Orchestra Big Band
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John Miller Orchestra
The John Miller Orchestra, formerly The Herb Miller Orchestra, is the only big band performing the music of Glenn Miller with direct family links to the great man himself, in the form of John Miller, his nephew.
Biography
Herb Miller developed his musical talent very much under the guidance of his older brother Glenn, and went on to form various bands in America. Herb’s budding career was cut short by a stint in the army in California where, after his discharge, he settled in on the Southern tip of the Monterey Bay. There, to great acclaim, he taught music in several schools and, being a practical man, personally built a house big enough to rehearse a big band in. Music was always the main driving force, focal point and ultimate aim of Herb Miller.
Many years after the disappearance of Glenn, Herb was given the opportunity and decided he wanted to recreate the Miller Magic and form an orchestra to play his brother’s music.
Herb had worked in America for many years with his son John. John started playing bass with his father’s band at the tender age of 15 and shortly thereafter, in addition, became the band’s singer.
When they decided to form the Herb Miller Orchestra in Great Britain, John became his business partner and the featured singer with the band. John and Herb built an organisation that now contains some of the best musicians in the country. There are still two of the original members that have been with the band for 32 years and the rest range in service time from 30 years down to 12 years with the odd “newcomer” with only 4 or 5 years on the roster.
Sadly, when Herb died in 1987, John Miller took over the direction of The Herb Miller Orchestra. 15 years after Herb’s passing, it was decided that the band should be renamed. The John Miller Orchestra was born.
John, with his unique brand of Yankee showmanship, humour and personality has given this already sterling organisation a reputation of “a good time for all”, including the band!
John has the uncanny ability to reach a crowd whether it is in the small confines of a smokey bar or the vast expanse of Hyde Park to tens of thousands. The musicians have been chosen not just for their musical expertise but also for their amiable personalities. They have a good time and spread joy where ever they go.
And then there’s the “Sweetheart of the John Miller Orchestra”, vocalist Fiona Paige.
Fiona is at the centre of the great Modernaires numbers like “Chattanooga Choo Choo”, “I’ve Gotta Gal In Kalamazoo” and “Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree”. As Fiona is an ex-dancer, she brings years of professionalism, energy and an extra dimension and definition to the term big band singer. When she sings, she really tells a story in sound and movement. She is a show in herself. To see her is to love her.
The Orchestra has extensively toured in the UK, France, Belgium, The Canary Islands and the Scandinavian Countries – to name but a few – recreating the classical Glenn Miller sound for the pleasure of thousands of listeners.
John Miller Orchestra is perfect for: Weddings, festivals, corporate events, galas, dinners, awards ceremonies, product launches, media events, music events, themed events, private functions
Read moreTestimonials
The thing about John Miller is that he knows a thing or two. He conjures up a plethora of adjectives, all of which describe that he sure knows how to entertain the crowds. It was grins, chuckles and smiles all round as he quipped, told anecdotes, had a bash at playing the double bass, jumped off the stage to dance with the ladies in the audience, and then after the show went out front to meet everybody. He’s a “one off” and “a natural”, and entertainer with a hugely engaging personality. He sure can sell a song. The core of a successful show, though, is it’s programming, and John knows all about that. Right from the opening Here We Know Again the pace was carefully constructed with a balance of ballads and swinging beat numbers in a rising curve which built to a climax and left the audience clamoring for more. Just as it should be. Many of the familiar Glenn Miller favorites were there, as you would expect of a band led by Glenn’s Nephew. But nowadays audiences expect more. And they got it. John carefully linked Glenn’s close friendship with Tommy Dorsey to lead into I’m Getting Sentimental Over You. His arranger Jerry Gray led us to Jerry’s ever-popular arrangement of Begin the Begine for Artie Shaw. Glenn Played and recorded One O’clock Jump so John included Harry’s Two O’clock Jump complete with the famous final chorus of “cascading trumpets”. Ray Anthony was Glenn’s youngest ever trumpet player, so John threw in Ray’s The Man with The Horn. The audience clearly lapped up such a refreshing mix of swinging classics. But what of the band itself? Well, crucially both John and the boys were obviously having a ball and their enthusiasm was infectious. It was good to see and hear Eddie Mordue pick up his clarinet for Begin the Begine. The pleasingly strong trombone section came down front for a wild four-man chase in Two O’clock Jump, and young trombonist Lee Hallam gave a beautifully phrased and smooth reading of the Tommy Dorsey style in I’m Getting Sentimental Over You. Above all, the whole band was kept right on track by the impeccable playing of drummer Bobby Worth. Bobby is much in demand and had just finished a two-week stint in London with Michael Feinstein. With the John Miller band he swung like the clappers, always playing so intelligently and musically. Wonderful! Which brings me to Fiona Paige. She’s been with the band for quite a while and is the perfect band singer and a musical match to John. Her poise, grace, sense of fun and magnetic stage presence are top-notch.( I think she’d be good in a cabaret setting!) And her choice of material outside the Miller favorites was interesting and spiced up the programming – she drew applause and whistles for her Straighten Up and Fly Right and then included Billy-a-Dick, which is a tricky and catchy number I’ve never heard another band play. I seem to remember it has Bette Midler connections. Anyway, it slotted in excellently. We are fortunate in Britain to have several first-rate big bands” doing the rounds”. Each has its own style and attraction. The John Miller Orchestra sits very nicely amongst them, thank you very much.”
Malcolm Laycock
BBC Radio 2: “Sunday Nights at 10”
