Miles Smiles featuring Robben Ford, Rick Margitza, Darryl Jones, Omar Hakim and Wallace Roney
The throne of jazz has been empty since Miles Dewey Davis III passed from here to eternity in 1991. Still, the DNA of his music has been in good hands all this time. Miles’s favorite players and protégés, featuring Wallace Roney (trumpet), Kenny Garrett (sax & flute), Robben Ford (guitar), Darryl Jones (bass) and Omar Hakim (drums), have cherished and developed his musical legacy on their own rights.
MILES SMILES project reunites these world class musicians with the music of Miles’s last decade, fusion rock, funk and hip hop. “Tutu” (1986), the brilliant album produced by Marcus Miller, introduced those moods and directions in their prime supported by the latest technology.
Trumpet player Wallace Roney took lessons from Miles during 1985-1991. The master and the apprentice relationship turned into friendship which influenced Roney’s attitudes towards musicianship and life in general. Now Roney seems to be at ease when following the footsteps of his mentor. Darryl Jones took charge over the bass station in the Rolling Stones when Bill Wyman left the band in 1993. Being a ‘part-time’ band member, on the payroll as a hired hand rather than a full partner, has also allowed Darryl to collaborate with Herbie Hancock, Sting, Peter Gabriel and Eric Clapton.
Rick Margitza´s career went straight to the top since he joined Miles band on 1988. After that Rick Margitza has been worked with all the great jazz names such as Chick Corea, McCoy Tyner, Tony Williams and Bobby Hutcherson. Nowadays Margitza still do lot of concerts and he also composed a concerto for saxophone and two symphonies.
Guitar ace Robben Ford has devoted a lot of his time for teaching lately. His website “Robben Ford’s Guitar Dojo” is a modern online practice space for guitar aficionados. Album “Made to Last”, due to be released this summer, presents Ford with Jimmy Haslip, Michael Landau and Gary Novak.
Drummer Omar Hakim is one of the most successful session professionals in the business. The twenty year old Hakim was hired by Mike Manieri to play with the band Steps Ahead along with bass star Marcus Miller in 1980. After that stint Hakim was in full demand by Gil Evans Big Band, David Sanborn, Weather Report and Dire Straits. Hakim’s latest jazz album is called “The Trio of OZ” which was created together with piano player Rachel Z.