Cast
Marcus Miller — Bandleader, Bass guitarist
Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah — Trumpeter
Alex Han — Saxophonist
Federico Gonzalez Pena — Pianist
Ronald Bruner Jr — Drummer
Patrick Savey — Movie director
Program notes
“This project is, of course, dedicated to Miles, whose musical journey inspired us all.” This is the quote that opens Tutu Revisited, a Marcus Miller concert that took place in Lyon in 2009. To Miller, Miles Davis was a mentor, a friend and later a collaborator on equal footing, with Miller composing or producing most of the tracks on Miles’ seminal, genre-bending 1986 album Tutu. It was an LP that killed the idea of genre snobbery, blending pop, R&B, jazz, electronic music, funk and more.
Tutu was arguably the moment in Miller’s career where he entered the historical jazz elite. But in revisiting such a work, who could he possibly choose to replace Miles’ timeless trumpet? The answer comes in the form of Christian Scott who was, at this point, an up-and-coming trumpettist from New Orleans.
As a result, the generational interplay on stage mirrors the relationship Miller had with Miles back in the 80s, marking a nice poetic touch. The repertoire is untouchable, including standards like “Jean-Pierre,” “In A Sentimental Mood,” “Backyard Ritual” and, of course, “Tutu” … all the elements that went into creating an album that was divisive when it was first released, but one that has since become a towering reference point. As Miller says: “People seem to be feeling this music twenty years later." Indeed.