Biscuit Miller

Wishbone

Bluebass Music

David Miller was born and raised on Chicago’s south side. He was nicknamed “Biscuit” by his grandma as he wouldn’t get outta’ her kitchen. He learned to play bass from his friend’s older brother. He formed his first band “Clever” with another friend Ivan Wallace. The family moved to Minneapolis where Biscuit recorded with the award winning Sonny Rogers; played with Mojo Buford, formerly with Muddy Waters; and received a phone call from Lonnie Brooks who needed him to sit in on bass for the evening. Biscuit remained with Brooks for ten years.

Biscuit states that Brooks wasn’t as busy in the winter time; so he formed “Biscuit Miller and The Mix” in 2000. He released his first studio recording “Come Together” in 2002. He sat in one night with Anthony Gomes and Biscuit stayed with that band another five years. Biscuit appears on Gomes’ “Live” recorded at Seattle’s Triple Door and released in 2008. Biscuit released his own second album “Blues With a Smile” in 2010; it was dedicated to the memory of Willie Dixon, Koko Taylor, Phil Guy, Phillip Walker, and his original drummer Stan Serna. As a direct result Biscuit won a 2012 Blues Music Award as “Bassist of The Year”.

We have waited a long time for this new recording. It is seldom that Biscuit is able to sit down with friends and family. One Thanksgiving, when he was sitting with his grandchildren Jordan and Josh; the concept of “Wishbone” was born. He sat down after the meal and wrote the title track. It was all the motivation Biscuit needed to get back into the studio.

The core band on “Wishbone” includes Biscuit, bass and vocals; Myron “Dr. Love” Robinson, an original member of “The Mix” who played with James Armstrong, Koko Taylor, and Phil Guy and reunited with Biscuit in 2010, drums; Bobby B Wilson who has been with Biscuit since 2010, rhythm guitar; and “Southside” Alex Smith, the youngest member who previously played with Michael Coleman and joined “The Mix” in 2013, lead guitar.

Once again Biscuit has composed all the songs. “Wishbone” opens the recording with a great vocal from Biscuit as he sings “be my wishbone baby”. Smith lays down a great guitar lead as Roosevelt “Mad Hatter” Purifoy guests on piano. Also guesting is a fabulous horn section including saxophone players Kevin Nabors and Derek Brown; Charles Pryor, trumpet; and Blind Pig Recording Artist Big James Montgomery, trombone. The backing singers on this track add to the production, they are: Felicia Evans Coleman; Trina Davis and Amirros Collins.

“I got a woman, She Likes To Boogie” features Domiano Della Torre on keyboards. Domiano has also played with The Sugar Blue Band. “Down At The Mississippi” features both Purifoy, piano; and Nigel Mack with some great harmonica and a National steel guitar. Mack also fronts his own band “Nigel Mack and The Blues Attack”.

“Mr. D.J.” features Biscuit with an incredibly soulful vocal, Purifoy on the keys and Ronnie Baker Brooks guesting on guitar. “Lay It On Down” opens with Biscuit’s bass while Domiano is featured on organ. “Shake It Like Jello” features Smith on lead guitar and horn players Nabors and Pryor.

“Bottle of Whiskey, Bottle of Wine” is another great vocal from Biscuit; this time the production features both Domiano on organ, and the fabulous Ronnie Brooks on guitar. “Use To Love Me” is another notable vocal from Biscuit featuring Smith on lead and Biscuit’s old friend Ivan, “Daddy I”, Wallace on guitar. Brown’s sax opens “One More Mile” and it’s a great song closing with Biscuit’s sweet interpretation of Jack Nicholson…“honey, I’m home”.

My favorite song on the album however has to be “Monday Morning Blues” with the lyric “It’s Monday morning, I’m running late for work, I have to get there on time, my boss can be a jerk…it’s Monday Monday morning, Monday morning and I got the blues”.

The last two tunes are really something special “Let’s Go Fishing” is recorded by two old friends, Biscuit, bass and vocals, and “Daddy I” guitar.

“Going Home” features a vocal duet between Biscuit and Uncle Jesse Hutson, his friend and bus driver who takes the band everywhere they go. On harp is Onetooth Johnson and on guitar is co-producer Rick Barnes who mixed and mastered the entire album.

The cover features Biscuit with his million dollar smile. Everyone involved in this production is family. This is beautiful; inside the album and inside the man there is a lot of love.

Richard Ludmerer