Scottie Miller - Road to the Grammys with Ruthie Foster and jazz fused with poetry

Episode 51 of Count It Off welcomes a true musical innovator: Scottie Miller.

Best known for his Grammy-winning collaborations with contemporary blues powerhouse Ruthie Foster, Scottie has quite literally toured the world, bringing soul, groove, and fearless musicianship to global stages. But his story goes far deeper than the spotlight.

In this episode, we trace Scottie’s evolution from a young sonic explorer fascinated by synthesized sounds to his accelerated jazz studies at Berklee College of Music. We dig into the unexpected influences that shaped his artistic voice—like the restless prose of Jack Kerouac paired with the sharp wit and musicality of Steve Allen—and how literature, improvisation, and curiosity intertwined in his creative DNA.

We'll hear some of his most fascinating pieces from his spoken word jazz works too. You'll be amazed like we were.

Scottie also shares the story behind his upcoming release, a sweeping collaboration with the Budapest Scoring Orchestra, blending cinematic scope with his signature harmonic depth.

From blues stages to symphonic sessions, from late-night philosophy to jazz discipline, Scottie Miller embodies the true Renaissance spirit. This is a conversation about craft, curiosity, collaboration and the human connection—and what it really means to count it off.