Young New Orleans-bred trombonist and singer, Jeffery Miller has no shortage of believers who recognize his talent.
At the age of 19, Mr. Miller stepped onto the stage of the famed Apollo Theatre, and he brought the house down. He was introduced by Irvin Mayfield of the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra (NOJO) who proudly announced that Jeffery was a recently admitted student on a full scholarship at The Juilliard School. Not his first performance on a great New York stage, when he was just 15, Mr. Miller performed at Carnegie Hall at the celebration of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band’s 50th anniversary. He also performed with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band for their sold out show at Madison Square Garden, while on tour with Arcade Fire.
The now-22-year-old's resume already reads like the resume of an old jazz cat.
There are gigs with seasoned veterans including studio sessions with Donald Harrison Jr., Leo Nocentelli (The Meters), Delfeayo Marsalis, and Herlin Riley. He played trombone in the 2014 Grammy Band. Jeffery has performed with Delfeayo Marsalis and the Uptown Jazz Orchestra since he was 14, and he even went on their 2013 New York Tour. He can be heard on the big band's debut album Make America Great Again! Jeffery Miller has been featured with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra (2017 Opus Ball) and the Wynton Marsalis Septet (Abu Dhabi Festival 2017). He was also selected to be a part of the 2016 Disneyland Resort All American College Band. He's played the New Orleans VooDoo Fest, The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Satchmo Summerfest, French Quarter Fest, Vail Jazz Festival and Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival. Mr. Miller has opened for songstress Patti Austin in 2012 at his alma mater, the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA). He's done tour dates with the Legendary Count Basie Orchestra in 2015, and performed with Christian McBride's Big Band in Philadelphia. He was featured on International Jazz Day 2016 at the National Jazz Museum in Harlem, a special event curated by Jonathan Batiste. He has recorded, performed, and collaborated with artists Solange, Yasiin Bey, Jon Batiste, Trombone Shorty, Lion Babe and more.
Jeffery has been recognized with numerous awards and scholarships – among them, the 2014 and 2015 Young Arts Merit Awards in Jazz Trombone and he was the recipient of 2013 ASCAP Louis Prima Award. In May of 2018, Jeffery graduated from The Juilliard School with his Bachelor's in Jazz Studies. And he received one of the first-ever Joseph W. Polisi “Artist as Citizen” awards from the man himself, Joseph Polisi, who stepped down as President of The Juilliard School that year.
He’s also begun an acting career. For 3 years he played a music student of Antoine Batiste (portrayed by Juilliard Alum Wendell Pierce) on David Simon’s critically acclaimed HBO series Treme. He has appeared on local New Orleans television stations and on New Orleans’ Jazz Heritage Station WWOZ. He can even been seen in the April 2017 issue of the Wall Street Journal, featured in the 12-page spread on Juilliard students, Juilliard Students Photographed in Their Element.
Jeffery is currently a proud Performing/Endorsing Artist for Denis Wick Products and Best American Craftsman (BAC) horns. He plays a custom BAC Jeffery Miller model trombone.
Jeffery is grateful for the accolades and the great opportunities. “I am so blessed to be surrounded by so many teachers.” He has been mentored by Wycliffe Gordon, Ellis, Delfeayo and Wynton Marsalis, Reggie Young, Steve Turre, Curtis Fuller and so many more.
Making music is Jeffery’s primary focus. He intends to eventually earn an advanced degree in music, make albums, develop a global fan base and tour the world playing music. In 2018, Jeffery Miller will make his solo career debut with single “Lose Control” and a forthcoming pop album influenced by New Orleans jazz. He also is looking out for the one who has looked out for him and who is his biggest supporter. His grandmother,Patricia, raised Jeffery and his twin sister, Justice, since they were a year and three months old.. She has sacrificed so much for them, and Jeffery's priority always is to make her comfortable. Jeffery would readily admit that he would not be where and who he is today without his grandmother. We know she is proud and that she, like so many others, believes in Jeffery Miller.
Twitter: @jeffmillerjazz
Instagram: @thejefferymiller
Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/jeffmillerjazz
Youtube: youtube.com/jeffmillerjazzmusic
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