Marcus Miller's Afrodeezia is perhaps his most ambitious, accomplished and exciting project to date, which is no small feat considering his vast body of work. With this album, he delves into his roots, building bridges between ancient and modern, innovation and tradition, urban and rural, America and Africa, drawing on a wealth of musical influences without losing the distinctive voice that runs through his work.
At the Olympia, the music comes alive in the hands of a formidable band, sounding thoroughly contemporary without compromising its primal authenticity or, more importantly, its groove. Miller remains one of the grooviest bass players this side of Stanley Clarke, combining dazzling technique with an instinctive understanding of rhythm that makes even the most intricate passages feel effortless. It's a particularly rich evening for Jazz enthusiasts in Paris, with Mike Stern performing across town at the New Morning on the very same night. An embarrassment of riches, as they say!
