A blowing session????

@daveyf 

but when was the last time anyone saw a wooden sax?? Almost all of the ones I know of are made of brass

Exactly!

I'm in jazz venues pretty often and they're definitely made of brass. As you note it is a "reed" instrument.

Charles

@crustycoot 

I never developed the ear for the saxophonist’s individuality as you describe it, but I do have that ear for the electric guitar masters

Yes, it depends on what you spend a lot of time listening to. I could not do that with rock guitarists as you can. Jazz guitarists? I could pretty easily. Jim Hall, Wes, Kenny Burrell, Kessel, Pass etc.  No doubt that our ear-brain pathway can be trained to recognize musician’s uniqueness.

​​​​​​​Charles

@stuartk

As to why he embraced Fusion, I’ve also read he was financially motivated but at the same time, genuinely enjoyed the music of of Hendrix and Sly. Plus, he was creatively restless; it was only natural that he would not stay in one place for long. And it’s worth recognizing that he worked his way into it; it wasn’t a single, sudden leap from "If I Were A Bell" to "Miles Runs the Voodoo Down".

Yes, you and @wharfy are correct as to the motivation guiding Miles'  transition into different jazz genres. I read his autobiography when written in the late 1980s. Creative urges, wanting to remain current and increasing his income status were major factors that he openly acknowledged. He was a big admirer of Prince in that era. 

I respect all of Miles' work but have to say that his earlier era of late 1940s to the early 1960s (Bebop-Modal) are what I enjoy most. Certainly to each their own.

Charles

@stuartk

One could also argue that there are "blowing sessions" that are equal to some well rehearsed recording dates. Both the quality of the material and its execution/interpretation are important. Great players can take a simple progression and "off the cuff" make it transcendent. Middling players can rehearse more complex compositions and be less compelling.

Let’s not oversimplify.

Agreed!! Spot on observation.

Charles

@daveyf 

My apologies. It seems that I misinterpreted your intention and context.

Charles

@daveyf 

IOW, if you have heard one great blowing session, maybe you have heard them all?

This is not my perspective at all . Each musician has their very unique sound, style and approach which is easily distinguishable when listening to them. For example if Dexter Gordon, Sonny Stitt , Oliver Nelson and John Coltrane were playing the same song I’d have no problem identifying each. They sound very different playing the tenor saxophone.

Ask them to play “Lush Life “ or “Round Midnight “ and you recognize the individuality of approach clearly (At least to me). Switch to trumpeters Miles, Chet Baker, Lee Morgan, Clifford Brown, Freddie Hubbard etc. Same thing. In my opinion these great jazz musicians definitely have their own voice instrumentally and expressive/emotionally. As unique as fingerprints.

Charles