[Cover photo credit to Erika Kapin]
Drummer and composer Allison Miller, who has released recordings with both her own band Boom Tic Boom, as well as the Jazz supergroup Artemis, has made an announcement in collaboration with multiple Grammy Award-nominated University of North Texas’ One O’Clock Lab Band, under the direction of Alan Baylock.
They will be releasing new studio album Big & Lovely due January 10, 2024 on Royal Potato Family. The title track “Big and Lovely” is out now.
In 2022, Allison Miller was invited to be a guest performer with the One O’Clock Lab Band for a concert at the University of North Texas. The pairing was so successful that Miller and One O’Clock Lab Band musical director Alan Baylock decided to revisit the idea for an album project, recording a selection of Miller’s compositions arranged for a big band.
Featuring arrangement contributions from Noriko Ueda, Shamie Royston, Jeff Lederer, Sarah Chaksad, Alan Baylock, Ariel Glassman, Brian Lawrence and Dave Glenn, the resulting recordings would become the album, Big & Lovely.
The collection’s eight tracks include new versions of Miller’s material like “Congratulations and Condolences,” “Fierce” and “Potomac.”
Miller shares:
At age 12, my drum teacher, Walter Salb, had me sit in with his pro big band, the Time Was Orchestra. By age 14, I became the regular drummer in that big band, eventually recording an album with them. There is nothing quite like swinging a big band from the drum throne and it’s the best way for a young jazz drummer to cut their teeth.
Ever since then it’s been on my bucket list to make a big band album with my own compositions. Fast forward to today and it is finally happening with the release of Big & Lovely. I couldn’t be more thrilled to have collaborated with Alan Baylock and the prestigious One O’Clock Lab Band on this project. It just felt right from the very beginning and I am immensely grateful to the talented students for their hard work, passionate energy, and exemplary performance on this album!
Upcoming Performances:
1/9 – Atlanta, GA – Jazz Education Network Conference (Tap Dance Is Percussion Masterclass)
1/11 – Atlanta, GA – Jazz Education Network Conference (w/ One O’Clock Lab Band)
2/2 – New York, NY – 92NY (presenting Rivers In Our Veins)
2/21-22 – Elon, NC – Elon Jazz Festival (Artist in Residence)
4/10 – Savannah, GA – Savannah Music Festival (Allison Miller Workshop)
4/11 – Savannah, GA – Savannah Music Festival (presenting Rivers In Our Veins)
4/25 – Amherst, MA – The Drake (w/ Boom Tic Boom)
