MUSIC REVIEW ANDREA MILLER VITELLOs in Studio City

VITELLOS features an intimate, private room upstairs that has become the home of this restaurants Red Carpet Jazz Series. Recently, I attended a show there featuring the very talented Andrea Miller. Large wooden doors swung open to a full house. The crowd sat in rapt attention of this little lady with the compelling voice. Dressed in a simple black dress and Patton leather pumps, Miller was moving back and forth across the stage, as if anticipating every nuance of her band. Her whole body pulsated with music, whether she was singing or listening to her band members solo. On piano was Ed Czach, David Miller on double bass and Jack LeCompe on drums. Arriving late, I missed the first couple of songs. However, right from the moment I sat down, Ms. Miller was engaging. The talented songstress exhibits an easy patter with her audience. Here is an artist that makes you feel right at home, as though you have dropped by her place for dinner and drinks. At the same time, she offered the audience a relaxed, but highly emotional interpretation of songs. As an introduction to one tune, Miller confessed she no longer smokes or drinks coffee. Then she sang the bluesy composition “Black Coffee”, wringing each tone from the song like a handkerchief full of tears. Next came her fluid arrangement of ‘Love For Sale;’ followed by James Taylor’s Pop hit ‘Fire & Rain.’ Miller made both songs uniquely her own. Her repertoire is diverse. During the evening, her vocal style projected a confident, Jazzy strength; particularly exhibited in her swinging and spirited version of ‘Moanin’. The first set ended with the old standard ‘Sentimental Journey’ where Andrea lamented that she has never taken a train trip, but would love to do so and would surely hum this song during her excursion. An evening with Andrea Miller is a trip all to itself. There are some singers you experience, only to puzzle why a major record label hasn’t swept them up and shared their talent with the world. Andrea Miller is one such gifted artist.
Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

Dee Dee McNeil
December 10, 2009

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