Butch Miles (July 4, 1944 - Feb. 2, 2023)

Sad to learn of the death of drummer Butch Miles. A musician who could slot into any genre.

With the Basie band he carried on the easy swing tradition of his illustrious predecessors such as Jo Jones and Sonny Payne.

I was privileged to hear him a couple of times at the North Sea Jazz Festival. In 1983 he drove a band that included Bob Wilber and Randy Sandke and the following year he turned up in a band billed as The Hall of Fame All Stars which was, in all but name, the World's Greatest Jazz Band including, as it did, Billy Butterfield, Bud Freeman, George Masso, Bob Haggart, Joe Bushkin and, of course, Butch Miles.

It was one of the highlights of that year's festival, not least because of the swinging drummer.

May he Rest In Peace. Lance

Obituary.