Max Miller (jazz Musician) - 1940s - First Work With Sidney Bechet

First Work With Sidney Bechet

In 1940, Down Beat magazine listed him at number 20 in the "Small Combos" category. His quintet headlined at the "Three Deuces" club in 1940 until it burned down later that year. Alto sax player Johnny Bothwell was a member of the group. Also in 1940 he became musical director for the Boyd Raeburn Band. In 1943 he co-led a quartet with trumpeter Shorty Sherock. His first recording sessions with Sidney Bechet were in 1944 and included Tony Parenti on clarinet, Zilner Randolph on trumpet, Bill Funkey on alto and tenor sax and Ken Smith on drums. Bechet's powerful solo on Miller's song "Liberty Street Stomp" is a standout of those sessions. These recordings are part of the Max Miller Archive and are still unreleased. Billboard magazine's December 15, 1945 issue featured a review of Max Millers' concert performing with Bechet and Parenti. Miller first met Bechet in the summer of 1944 when he and Ken Smith went with Paul Edward Miller from Chicago to Springfield, Illinois to hear Bechet in a club there and ended up sitting in for the rest of the night. Bechet and Miller became friends and thereafter played and recorded together whenever possible. Miller's quartet in the mid-1940s also included noted jazz guitarist Jimmy Raney. Miller was first mentioned in Esquire's Jazz Book in 1944, being compared to Lionel Hampton and Red Norvo as a vibes player.

In 1945 he became the first jazz musician to perform at Chicago's Orchestra Hall, primarily presenting original compositions, with trumpet/cornet player Muggsy Spanier performing as part of Miller's group. Also in 1945 he placed number 2 in Esquire's All American Band, New Stars category for Vibraharp. He led his own groups for many club dates and in 1946 he placed in the Top Ten among pianists in Esquire's All-American Jazz Band, listed 7th, right under Erroll Garner and placed above Count Basie, James P. Johnson and Jay McShann. He was named as favorite new star in the Esquire New Star Poll by eminent jazz musicians Earl Hines and Red Norvo. He also placed in the Top Ten of the "Other Instruments" category for his vibes playing. These poll standings are taken from the 1946 Esquire Jazz Book. On October 13, 1946 he performed in a concert presented by Green Recordings at the Civic Opera House as pianist for the Dizzy Gillespie Quintet, the Sidney Bechet Sextet and his own trio as well. The concert also featured Bud Freeman, Jimmy McPartland and George Barnes. During Bechet's visit to Chicago, Miller booked time in Bachman Studios on Carmen Avenue and again recorded private sessions with Bechet. In 1947 he spent a year and a half gigging in California with engagements at the Swanee Inn, the Red Feather, Angelino's, the Haig and others. 1948 saw him back in Chicago with his trio at the Blue Note, Hi-Note, Rag Doll, Lyon & Healy Hall for a concert and gigs in Milwaukee and Minneapolis/St. Paul.