The summer of 2020 has been called many things, but love hasn’t been at the top of many lists. Until now. Summer Of Love, the debut album from Robert Miller is full of delightfully warm, endearing tracks. Miller, who is the driving force behind the popular band, Project Grand Slam, steps up for his first solo at-bat and swings for the fences. Does he get on base? Or does he hit a home run?
Summer Of Love (Cakewalk Records) is packed with lots of goodies. Jazz, funk, blues and rock fans will want to make sure Miller is on their radar for a 10-song lineup that is sure to please. Miller, who is based in New York City, notes in his press materials, that at first he intended to use the songs for the next Project Grand Slam album, but after realizing just how personal the songs connected with him, he dived into creating his debut. The soundscapes he creates in these songs is quite impressive. So often jazz songs can linger, but unfortunately, they can also sound similar in structure and go on way too long. This isn’t the case for Summer Of Love. Yes, not all the songs are jazz, but there are hues of brassy horns and tickling ivories that make up part of the jazz stew.
“Aches and Pains” is a great opening song. It sounds very summer like, and beachy. The electric guitars, especially, convey a Hampton Beach scene. It’s interesting, because growing up listening to The Beach Boys I assume it’s about the Pacific Ocean and the California sun. Whereas, I really didn’t get that vibe with this tune. It’s worth noting, though, I definitely get a Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys vibe in the eighth track, “Now and Always”.
The warm horn section bursts out like a dance in the second track, “The Night Was a Mystery”. Oh what you did to me, Miller sings in the lyrics. The electric organ shimmies its way around his words, bluesy and giving it that, well, air of mystery. In track three, “Heaven”, the bright piano opens up to a lovely song, and you get the sense that as an artist, Miller is about giving thanks to the loves in his life, and having gratitude.
The complete opposite happens in the rocker “You Can’t Tell The Truth”. Politicized, to say the least, this angst jam is full of the organ and that blaring horn section that just oozes style. This song came across as very New York to me; sophisticated and too cool. You can’t tell the truth, makes me mad, you can’t tell the truth, it’s so bad, he sings.
ROBERT MILLER’S PROJECT GRAND SLAM: https://www.projectgrandslam.com/
“Bip Bop” is a fun, groovy instrumental. Miller’s strong storytelling skills and instant rapport return with “Bourbon Street”, a nice jazzy tune. “Walking In The Corner” is a bit darker, and he changes it up to a more sentimental tone in the excellent “Now and Always”. The last two tracks, “New Life (Annie’s Song)” welcome back those awesome horns, and Miller details the exodus that is happening in Manhattan during the pandemic. And, finally in “Another One Like You”, Miller closes out the album with a charming love song.
Jodi Marxbury