Biscuit is back! After several years of touring with Anthony Gomes, Biscuit Miller put a band back together and is poised for prime time. Biscuit & The Mix took the stage at Harlem Avenue Lounge on this fun night, while I commandeered the most Northwest barstool. I first met Biscuit in an earlier pre-Gomes incarnation of the band at The Slippery Noodle in Indy. I sometimes take good music as a given, but even then his showmanship and charisma were memorable. Now years later, his smile is amped up a few more watts and his energy level is at buzz level. So enough about the smiling stick of dynamite playing the bass, how about the band? Paxton Norris, Biscuits frequent partner is joined by another great young player Jordan Lunardini (I love that name). Paxton, Jordan and Biscuit reside in some Eastern suburbs of Chicago (Michigan and Indiana). These two young fret masters have set up their rigs and their playing to provide two distinct, but complimentary guitar voices. Given their turn, each comes up with interesting song supporting parts. Myron’s in the house. Veteran drummer Myron Robinson, with too much energy of his own, manages to keep this troupe very tight and on the one. Paxton Norris, Jordan Lunardini, Myron Robinson and Biscuit Miller all sing well, in solo or harmony. To close the final set, each showcased their instrumental talent and left the stage in turn. This left Biscuit alone for a final entertaining bass blessing.
Biscuit & the Mix are now on the road for a busy tour covering many of our United States. They are booked as late as February 2009 when they will join the Chubby Carrier Party Cruise. If you have the opportunity, check them out. If the venue allows, bring your camera and send in a copy of your best Biscuit picture. The man is so photogenic that it’s difficult to get a bad picture of him. Peace.

 

Marty Sammon’s piano is situated so he faces his band from across the stage. Obviously, he wants it right and tight. His drummer, Rick King already seems to know where Marty is going. The Sammon/King connection appears in other configurations around town and they bring some serious chops to whatever stage they grace. Don’t bother with Google. I already checked and yes, King Salmon is indeed the Alaska state fish. I’ve heard Marty Sammon and Rick King without any other players, and it’s a damn good show. Tonight add Mike Sterling on bass, and the saxophone of Jay Moynihan, and you know you’re going to stay for all three sets at Harlem Avenue Lounge.  Tonight’s guitar player is Guy King. As usual then, Sammon presents an all-star band. Guy King is a headliner in his own right, and brings vocal chords with his six string.  From the opening instrumental, where everybody on stage gets some, you are reminded once again that Chicago is home to some of the world’s best players. Like a DJ with two turntables, Marty barely closes one song and he’s into the next. Some pictures captured Guy, Mike and Jay staring back across the stage for Marty’s queue.
I was impressed with Guy King’s style of playing. He often uses clean single note phrases that are melodic, interesting and he punctuates the phrases with a beautiful vibrato. Playing sans plectrum, it was a delight to hear more than a bag of riffs. “If the washin’ don’t get you, the rinsin’ sho nuff will” was a good example of Guy King’s singing ability. The other King that did that song would have approved. Mike was his usual solid and Jay was once again a sax hero, deserving of his own video game counterpart. My favorite segments are when Sammon goes NOLA on us. He has the touch of the piano greats from the Crescent City down pat. He threw in “Good Night Irene” and some ragtime just to keep the other side of the stage on hyper-alert. A song Marty penned for his recording with Tom Holland has become a crowd favorite, and has my vote for breakout single (yes I remember Top 40 radio). The song is titled “The Church Where I Belong”, and is far more secular than sacred, but nonetheless should be getting airplay.