Marcus Miller & Miles Davis

Who is the man behind Miles Davis’ Tutu ? At just 25 years old, Marcus Miller was already a prodigious talent - one of the most in-demand players on the New York City session scene and a writer-producer behind top hits for Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross, David Sanborn, Roberta Flack, among many others.

It was his work with Miles Davis however, that cemented his place in jazz history. As the creative architect behind Tutu, (1986), Miller played a pivotal role in shaping the music of Miles’ final era, composing and producing most of the songs on the album and infusing the legendary musician's work with a mix of jazz, funk and bold electronic textures.

The result was an edgy, contemporary sound - innovative for its’ time – that redefined Davis’ musical direction, sparked critical debate and propelled Davis back to the forefront of the global music conversation. Tutu not only expanded the boundaries of jazz, but also stands as one of the defining artistic statements of Davis’ final era.

Following the groundbreaking success of Tutu, Miller continued his collaboration with Davis, composing and producing the albums Amandla and Siesta, further refining the sonic identity of Miles’ last decade.

Through this extraordinary body of work, Miller emerged as not just a collaborator, but as a central architect of Miles Davis’ closing chapter – helping to craft a forward-looking legacy that continues to resonate across generations today.