Veritus Miller and the Truth Troupe
Los Angeles pianist Veritus Miller brings his Truth Troupe to Black Cat for what's billed as "LA takes the Bay!" — a West Coast jazz showcase featuring some of the Bay Area's finest upcoming artists including Veotis Latchison, Daniel Harris III, and Chili Corder.
Miller is a 19-year-old jazz pianist, composer, and arranger whose music blends traditional jazz foundations with contemporary energy. His debut single "Days With You Are Beautiful" was described by KCRW as "a frenetic yet tightly paced epic" that captures both happiness and uncertainty in its dynamic shifts. His compositions uplift themes of love, authenticity, optimism, and truth — reflecting his mission to honor black musical traditions while pushing the music forward.
Coming from a legendary musical family — his grandmother is choreographer Lula Washington and his cousin is saxophonist Kamasi Washington — Miller grew up immersed in Leimert Park's creative jazz community. He opened the 2023 Leimert Park Jazz Festival alongside Keyon Harrold, Gerald Clayton, and Carmen Lundy, and recently completed a 4-month residency at Ora Energy. He's also performed with Ryan Porter, supported Stevie Wonder with the UCLA Herb Alpert band, and appeared in Shae Universe's Tiny Desk Performance.
Live, Miller's Truth Troupe delivers what one reviewer called "presence, not potential" — a sound that's "large, full, and dynamically rich" with musicians who understand space, control, and real-time communication. The band features Isaac Green on bass (praised for his deep pocket and expressive bow work), Micah Heard on drums, and a horn section including Chris Powe on alto sax and Ronnie Heard on tenor. Miller himself "fills the room — not just with sound, but with feeling," transmitting emotion through every phrase.
Expect contemporary jazz with funk and fusion elements, rooted in hard bop traditions but infused with the energy and creativity of LA's thriving young jazz scene. The intimate Black Cat setting — a jazz supper club designed specifically for listening — should perfectly complement the band's mature, communicative approach to the music.