For its variety of feel, pacing, and mood, all within an impressively sustained envelope of feel and interest, Regeneration is a fine, refreshing recording.
Seattle bassist Doug Miller puts together a wide-ranging program of originals highlighting the multi-dimensional and multi-instrumental talents of his trio with saxophonist/trumpeter Jay Thomas and guitarist/pianist Dave Peterson. Joined on several tunes by drummer Phil Parisot, the disparate elements are held together with a solid compositional vision and the deep musical connection between his longtime bandmates. Originally from Indiana, Miller spent several years in New York City working with Mel Lewis, Scott Hamilton and Doc Cheatam. He's performed with some of the world?s greatest jazz players including James Moody, The Clayton-Hamilton Orchestra, George Cables, The Count Basie Orchestra and Dick Hyman. He has toured internationally with the Ellington Band and with Ernestine Anderson.
Track Listing:
1 Seven More 5:24
2 Unity Dance 5:55
3 Ice Cave 8:50
4 Blues For Junior 6:54
5 Avenue C - Part One 2:52
6 Avenue C - Part Two 6:10
7 Invitation 6:57
8 No Jazz 4:43
9 Bye Bye Blackbird 4:12
10 Ballad For Don And Midge 7:11
11 Lighten Up 2:48
Performers:
JAY THOMAS - trumpet/flugelhorn/tenor & soprano saxophones/flute
DAVE PETERSON - guitar/keyboard
DOUG MILLER - bass
PHIL PARISOT - drums (1,3,8,11)
Production Info:
Recorded at Sophia Hat Studios, Nov. 2005 & April 2006
Recorded and mixed by Chris Spencer
Assistant engineer: Tom Prather
Mastered by Mark Guenther at Seattle Disc Mastering
Photography by Doug Miller
Leaf photo by Sándor Szabó
Cover design by John Bishop
Reviews of Regeneration
All Music Guide (Adam Greenberg)
Doug Miller, longtime point man for bass on the Origin label, takes his first turn as leader for an album with Regeneration, enlisting multi-instrumentalist Dave Peterson, horn player extraordinaire Jay "Bird" Thomas, and drummer Phil Parisot for the effort. With the exception of "Invitation" and "Bye Bye Blackbird," all pieces are Miller originals ...
All About Jazz.com (John Barron)
An active bassist/composer/educator from the Seattle, Washington area, Doug Miller has toured with top big band names like the Count Basie Orchestra, and the Duke Ellington Orchestra (under the direction of Mercer Ellington). Having provided a strong side-man presence on numerous releases for Origin Records, Miller gets the opportunity to step into ...
Earshot Jazz (Peter Monaghan)
Here's what I'd do: Get your family members, relatives, and friends to write up and send you their lists of What I Want for the Holidays.Tear the lists up; delete the text messages or emails; buy each person one of these new or recent Northwest jazz albums instead.
In this era of fiscal restraint, one CD per person is gift enough. Let's get real ...
Earshot Jazz (Chris Robinson)
Don't believe what your ears might tell you: there are only four guys on bassist Doug Miller's new album Regeneration.
The versatility and chops on display here, most notably by Jay Thomas, who plays trumpet, flugelhorn, tenor, soprano, and flute on this date, are either inspiring or discouraging, depending on your outlook. Joining Thomas is Mil ...
Bass World (Chris Kosky)
Doug Miller's Regeneration is straight-ahead jazz in the modern vein, with a few twists, not the least of which is that there are drums on only four of the eleven tracks, giving the music a nice chamber jazz vibe. The bassist composed all but two of the tunes, and presents a fine mix of feels and meters. Noteworthy is his Ballad for Don and Midge ...
