Geoff Roach, San Jose Jazz Executive Director,  picks our tune of the month! He presents the track, explains why he chose it and why, in a general way, it represents the San Jose Jazz Festival.

          Marcus Miller is recreating the work of Miles Davis as recorded on the album Tutu. Tutu is an album released in 1986 by Miles Davis on Warner Bros. Records. Named in tribute of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the first black Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, South Africa, the album heavily utilizes electronic instruments and synthesizers. The track "Full Nelson" refers to Nelson Mandela. Almost all of the songs o the recording were written, performed, and arranged by Miller.

          This video shows Miles, Marcus, and 2008 San Jose Jazz Festival headliner David Sanborn performing the song Tutu. While this song isn't the straight ahead jazz that many people are comfortable with, this cut represents the San Jose Jazz Festival in many ways. Both are a mixture of many different styles, ideas, and people. Miles was always an innovator and Marcus continues that tradition. We in Silicon Valley thrive on innovation. In the video, you can see the musicians enjoying themselves - like all of us do at the festival."

Geoff Roach, Executive director.

Attend Marcus Miller - Tutu Revisited at the 2010 AT&T San Jose Jazz Festival.