Pianist Mulgrew Miller is one of the premier contemporary performers on his instrument and an important voice in the jazz piano pantheon. His peers cite him as one of the most sought-after pianists in modern jazz, due to his originality, versatility, and deep knowledge of many styles and traditions. Miller is a dazzling soloist whose style fuses the swinging energy of classic bebop with the adventurous sophistication of modern jazz. As an accompanist he inspires his fellow musicians, adapting sensitively to their ideas while inspiring them with his own distinct sound. Born and raised in the Mississippi delta, Miller was surrounded by blues and gospel as a child. Early gigs with the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Art Blakey, Tony Williams, Betty Carter, and many others shaped his unique musical style. He has recorded more than a dozen albums as a leader, and his credits as a sideman are extensive. Miller's Stanford Jazz Festival performance features a trio with bassist Ray Drummond and a tag-team of outstanding drummers: hard-bop pioneer Louis Hayes and rising star Gregory Hutchinson.