(July 22, 2026) Aziza Miller is a pianist, composer, songwriter, vocalist, and poet – just to name a few of her credits. At heart, Miller is a teacher and mentor of many. I saw a short segment on Miller’s website where she talked about what constitutes a good teacher/mentor. Miller said that a good mentor “is not someone who punishes you for making a mistake.”
Miller has had some good mentors such as Natalie Cole, for whom she served as pianist during the vocalist’s imperial period. Miller composed the song “La Costa” for Cole’s 1977 album Thankful. Miller paid it forward as an educator and mentor of students in her native New York. Alicia Keys was one of Miller’s students.
Miller’s career in the music industry and the academy proves that she can do and teach. Aziza Miller is woman who knows her worth, and she defiantly declares that on the triumphant “I’m That Woman,” the song featured on this First Listen. She takes listeners on a vocal journey from being someone who is a people pleaser who is taken for granted to someone who realizes and embraces her unique gifts and is willing to step away from anyone who wants her to shrink herself.
Miller puts together an arrangement that does all the things and does them seamlessly. We hear singing and spoken word passages. The song has theatrical show tune energy, jazz piano improvisations, backing vocals from the church tradition and even some rock guitar. “I’m That Woman” is inspiring and entertaining. Check it out here.
By Howard Dukes
