Jeffery Miller

Jeffery Oliver Miller (born February 9, 1996) is an American trombonist, vocalist, composer, arranger and bandleader primarily known for his work in jazz and pop music. He was worked with Delfeayo Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Jon Batiste & Stay Human, Preservation Hall Jazz Band and John Legend, among others.

Early life

Miller was born and raised in the Algiers neighborhood (15th Ward) of New Orleans, where he was exposed to jazz culture and history. He is the great-great grandnephew of Papa John Joseph, a New Orleans bass player who worked with Buddy Bolden. Joseph died during a performance of "When the Saints Go Marching In" with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

Miller sang at home and church from an early age. Although initially drawn to the drumset, Miller began to study the trombone around age ten or eleven, inspired by his middle school band director Keith Hart. He progressed quickly and impressed professional trombonist Terrance Taplin, who encouraged Delfeayo Marsalis to audition Miller for his Uptown Jazz Orchestra. After sitting-in with the group at New Orleans' famed jazz club Snug Harbor, Miller joined the group at age 14.

He studied academics at Benjamin Franklin High School and music at New Orleans Center for Creative Arts. While a sophomore in high school, he performed with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band at Carnegie Hall.

During high school, he appeared for three seasons of the HBO series Treme, in which he played a student of Antoine Batiste, the fictional trombonist depicted by Wendell Pierce.

In 2013, Miller was selected as one of twelve younger musicians to participate in the Vail Jazz Workshop in Vail, Colorado. The experience solidified his desire to pursue music as a lifelong calling.

Miller released the single "Lose Control" in summer 2018. The track draws heavily on diverse influences including hip-hop, jazz, and R&B.

He recorded on Jon Batiste's studio album Hollywood Africans as well as contributed trombone solos to John Legend's Grammy-nominated A Legendary Christmas (featuring Esperanza Spalding). He joined both Legend and Spalding to perform "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" on NBC's The Voice.

Awards ASCAP Foundation Louis Prima Award