The Jon Miller Quartet ::
The Jon Miller Quartet is composed of Rob Cheramy (guitar), Roy Styffe (alto and soprano saxes), James Young (bass) and leader Miller on drums. Co-produced by Miller and Wynn Gogol, the group's 2009 debut CD showcases the band's writing and playing with 9 original compositions, 5 by band leader Miller. The Jon Miller Quartet has been a fixture on the Vancouver Island live jazz scene since 2003. The quartet has performed in numerous editions of the Victoria Jazz Festival and appears regularly at Hermann's Jazz Club. Musical points of reference include Jim Hall, Wes Montgomery and Paul Desmond. The 2007 addition of Roy Styffe on alto, tenor and soprano sax has been a great plus, his sophisticated melodic sense and strong rhythmic drive meshing seamlessly with the playing styles of guitarist Rob Cheramy and bassist James Young.
Jon Miller ::
Born in Washington state in 1963, Jon Miller grew up hearing everything from Art Blakey, Gordon Lightfoot, Stockhausen, Kiss and Led Zeppelin before honing in on jazz in his teens. This led to a Jazz Performance degree at McGill University and studies with Barry Elmes, Lorne Lofsky, Kevin Dean, Gordon Foote, Fred Henke, Marvin "Smitty" Smith and Alan Dawson, among others. Active on the early 1990's jazz scene in Montreal, he played in numerous editions of the Montreal International Jazz Festival, The Ottawa International Jazz Festival, the Festival Acadien (Caraquet NB), and clubs "Upstairs" and "The Top of the Senator" (among others) with the likes of Andre White, Skip Bey, John Stech, Andre Leroux, Jeff Johnston, Vic Vogel, Jeff Healey, Jon Gearey and Charlie Hunter.
In Amsterdam in the mid 90's he worked freelance in the Netherlands, France, Monaco and Germany while holding down the drum chair for Amsterdam club band "Men Without Heads" whose revolving lineup included Calder Spanier and Charlie Hunter. Later he relocated, working in Philadelphia and area clubs and recording studios as well as touring throughout the NE US (New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Chicago) with the Lost Art of Puppet Orchestra. (Lost Art of Puppet Circa 1996 can be seen on the link below)
In 2009 his Victoria based quartet released their debut CD, of original music “Orchidology” co-produced by Wynn Gogol, with album art by local artist and musician Doug Galbraith. Tracks from “Orchidology” have been heard Canada-wide on campus radio, CBC/SRC, and in the US, Brazil and Portugal.
Copyright 2009 Jon Miller
Roy Styffe
Purchase the debut release "Orchidology" on iTunes and the following sites:
Secure Downloads on KERFMUSIC
Rob Cheramy
photo: Ute Miller
James Young
photo: Ute Miller
