Style, soul and intense professionalism have set Marcus Miller at the top of his game for three decades now. Marcus was born in 1959 and raised in a musical family that includes his father, William Miller (a church organist and choir director) and jazz pianist Wynton Kelly. By 13, Marcus was proficient on clarinet, piano and bass guitar, and already writing songs. Two years later he was working regularly in New York City, eventually playing bass and writing music for jazz flutist Bobbi Humphrey and keyboardist Lonnie Liston Smith. Miller soon became a top call session musician, gracing well over 500 albums, recording with musicians and in countries around the globe - from Frank Sinatra and Elton John to Bill Withers and LL Cool J. The breadth of his collaborative talents were best showcased in his work with soul man Luther Vandross, contributing to well over half of his albums as a producer, composer and/or player on a string of hits capped by "The Power of Love/Love Power" for which Marcus won his first Grammy: 1991's R&B Song of the Year.

After co-leading The Jamaica Boys (with drummer Lenny White and singer Mark Stephens) for two albums followed by two R&B-leaning solo albums for Warner Bros. in the `80s, Marcus took a hiatus then returned rejuvenated with the galvanizing The Sun Don't Lie (1993) and Tales (1995), both of which found him brilliantly connecting the dots of Black music's evolution. Following the fan-demanded Live and More in 1997, Miller released M2 ("M-Squared") on his own 3 Deuces Records label and won his second Grammy: 2001's Best Contemporary Jazz Album. A second double live CD, The Ozell Tapes: The Official Bootleg (2003), came next, followed by Silver Rain (2005).

Today, Marcus' interests and projects are expanding into even more artistic endeavors. Last year found him hosting the first North Sea Jazz Cruise, which called for him to not just bring his band and turn the boat out, but hand-pick the other musicians who participated, covering all the bases with legends Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner, David Sanborn and Dee Dee Bridgewater, edgy contemporary stars Roy Hargrove, James Carter and Medeski, Scofield, Martin & Wood, European imports Ulf Wakenius and Silje Nergaard and fierce up-and-comers Lionel Loueke and Roberta Gambarini. Treating fans to excellently planned programs (including a Sunday morning "Gospel Hour" co-hosted with the chameleonic Kirk Whalum - who was all over the ship for the entire cruise) as well as spontaneously thrilling jam sessions (including one where ship guests could sit in with the pros), Marcus also led seminars, interviews with the giants, and insisted that all of the talent be available on downtime to mingle with the cruisers. It was an awesome experience.

"I was a little skeptical when they first approached me," Marcus admits. "I wasn't trying to subject my musician friends to playing background music on ‘The Love Boat!' But when I shared my vision with everyone and they agreed to come aboard, I knew it was going to be something special. We had the most wonderful people from around the world - all so into the music - which gave the whole event such a beautiful spirit. It was like having the dopest backstage pass ever, plus I got to do some fresh things that I've always wanted to do." Marcus is now on deck to host the first Playboy Jazz Cruise of the Caribbean in 2009.

In that same spirit of new conquest, Marcus is collaborating with his old friend and film director Reginald Hudlin - now President of Entertainment for the BET cable network - on a talent quest TV special that will take the "American Idol" and "Sunday Best" contests to another level. "We're going to look for musicians that are true individuals," Marcus states, "pulling kids from universities and music programs across the country. The grand prize will be to go on the road with me and my band (drummer Poogie Bell, trumpeter Michael "Patches" Stewart, saxophonist Keith Anderson, harmonica player Gregoire Maret, keyboardist Bobby Sparks and guitarist Dean Brown). It's important to me to talk to music students today because some think they're going to come right out of school and step into a job. It's not like that. You have to be an entrepreneur these days, really figure out how to sell yourself and have several irons in the fire. I want them to really understand what is required to succeed in this business."

In addition to the jazzy winter holidays score (featuring a trio led by pianist Cyrus Chestnut) that he just completed for the acclaimed "This Christmas," Marcus is about to score another as-yet-untitled film centered around a family. "These kinds of scores are really challenging," muses Marcus - a loving husband and father of two sons and two daughters. "Nobody's jumping out of planes so what you're writing is the emotions of the people and what's happening in their lives. Film scores really open me up...make me write things I wouldn't write for an album. Then when I come back to making my albums, I have some new colors to mess with."

Returning to the spoken word aspect that fills his generous new 14-track masterpiece, Marcus doesn't rule out the possibility of kicking some poetry of his own at some point. But for him, a few well chosen notes - like a great photograph - can speak volumes. "I still prefer relaying a message with the music...and implying things," he says.

"The beautiful thing about music is you put it out there and people say, ‘Man, I know exactly what you meant by that song,' and they'll be totally wrong! But it's cool because that's what it meant to them."

Marcus Miller - the man and his ninth album, Marcus - ultimately stand for one thing - Musical Magnificence.