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TRAVELING IN THE DARK is Living Record's most recent release (2008): $6 plus $2 S&H. I played alto and c-tenor saxophones, live electronics, analog synth, prerecorded & live tape, feedback. The impetus behind this release is in the slow-moving nuances of intentional and unintentional sonic interaction between instrument and device. No laptops. No overdubs. Turn out the lights and turn it up. This is reminiscent of previous ensembles I've worked with i.e. Empool (1976-78) and GKW (1982-94).

Here is an interview by DSI Records on Youtube, filmed by Clay Harris after my performance at the Sept. 14th 2008 benefit for Sonic Circuits Festival @ Pyramid Atlantic, MD

In 2007, I did sound design for NYC Poet CAROL NOVACK for her CDR Inventions II on sale @ CDBaby. FOUR VARIATIONS is one of her pieces.
Review of Carol's poem "Babies";
"A very cool, for lack of a better word, sound effect background of every reverberation imagined within the context of her word tapestry only adds to this masterpiece of a woman's lament. This is almost a three-ring circus of breasts, moonshine, and babies swishing around in the wash."
Cicily Janus, Eclectica Magazine Oct/Nov 2007
available for purchase; INVENTIONS II: Fictions, Fusions & Poems

SONIC BACKGROUND:

From 1969-71 I played guitar in the post-psych band Sproton Layer with brothers Laurence and Roger, and trumpeter Harold Kirchen.

In 1973, interested in Fusion, I went to a music college in Boston to learn technique, theory and notation, while further exploring free-form improvisation.

In 1974-75 I composed for The Fourth World Quartet , which included Laurence , Roger, Jack Waterstone, and later Denman Maroney. This material was a combo of free jazz and 20th Century composition. But the outlook of having nowhere to play so-called avant garde music was dismal at best.

Fall of 1976 I joined up with Empool; a psych-electronic improv band governed by brother Lar. This ensemble played what is now considered noise; layered cacophony of guitar, keyboards and saxophone in a chain of analog foot pedals (MXR, Dan Armstrong, echoplex, etc.) alongside prerecorded stereo tape of found sound. There was no other band in the Ann Arbor area heading in this direction other than Destroy All Monsters that took a very different approach.

I played alto sax for the Ann Arbor-based punk band Destroy All Monsters from 1977-78 with Cary Loren, Niagara, Larry Miller, Rob King, Ron Asheton (Stooges) and Michael Davis (MC5). D.A.M. was a bastards' son of two factions; Cary Loren & Niagra and Empool. That was a glorious mess. I was on D.A.M.'s first two 45rpms; "You're Gonna Die/Bored" and "November 22nd, 1963/Meet The Creeper".

In light of Ron's recent departure from the planet, here is twin bro Laurence's MY BIOGRAPHY doing We Will Fall and Turn Your Every Page; Also a fun video that Mike Kelly has up on his myspace page.

Here is an informative article on D.A.M. by Cary Loren.

In the early 80's, I played with various avant-rock groups with Laurence; The Same Band, The Other Band, Low Income Zone, Radio Silence and Nonfiction. I explored a far more abstract sound with GKW. "Sunday night at the Performance Network, the band (GKW) that delighted some sections of the audience at the 16mm (film) festival, while annoying others, will play, spotlighting an infrequent performance by one of the most forward-thinking local guitarists....anyone who wants to check out just how avant the avant-garde can be is advised to be there."
The Ann Arbor News, 1983

In 1989, my brothers and I formed a recording project called M3. We produced 2 CDs over the span of 10 years with only two live performances; Boston and Chicago in 2001. Another 10 years has passed, and we are considering a third recording session as well as the release of Chicago's 2001 performance.

In 1993, I moved from Ann Arbor to Chicago to get a BFA at Columbia College Chicago. There I concentrated on film, writing and music composition. In Chicago, I played with The Eleven Mirrors Ensemble, Ganglion, Mechaghidra, Dirty Old Man River, Flaw, Ben Miller/degeneration and Regeneration.

In 2000, I began solo shows as Ben Miller/degeneration featuring multiphonic guitar soundscapes (http://www.myspace.com/benmillerdegeneration

In 2002, Laurence and I released One Full Turn as Twice Removed. This CDR holds a variety of material recorded over the span of several years while I was living in Chicago and he in Ann Arbor. This CDR reminds me of a combination between the two, very different M3 releases.

I moved to Brooklyn, NYC in 2003 and then Jersey City in 2005 working with several groups in several directions; Thirdborder, Ben Miller/degeneration, and The Push-Pull Quartet. After recording and performing with Glenn Branca's 100 Guitar Orchestra in 2004 and 2006, I began composing on a much larger scale. In 2008, I formed The Sensorium Saxophone Orchestra; a 14-member saxophone orchestra with 12 saxophones and two drummers. An all-analog 12" release of Terry Riley's IN C is in consideration.

Below you can see me perform my piece"Unknown Zone" (YOUTUBE) at Abaton's art opening for Don Voisine [May, 2007] in Jersey City.

Below is a music video my son Ben put together awhile ago. I think it's great.