Allison Miller

“Allison is a refreshingly honest player. She plays as she is, which is great because she is such an open-hearted, humble, graceful person.” – Ani DiFranco


NYC-based drummer/composer/teacher Allison Miller gathers inspiration from a wide array of genres. Coming from the Jazz tradition, she engages her deep roots in improvisation as a vehicle to explore all music. Described by critics as a charismatic and rhythmically propulsive drummer with melodic sensibility, Allison has been named “Rising Star Drummer” and “Top 20 Jazz Drummer” in Downbeat Magazine’s acclaimed Critics Poll.

Allison is currently celebrating her latest release No Morphine No Lilies (The Royal Potato Family.) The album has been met with critical acclaim receiving 4.5 stars from Downbeat and making “Top 10 Jazz Albums of 2013” lists for Downbeat, Jazz Journalists Association, and Something Else. NMNL features her band Boom tic boom: pianist Myra Melford, violinist Jenny Scheinman, bassist Todd Sickafoose, and special guests: Steven Bernstein, Erik Friedlander, Rachel Friedman, and Ara Anderson. “No Morphine No Lilies is by turns a dazzling, delightful, and challenging exercise led by not only one of the finest drummers on the scene, but also one of the most innovative compositional voices.” – Tom Jurek, All Music

In 2010 Allison’s debut BTB release was voted “Top 10 Jazz Albums of 2010” by the LA Times and her 2012 “Live at Willisau” double-vinyl release was chosen as an Editor’s pick for Downbeat. BTB made NPR’s 2012 “Top 5 Bands to Discover” list at NYC’s renowned Winter Jazz Fest and is featured on NPR’s “Tiny Desk Concert” series with Bob Boilen, “JazzSet” with Dee Dee Bridgewater, and “The Checkout: Live” with Josh Jackson.
As a side-musician, Miller has been the rhythmic force behind such mainstream artists as Ani DiFranco, Natalie Merchant, Toshi Reagon, and Brandi Carlile; and her jazz skills have been embraced by everyone from organ legend Dr. Lonnie Smith to avant-garde saxophonist Marty Ehrlich, guitarist Fred Frith, and bassist/composer Ben Allison.

She is a three time Jazz Ambassador of the US State Department and is on Yamaha’s Top 30 Clinicians List. She conducts clinics and master classes throughout the world and is faculty at The New School for Jazz, Kutztown University, and Jazz CampWest. Her lessons and writings have been published in The Huffington Post, Modern Drummer, JazzTimes, DRUM, Tom Tom, and Drummer UK. In 2008 Allison founded the "Walter Salb Memorial Musical Scholarship Foundation" in honor of her late teacher and mentor. The foundation annually provides a monetary award to a promising young musician directed toward furthering their studies in music.

Allison endorses Yamaha drums, Zildjian cymbals, Vic Firth sticks, and Evans drumheads.

www.allisonmiller.com