Already playing with bands as a teenager, Buddy Miles was truly a unique talent who advanced beyond his years. A drummer by trade, but really so much more diverse with the ability to play guitar and sing, Miles would play with everyone from the Delfonics and Wilson Pickett, to Jimi Hendrix and John McLaughlin, his musical energy wowed everyone he crossed paths with.
Sadly passing at the young age of sixty back in 2008, his legacy lives on through many including Eric Clapton (who played Miles’ 1970 song “Them Changes” as a live tribute), Bonnie Raitt (who has been called one of the greatest drummers in Rock and Soul), but also James “Biscuit” Rouse. Biscuit, while perhaps not a household name to the average listener, is quite an accomplishment musician in his own right; having been the musical director of the likes of Miss Lauryn Hill, as well as toured with bands like Living Colour for many years. Inspired by Miles, Biscuit is also a special type of drummer who can sing, and now in 2024, he releases an album as a tribute to the late, great legend.
Biscuit’s first-ever studio album, the accomplished musician put a lot of thought into how he wanted to approach this. Considering Miles is one of his idols, he felt it was a divine calling to record what he calls Biscuit and Buddy.
“I chose to do this project because George ‘Buddy’ Miles has inspired me as a musician,” says Rouse. “It has inspired me to not recreate his works note for note but to create an exploration of his musical legacy. Buddy is the blueprint for what I am aspiring to do as a drummer that can sing.”
A profound statement of his respect for Miles, the Biscuit and Buddy album is the first ever Buddy Tribute project, and it arrived on September 27, 2024 through Broken Silence Records. These details presented, as Biscuit stated, this album is a tribute from his perspective and how Miles personally influenced him. With that, you get eight tracks either written by or performed by Miles at some point in his career. This includes a fantastic rendition of “Don’t Mess With Cupid” (originally performed by the great Otis Redding), “Down By The River” (originally written by Neil Young), the classic “Them Changes,” plus a powerful performance of “Baby I’m a Star” (originally by Prince). Beyond this, there is also a sensation Buddy Miles originals called “Life Is What You Make It” which features the wonderful Vernon Reid of Living Colour on guitar, and the smooth “Train.”
Each song is performed with excellent precision and ample emotion, with all of them showcasing Biscuit on vocals and drums… just like Mr. Buddy Miles. Furthermore, the list of other musicians involved in the recording sessions is exceptional; including Living Colour’s Doug Wimbish, Guitarist Marcus Machado, and Saxophonist V. Jeffrey Smith.
Truly a collective that had an absolute blast recording this album, let us not forget that it also includes three original Biscuit tracks; which are the colorful “Shine,” the uplifting “Enough is Enough,” R&B, Funk-flavored “Gi-Gina.”
In the end, James “Biscuit” Rouse took the bold task of recording a Buddy Miles tribute album and hit all the right notes. Uniquely presented by Biscuit, this album has a spirit that Miles himself would surely appreciate. So, if you are a fan of Rock, Soul, R&B, and everything in between, this is a perfect way to discover more about both Buddy Miles and Mr. James “Biscuit” Rouse. A recommended listen and educational experience, Cryptic Rock gives Biscuit and Buddy 5 out of 5 stars.
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