Since she picked up a guitar at age seven, Dr. Molly Miller has been captivating audiences with performances that display a talent for entertaining and effortless musicianship seemingly well beyond her years. Now 28 - and the youngest Chair of a University Guitar department in the country - Miller has become one of Los Angeles' most sought-after musicians, touring the world with superstars such as Jason Mraz and The Black Eyed Peas. In her debut album as a leader, The Shabby Road Recordings, due out July 2017, Miller heads a trio that includes the all-star rhythm section of Jay Bellerose (B.B. King, Elton John, Bonnie Raitt) and Jennifer Condos (Bruce Springsteen, Sheryl Crow, Stevie Nicks).
The album's joyful, groove-based instrumentals bring a wealth of musical talent to reimagine popular songs spanning genres and eras, from "Blueberry Hill" by Fats Domino and "You've Really Got a Hold On Me" by Smokey Robinson, to "Innocent When You Dream" by Tom Waits. The album's repertoire was formed organically, over months at the trio's weekly gig at LA's Perch.
"It was thrilling and humbling to work alongside Jay and Jen - two legendary instrumentalists - to distill these timeless songs to their essence," says Miller.
Miller - who received her Doctorate in Music from USC - became the youngest Guitar Chair in the country at the same time that she maintained a busy touring and recording schedule with top pop, indie, and jazz artists.
The Shabby Road Recordings came about in a rather spontaneous way - the three musicians would regularly get together to play and one day decided to record in the spur of the moment. The album's opener -"Gimme A Little Sign" as popularized by
Brenton Wood - stems from that first living room session and it captures a spirit that pervades the album - joyful, groove-based instrumental music that recalls a bygone era of such luminaries as
Booker T and the MG's, The Ventures, and Duane Eddy.
The emotional center of the album comes from their touching rendition of the Jackson Brown via
Velvet Underground and Nico song "These Days". Long regarded as a seminal track, "These Days" has been with Miller since she was in high school consuming a steady diet of
Velvet Underground and Nico records.
UPCOMING MOLLY MILLER TRIO L.A. DATES -
July 8 - 1642 - Los Angeles, CA
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