Miles Griffith

THE MILES GRIFFITH TRIO:

Miles Griffith - Voice

Jamie Saft - Keyboard

Mike Bennett - Drums

Miles Griffith’s non-traditional use of the voice as a percussive instrument, combined with an uncanny harmonic sense has made him a prime choice for many musicians.  

In 1994, he played the lead role of “Jesse” in Wynton Marsalis’, celebrated Blood On The Fields, the specially commissioned jazz oratorio, which premiered at Lincoln Centers’ Alice Tully Hall. Griffith also participated on the recording, which was released on Sony Music in mid 1997 to end Marsalis’ Pulitzer Award and Grammy winning world tour.

His impressive resume also includes stints with Max Roach, Reggie Workman, Carl Allen, Bill Lee, T.S. Monk, Barry Harris, Tommy Campbell, Jon Hendricks, Cassandra Wilson, Wilber Morris, Burhan Ocal, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Kirk Nurock, Craig Harris, poet Sekou Sundiata, Michael Jefry Stevens and Miles Griffith/Tony Pancella Quintet, Toshiko Akioshi, Heidi Martin, Tony Reedus, Matjaz Mikuletic, Drago Gajo, Mervyn E. Griffith, Toine Thys, Jure Pukl, Balage Horvath, Janos Nagy, Roger Vanha, Black Coffee Renato Svorinic, Jadran Chicco, Matija Dedic, Vered Dekel, Ron Vincent, David Pleasant, DJ Robert G Roy, DJ Raphneck, Tomi Puric, Orrin Evans, Hospital Audiences, Andreas Grosskopf, Ratko Zjaca, Nick Russo, Ahmed Abdullah’s Diaspora, Miles Griffith/Andy Lukas Group, Andrei Kondakov, Fabio Morgera, Daniel Noesig, Anton Feinig, Mario Gonzi, Jeff Lederer, John Ellis, Tony Lakatos, Jack Walrath, Theo Bleckmann, JD Walter, Janis Siegel, Judy Niemack, Cameron Brown, Billy Hart, Jeanfrancois Prins, Don Sickler, Marion Cowings, Jay Clayton, Mary LaRose, Gregg August, Art Lilliard, Ron Carter, Billy Higgins, Christian McBride, Malika, Zarra, Gretchen Parlato, Jo Lawry, Becca Stevens, Sachal Vasandani, Andy Bragen, Roy Hargrove, Stephen Scott, Ari Roland, William Ash, Gregory Hutchinson, Sasha Perry, Justin Robinson, Jimmy Heath, Kevin Mahogany, Benny Green, Akim Funk Buddha, Common, Q-Tip, Charenee Wade, Bilal, Emily Braden, Lisa Sokolov, Sir Roland Hanna, Pamela Baskin Watson and James Williams’ ICU.  

Griffith has been a jazz vocal educator for 25 years, having a Masters of Jazz 
Vocal Performance Degree from Queens College, Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from 
Long Island University and a private instructor. June of 2011, Griffith received the new Vocal Jazz Instructor position at the New York Jazz Academy. He also taught as the Vocal Jazz Professor at Queens College Jazz Department from February 2008 to February 2009, 6 years at City College Jazz program and has returned instructing vocal jazz at the New School Jazz and Contemporary Music. Griffith taught 3 years at Columbia University (2005-2008), 18 years at the New School Jazz and Contemporary Music, 6 years at Jazzinty in Novo Mesto, Slovenia, 1 year in Izola, Slovenia with the Plesni Dance School and 1 year at the Groningen Conservatore in the Netherlands. He brings his performance energy to the education realm to excite, encourage and empower his students.

Miles Griffith and Tony Pancella Trio have been playing and touring Europe for over 12 years. With three CD’s under their belt, “I Found You,”  “Smile Again” and recent released “The Struggle Never Dies” they’re planning to record their fourth CD in 2012. You can visit their site at: www.myspace.com/griffpan The Miles Griffith and Tony Pancella Trio has such a dynamic chemistry on stage that you will be amazed. Plus you’ll leave with an unforgettable musical experience.  

Besides Griffith’s two stateside groups, Miles Griffith New Ting and the Miles Griffith Quartet, he has three more dynamic European Band projects and they are: Fine Noise featuring Miles Griffith www.myspace.com/finenoise the Miles Griffith/Michael Jefry Stevens Group www.michaeljefrystevens.com and Robert Jukic and JR+5 www.robertjukic.com  You can search and purchase their music on the world wide net. New York City’s Smoke Jazz Club new Sunday evening group since March 2011 called Prime Directive features co-leaders Wayne Escoffery, Miles Griffith and Frank “Ku-umba” Lacy with Dan Kaufman, Ryan Berg and Chris Beck. Prime Directive is a tight, organized, energetic, swinging and grooving great group that features all the band member’s compositions and hallmark favorites. They are planning to record a CD in the Fall of 2011.    

As for Miles Griffith’s future plans, he states, “I plan to put the voice back on the scene as the ultimate first instrument.”