In early September, a circle of musicians will gather in New York City to honor a legend whose influence still resonates. On what would have been the 78th birthday of Buddy Miles, a tribute concert at The Cutting Room will unite artists whose paths have intersected with the drummer’s legacy. Among the participants: Vernon Reid, the guitar force behind Living Colour, and former Billy Joel drummer Liberty DeVitto, both stepping into the spotlight to celebrate Miles’s enduring impact.
This concert is both a continuation and culmination of a broader homage. Last year, drummer-producer-singer James “Biscuit” Rouse unveiled Biscuit and Buddy, a tribute album devoted to Miles’s storied career. That record blended eight reinterpretations of songs from across Miles’s discography with three original tracks shaped by his spirit. The album featured contributions from Reid, bassist Doug Wimbish, and jazz guitar virtuoso Marcus Machado.
Now, Rouse looks to bring the music off the record and into a live setting. The show in September promises to be more than a performance; it’s a moment of gathering, remembrance, and dialogue. In addition to the live renditions, attendees will witness a roundtable discussion on Miles’s career and view rare video footage of the artist himself. That interplay of conversation and performance aims to capture the fullness of a musician who was more than just a drummer.
The concert will also serve as a pre-release moment for Biscuit and Buddy on vinyl. Rouse intends to make advance copies available to those in attendance: a tangible keepsake of the night and of the continuing presence of Buddy Miles.
Rouse approached the project with both reverence and a personal connection. He described the event not as a mere cover show, but “a celebration of a genius drummer, guitarist, singer, and producer whose music changed the game.” His sense of awe is clear: this is music rooted in a lifetime of creation, and treated not like nostalgia, but as living heritage.
For Miles, who reached wide audiences in bands like Electric Flag and the Band of Gypsys: alongside Hendrix and others, the evening represents the continued ripple of his creative force. And for Reid, Liberty DeVitto, and their fellow musicians, joining the tribute is a way to channel both memory and momentum. In one venue, across conversation and sound, Buddy Miles’s legacy will be heard again, carried forward in new hands.