Marcus Miller sight reading chart at session in one take!! Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band in 2011.

Bass player Marcus Miller played on a track with the Big Phat Band and Take 6 from our release "That's How We Roll." The song is called "Never Enough." The vocals are turned down during this video, but you can see Marcus pretty much nailing the part on his first take. What a pocket!

[@KeithCopeland778]

This is why Marcus has been a first-call bassist for decades!!! He's an impeccable groover, has an incredible attitude, serves the song, and can read while not sounding like he's reading(his words)!!! A MASTER MUSICIAN AT WORK!!!

[@sylviamaua745]

Marcus Miller is a multi-instrumentalist too.

[@KeithCopeland778]

@@sylviamaua745 Yes I know!!! I saw him on the Smooth Jazz Cruise a few years ago and he switched from bass to keys to bass clarinet. He is also a killer drummer and guitarist. One of the best ever along with the late great Prince.

[@sylviamaua745]

@@KeithCopeland778 Most definitely one of the best bass players ever. I am a fan of Luther Vandross, Marcus Miller co-wrote and produced on all his albums (apart from 1), he also played in Miles Davis' band as a teenager - such prodigious talent!!

[@blazeesq2000]

That is the best of gunslinging. I have been in that room in that situation. I've never had it done in one take, or even that... original. This is amazing to anyone. 99 percent of pros are also blown away. This is what it means to be in the top 20 at a thing consistently.

[@BassGod1225]

Sure, whatever you say😂

[@BassGod1225]

Not bragging or anything, but I have the same identical hat Marcus is wearing.

[@derekwaldrop112]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Chris_Davis_music]

Even with that level of pixelation?

[@rudytormento9753]

It's good for a start but don't you wish you had his reading skills? 😉 Cuz I sure do...

[@tbrown15]

I saw a video where he was talking about how he got that hat from Victor Wooten after a card game in the early 2000’s.

[@kiereluurs1243]

Yeah, a real fashionable void cliché. Fashion is for the tasteless.

[@matthewcummings6593]

yes sir marcus is my favorite all time bassplayer

[@BronsonBragg]

Marcus "I'm not even using 1% of my power" Miller

[@Below-Average_Joe]

What some many do not understand is that Marcus Miller brings the music to life from the paper. Of course, it is relatively easy to copy it by ear once you hear the master play it if you have decent chops, but genius is in the creation, not the copying.

[@etpslick100]

I guess the learning how to play the bass clarinet has really help his reading chops. It DEFINITELY shows!😳🎶👍🏾

[@squirt594]

He had to turn his own pages too

[@kevinallen3373]

He is the BEST!

[@MetaphysicalMusician]

Talent and Hard Work...

[@CosmicHippopotamus]

Miles Davis didn’t just invite anyone.

[@michaelfoxbrass]

And that’s really all you need to know about who Marcus is, and what he brings to the gig. I heard Marcus with Miles on his return tour. It was Marcus, Mike Stern, Bill Evans (on soprano sax), and the band for about 2 1/2 hours. No talking - no setlist - just a groove becoming a tune and another groove becoming a tune, non-stop. I still smile wide remembering how everyone in the band would immediately turn and chase and lead each other with the slightest hint or feint - like a flock of birds or school of fish turning towards or from a wind or predator.

[@jerryquintanilla5910]

The man right there!

[@srinip]

This is truly frightening!

[@tinchoenelbajo]

The GOAT! ✨❤🎸🎶

[@alvinchea8057]

My personal hero!

[@PhatBazz4]

Mine too!! You guys were on this track "Never Enough" also and sound great!! I heard it on Gordon's KZbin Channel. You are a personal hero to many of us my brother!! Thanks for commenting!!

[@gitarrenlehrer-koeln]

great marcus !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ❤❤❤❤❤

[@Aalii6]

awesome!

[@alexemhardt3762]

Incredible

[@clebersilva6181]

The best!!!

[@bpb50]

Thee legend!

[@4strings4me]

The GOAT... Marcus Miller

[@terrencehall5952]

EXCELLENCE AT WORK...

[@davek3200]

Monstrous

[@donaldbest7621]

Let us see what he read, so we can measure how bad we are!

[@rtracy01]

just........ wow...

[@stuarticusrobinson9319]

"Great work, did we mention we are paying by the hour?"

[@gktde9874]

Dude is in the pocket 😎

[@peterpedant]

Amazing how you managed to use colour film in a 1901 camera!

[@romeod7549]

Nice effort but the try hardness was quite obvious. Good go of it though.

[@etpslick100]

Hey! That’s how it’s done! That’s why he, Alex Al, Nathan East, Abe Laboriel, Nate Phillips are on the “first call” list! I’m trying like hell to get “my” sight reading chops together! 🤨🎶👍🏾

[@sonykent4940]

what make the legendary bass players great is their unique voice and distinctive style on the bass..Marcus is at the very top of the call list he's balanced and can groove in pocket ..solo and put his creative stamp on a song, Marcus and that '77 jazz bass had many bass players amateur to professional...from the 1980s to present day trying to emulate him...theres only a small handful of innovators ...Leaders that create and inspire other bass players not the followers that try and copy and imitate..

[@etpslick100]

@@sonykent4940 you said two key words; “copy” and “imitate.” I get tired of hearing guys saying you have to “sound” like this guy or “imitate” their style. What’s important is to be “YOU.” Why copy something that’s already done or proven? I love those guys but my goal is to develop “my” style and become and better reader and supportive player so I can play more paying gigs. These guys (and some girls, too😌) are my inspiration. I want people to recognize my style; not how I sound like this or that. My late teacher taught me don’t be a ‘clone,’ make a NEW PAIR of shoes. I never 4got that!! Love your comment!!😌🎶👍🏾

[@sonykent4940]

@@etpslick100being a unique artist...yes having your own voice on the bass is important but some including many pros are ok trying to sound like someone else...its kinda like a painting done by the original Artist and then others attempt to paint the artwork thinking they're just as good and they aren't....creativity is what makes you unique ..not emulation

[@etpslick100]

@@sonykent4940 Hmm. Didn’t look @ it that way. I see what you’re saying. We copy parts all the time, but put YOUR twist on it, not ‘cloned’ it.🤔🎶👍🏾

[@sonykent4940]

@@etpslick100 yes but theres a difference between getting influence and flat out emulation...Marcus for example his key influences were James Jamerson, Larry Graham, Stanley Clarke and Jaco ...yes early in Marcus career late teen to early 20s he did try and emulate Jaco but Marcus was in a musical situation where the particular artist didn't want Jaco style so it forced Marcus to dig deep and come with a unique approach outside of his influences end result was Marcus developed his own signature style...yes his influences are present in his style of play but its still his distinctive style that sounds like no other..Larry..Stanley and when Jaco was alive all had respect for Marcus and his style on bass because it was his unique voice and he was no longer trying to emulate anyone else ..besides you only get so far trying to sound like someone else...nothing beats the original

[@abel.cosmos]

Did you guys record the whole band without bass? Vocals too? I am really curious actually ^^

[@c3N3q]

👍

[@iplaythebass4u]

Yezir 👍👍👍

[@stuartdryer1352]

A pro's pro.

[@naturalmystique1237]

BEAST MODE

[@kiereluurs1243]

Yet another void cliché.

[@eliascohn6139]

Impressive either way, but is he really "sight reading" a written bass line or improvising a baseline while following a chord chart. Like I said, great stuff either way but curious.

[@irishmuso7129]

I agree. Hardly a sight reading gig is it? Basically a groove where he is encouraged to do his very impressive thing.

[@Joeh1154]

Likely there is notation for certain specific parts of the song with chord symbols and the rest just a regular chart. This clip wasn't long enough to see the chart. When I started at Queens College in Queens, NY(Spring '79), Marcus was there, then gone (likely on tour). I play stand up Bass. Occasionally I would see him practicing and Bass players always acknowledge each other, as we did. Love his compositions and the stuff he did with Miles and Sanborn.

[@insomniagfx]

Bit of both

[@rileymerino6340]

Probably a little of both impressive either way but at moments he’s following intricate horn runs so definitely doing some advanced sight reading at least

[@mikegreenebass]

I was thinking same thing. That can't be written out! I can see some of the band hits written but not entire line.

[@gimmeagig]

OMG!!!

[@BirthdaymagicianAu]

Why do musicians like this charge so much per hour in recording sessions?... Because if they didn't they wouldn't eat. They get stuff done so quickly they wouldn't earn enough.

[@lee399]

Actually it's a combination of musician's scale and reputation. They can take more sessions if they complete them quickly. If the session pays 4 hrs and they finish in 1, they still get the 4 hrs pay and go to the next gig. Lastly they get paid big money sometimes because they will finish quickly so the producer saves money because less budget $ goes toward studio time.

[@sampowellmusic]

what are you talking about that was 2 takes. LOL.

[@leftyrighty5045]

"I can now fly a helicopter."

[@youngbukowski930]

How much would a player like that charge for a gig? I don't necessarily mean Marcus, but you know, cats like Randy Brecker, Pino Palladino, Gary Husband, Manu Katché... I have no idea how much they'd cost, and under which conditions: flight, hotel, insurance ?...

[@grantkoeller8911]

They stopped twice, but that was because of page turns

[@HylerMusic]

Are there any notes on the page at all or are these just the changes he's putting his own already developed patterns and improv over? Can we see the page? ...

[@PhatBazz4]

It's a big band so all the hits have to be written out with chords to match the band. I actually believe it's fully notatated because it's a big band. Possibly some places with just chords and he is able to use his amazing musicianship to create great parts especially when you see him double thumbing on the vamp ‼️🎯🔥😎🎸

[@BarnacleButtock]

much better instrumental and with the bass as the focus of the mix. just listened to the final release version and man it sucks.

[@ShortFuseFighting]

man i couldnt read WORDS at that bpm...let alone sheet.....

[@richsackett3423]

Yeah a whole 104 bpm. Blistering.

[@judahroused1168]

Highly respected bro.

[@kiereluurs1243]

Yeah, 'bro'.

[@johnpaulclarkson4671]

Like Marcus I also have 8 fingers and 2 thumbs. That's where the similarities ends ☹️

[@starlightsign8666]

I can play the first four bars easy!

[@svetlakarcina6430]

OK,but can you play them with that sound?Can you get so clear tone out of your bass with slapping?

[@t3nder-4pe]

In this quality that could be any white guy.

[@tonylee1794]

Marcus is great if his is the sound you are looking for but I'll take Nathan East in the studio any day over anyone else, talk about a bass chameleon!

[@Below-Average_Joe]

Marcus Miller does not have to sound like that. Dude has a beautiful finger or thumb mute tone. He is also great on fretless.

[@ericplummer4089]

Yes and Tom Brady is great if you like TD passes and champoinships and all but you'd take Aaron Rogers, great qb and 1 title. Snobbish rhetoric lol

[@jackieclark8253]

You obviously have no clue of his session history to make a statement like that. I agree that Nathan is a chameleon and one of the most sought after session bassists on the planet,but so is Marcus! He’s done dozens of records that I’m sure you didn’t know that he played bass on. One song in particular is Mariah Carey’s “ Vision of Love”! Go listen to that and you’ll see he can blend with the best. He’s not a one trick pony like some guys are,and what you’re trying to insinuate. You really should do your homework before making an ignorant comment like that...and when I say ignorant,I’m not using it as a put down,it just means you’re not aware and spoke out of turn about him.

[@tonylee1794]

@@jackieclark8253 Ignorant???? There are definitely two bassists I know when I hear them, Marcus Miller and Louis Johnson, as a bass player you KNOW exactly what I'm saying!! Point me to the part of my statement where I said Marcus sucks and Nathan is better. Read and comprehend!!!!

[@jackieclark8253]

@@tonylee1794 ...How about you point me to the part where I said you said Marcus sucked? I can definitely point you to where you felt Nate is better though! Does “I’ll take Nathan East in the studio any day over anyone else ” ring a bell? 😂 did you know that was Marcus on Vision of Love? Does he “sound like Marcus” on that song? You should read with comprehension...I clearly explained that I said ignorant in the sense that you don’t know Marcus’ session history,and you took it personal anyway. 🤦🏾 I can name a bunch of songs Marcus played for other artists that you would never know it’s him unless you read the credits. And since you brought up Louis Johnson,I suppose he sounds exactly like himself on Michael Jackson’s “Lady In My Life” huh? Go do your research man! 🤦🏾😂 All 3 of those bassists are chameleons...if you just like Nate better,just say that,and not try to put someone into a category you assume they belong in. As a bassist I understand that we all have our sound,the best ones can disguise it,just like the 2 songs I mentioned. Marcus and Louis could do that too. You just obviously don’t know that.

[@ravenconacher]

Fml bro

[@ModernJargonFailure]

And nobody cared except a few bass heads and music snoots.. #neverviral

[@ShredST]

What you care about is incredibly trivial.

[@ModernJargonFailure]

@@ShredST have you even seen my playlists... Im just saying for all that knowledge of music and theory no one wants to hear a bass do weird tricks for 5 minutes strait EXCEPT other bassists like me and maybe you.. WHile it might be music I guess.. it is has no soul and it sho ain't funk..its just a drill or perhaps an exercise...but in what?

[@jasonhearn5818]

​@@ModernJargonFailure weird tricks ??.its slapping...not that deep lol marcus didn't write the song he's doing his job as a hired bass player and laying down groove on the track

[@ModernJargonFailure]

@@jasonhearn5818 I did not say he wrote it. #adhominem My comment is about the overratedness of meter and applied theory versus his videos about subtlety and minimalism that never go viral.. Send me a link of one of his personal original song that you love... Ill wait As for the condescending slapping elipsishow bout a good old fashioned shed off and we can find out who the doofus truly is.. simply upload yourself shedding on a riff and if I cannot improve on it in a live feed video then I'll shove my stock up my asshole ...again Ill wait.

[@ModernJargonFailure]

Damm I went in that was so mean I'm sorry

[@paulwhetstone0473]

If you really wanted to showcase sight reading the score would have been shown.

[@jackieclark8253]

They’re showcasing that they hired Marcus for the session. No need to show the chart.

[@jazzman1954]

I’m impressed with the reading skills and execution. However I really don’t like slapping/popping. Skinny strings and a low action. I just end up thinking this track needs a bass line.

[@boxinggamerz594]

👍