style the maestro threw at them. The ideal supplement to Scottie’s Steinway was the skillful guitar, mandolin and dobro playing of Joe Cruz. He can take you through any number of genres, ranging from blues, country and funk to jazz and flamenco. Playing a steel guitar, lap fashion, Cruz could bend the notes to the point where I could have sworn there was a horn section somewhere in the auditorium; quite remarkable. The melding of all this talent had my feet tapping the whole evening..."”

“Scottie starts his 2nd WA tour (within the last year) off in Scarborough at the Indi Bar on Friday 6th January before headlining the Wignalls Vintage Blues Music Festival in Albany the following evening on Jan 7th. Sunday night 8th Jan he’s at... For the first four gigs Scottie will be joined by local Perth musicians Ace Follington (Drummer) and Roy McDaniel (Bass) – Ace and Roy are part of Dave Hole’s band. Scottie has an extensive resume that includes studies at the Berklee School of Music in Boston, multiple appearances on the Legendary Blues Cruise, being a finalist at the International Blues Challenge, as well as personal recommendations from the likes of Johnnie Johnson and Grammy Award winner Pinetop Perkins. With (5) self released albums to his credit and a brand new 2011 DVD release, Scottie’s Barrelhouse Blues, New Orleans funk, Jazz and Soul show arrives for a second time in Western Australia where worldwide praise and critical reviews will now include Australia as”

“Monterey Jazz Festival - Ruthie Foster Family Band Ruthie Foster got right to the point in her mid-afternoon set on the Monterey Jazz Festival’s Garden Stage. “I like to mix my blues with my gospel!” she shouted, and mix them she did in an exceptional set that brought an overflow crowd to its feet multiple times and raised the bar for this year’s festival to dizzying heights. But while Foster could have sung a cappella and enthralled the audience, her killer band added even more juice, forging uplifting grooves with a soulful sweep and a Texas twang. Foster’s jangly acoustic guitar made excellent counterpoint to Hadden Sayers’ tough electric and Tanya Richardson’s solid yet nimble work on 5-string bass. Scottie Miller had a barroom swing on piano and brought the gravy on organ, while Samantha Banks drove the ensemble ever higher with her forceful drumming. But beyond the skill and power of the musicians lay another secret to this band’s success on the Monterey stage:”

“As a mainly classical piano player, I have never been good at playing from lead sheets or improvising. I have a few of the other books in this series and find them all great! Scott Miller is a wonderful composer and teacher and has a very similar style to Mark Harrison (another composer in this series). This book includes important information about vamps, different time signatures, walking bass lines, various modes, octave bass, pedal points, boogie patters, inversions, licks...anything that is used in any type of rock. It goes through classic rock, pop rock, blues rock, southern rock, hard rock, progressive rock, alternative rock, and even heavy metal! The book moves quickly but provides the information that is important for those of us looking to play. It comes with a very handy CD which allows to hear what it's supposed to sound like. I highly recommend this book.”