I recently purchased a CD by Miles Davis titled "Love Songs". This is the first Miles Davis music I have purchased. What would be some recommendations as to some of his best material. Thanks very much for any feedback!
I'd also recommend a live recording as well, such as, "In Person Friday and Saturday Nights at the Blackhawk, Complete". Great music, easily accessible, and terrific sonics.
Miles was a complicated artist and his career was long. If you want to learn about his music, go to Allmusic.com and do an artist search. Spend a little time checking out the discography section for a good overview of his music. I agree with Elizabeth as far as "Miles Big Three" goes. The big change in Miles music starts in the mid sixties, around the time of the album "E.S.P." He was feeling restless and wanted to make music more connected with the cultural changes going on. He morphed into a quite different musician as the sixties progressed.
do you really want to find more miles davis material or are you looking for the same type of material but by different artists. I say this because i assume, perhaps wrongly, that the song selections on this compilation probably have some very common elements where as miles as an artist went so many different ways.
The Love Songs Collection look like a lot of ballads which Miles brought a special touch to especially in his works on Prestiege in the late 50's and Columbia in the early 60's. Look for the recordings (lps) with the line-ups of Red Garland, Philly Joe Jones, Paul Chambers, John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderly, and Bill Evans which covers this era. He replaced everyone with another great generation of musicians with Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, and Ron Carter but the music is much faster with a harder edged sound and will disappoint a new comer if you are looking for the "soft" Miles like the Love Song collection. Check out his other "Ballad" compilations if you like the Love Song collection. He was a master ballad player who set the standard by which the world still measures "romantic ballad players" by.
Thanks all, excellent feedback! I did not realize how much Miles Davis changed over the years. I am quite taken by the ballads and will pursue more of this material for now.
Any favorites of ballads by John Coltrane you may want to share?
Coltrane has an excellent album of ballads titled...get this...Ballads. The great Elvin Jones and McCoy Tyner back him up on one of my favorite Sunday morning records.
When exploring the vast Miles Davis collection, you should check out a couple of releases by his two different quintets. Kind of Blue and the one word titles(e.g. Steamin', Relaxin') are with the late 50's quintet including John Coltrane (ts), Julian "Cannonball" Adderley (as), Bill Evans (p), Paul Chambers (b), Jimmy Cobb (d). The 60's quintet featuring Herbie Hancock (p), Wayne Shorter(ts), Tony Williams (d)and Ron Carter (b) was also incredible, but headed in a new direction.
For Coltrane ballads, "The Gentle Side of John Coltrane" and "Coltrane & Johnny Hartman" are both top shelf. Cheers, Spencer
Go to amazon.com search for Tutu, click on the import selection (jan 13, 2008), scroll toward the bottom & click on "So you'd like to...Have A Fundamental Miles Davis Collection:".
You'll get a pretty good summary of the periods & cds that go along with them.
A little off the OPs post but still related...Will someone please recommend a vinyl version of "In A Silent Way"? I do see some original Columbia recordings available as well as (Sony?) Legacy and a 180g version (same as Sony?) re-issues. Comments about sonics, surface noice, etc. please, on the reissues. Thanks.
Bitches Brew, Pangaea, Agharta. Japanese DSD CDs, black OBI, red label. Or original Columbia 2 eye 360 sound for Bitches Brew and original Japanese LPs for Pangaea and Agharta.
Some of Miles' "periods" can also be loosely linked with the labels he was on. For example, the first great quintet - John Coltrane, Philly Joe Jones, Paul Chambers, Red Garland - were mostly recorded on Prestige. There are some transition albums, including Kind of Blue, on Columbia, before you get to the second great quintet, which had Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter and Tony Williams, all of which were recorded on Columbia. Both of the quintets are equally important musically, although the first one will be a little more accessible to a new jazz fan.
I suggest you go to the library and sample before you spend one red cent. Most artists evolve, Miles went from one revolution to the next. Once upon a time, I bought every record he put out. Now I have CD's that I have to put in the player to know what they sound like. After the second cut I take them back out. At the same time, I have many records by Miles that take me back to another heavenly time and place. My point is, there are a number of Miles Davis's and no one can like them all.
Equinox, Blue Trane, and Cousin Mary are my personal personal favorites by Trane. I also have a CD, "In a Sentimental Mood", that I think you would like.
I was a late bloomer with Miles Davis (jazz in general), and, a friend , Mo, a Miles fanatic, turned me on to him, and Jazz . Mo had every recording by Miles, on either LP or CD, so I thought. I discovered a recording by Miles which Mo did not even know of, and it so happens to be my favorite by Miles, the recording by Miles I most listen to. "A Tribute to Jack Johnson". Admittedly, Miles has so many recordings, showing different stages of his life, but somehow, I am drawn to Tribute to JJ.
In my opinion, "Something Else" by Cannonball Adderley is the best jazz album ever. The reason I mention this is because Miles never blew better, he was at his absolute peak. He sounds better on this album than on his albums. This maybe the only album in my collection on which I like every cut.
Stardust is an often overlooked Prestige ballads album done in 1958. A Rudy Van Gelder remastered version was released in 2007. It has some of his classic band members - Red Garland, Paul Chambers, Jimmy Cobb and newcomer Freddie Hubbard. The 4 cuts are Stardust, Time After Time, Love They Neighbor, and Then I'll Be Tired of You. I like the Ballads album better, but Stardust is not far behind.
Giant Steps (recorded in 1959) is often seen as his exit from bebob. It was his first album that he wrote all the songs. It is known for its long improvisations and was his transition into his modern style.
I also like Monk and Coltrane at Carneige Hall (Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall - 1959) as a good introduction in Coltrane. It was not released originally, but was re-discovered and released in 2005. Prestine master.
my first Davis material was "ascenseur pour lechafaud"...original soundtrack for some french movie...that thing blowed me away...manny exelent takes by miles and crew...most laidback album ever...also check "steamin with miles", "miles ahead" "in a silent way" as someone mentioned...masterpieces...cheers to audiogon society...
As an additional thought...while my first concert was Miles Davis...and it was wonderful...stylistically, I preferred and still prefer Clifford Brown to Miles...Clifford was wonderful...and depending on your personal tastes, you may like his work, may not....but he is a worthy listen. The Complete Blue Note and Pacific Jazz Recordings....I was just listening the other day, and commented here on Audiogon as to 'What's on your Turntable'. Sadly, Clifford died so young in a car accident...1956. But his legacy and work lives on--he worked with Cannonball Adderley and Charlie Parker...great people to associate with. If you try him...let us know what you think...his style and tone...for my taste the best...Chris Botti unabashedly emulates his style--and while not as good, a terrific player in his own right.
Clifford is my favorite too. His pairing with Max Roach was the best. Richie Powell, who was Bud Powell's younger brother was also killed in that accident.
Orpheus10... Thanks for reading...wow...does it get any better than Clifford... When I hear some of the Alto players (I played and tried, operative word tried, to play like Charlie...) of that era, I'm amazed at the talent level...it was a Golden Era...people who don't listen to that genre and era are really missing out.
You are in my inner circle of 'Those with undeniable Taste!!', lol.
Orpheus10, Cannonball is a little less (if any) bebop...and a little more, only stylistically, to my taste. His album with Nancy Wilson, is a treasure that I've turned tons of folks on to. His rendition of 'Can't Get Started' is another 'Gold Standard'.
Do you have "Charley Parker With Strings", it's timeless. "Bebop" is kind of a mood thing, and while it illustrates the virtuosity of "Bird" it came and it went.
CK, Some Miles Davis you`d probably enjoy, "Some Day My Prince Will Come","Sketches of Spain", "Miles Ahead" and "Seven Steps to Heaven". Sarah Vaughan`s "Embracable You" features simply excellent Clifford Brown trumpet at its best."Clifford Brown with Strings" is also first rate ballad trumpet playing. Best Regards,
'You go to my head', from the Complete Blue Note and Pacific Jazz recordings...marvelous. Thank goodness all that beautiful work was captured. I could only wish that the great Winston Ma of First Impressions Music, would get hold of these and 'remaster ' the whole lot, using his 'magic'.
Ck, tell us what you've listened to that you liked the most including sidemen with Miles and we can realy help you. While some of the very best jazz musicians have been mentioned, many have been left out.
WOW! Last night I'm cruisin' Netflix and found 'Miles Davis: Cool Jazz Sound'. A film described as feat. Miles and his classic quintet: Coltrane, Cobb, Kelly, & Chambers. Imagine my surprise to find that it's actually that band PLUS Gil Evans and a Big Band! Unfortunately, it's too short at 25 minutes. Apparently, this is a tape from a TV show recorded in '59. Playing music from 'Miles Ahead', the audio/video certainly isn't anywhere near modern standards, but the MUSIC!!
....and then there's this, from the AUDIOPHILE perspective (this IS an Audio site!;). The session was recorded live in a large Manhatten studio, try to picture this configuration/seating arrangement. Picture a football, at the head is Miles with his band directly behind him, down the left side are the brass, down the right side saxes and woodwinds, and at the other end of the 'football', facing Miles is Gil Evans conducting the orchestra! Imagine what it must've sounded like to Miles, talk about the 'sweet' spot!!
Sorry for not following up as I thought the thread went inactive a long time ago! I have been listening to Love Songs and Kind of Blue. Any suggestions what to try next?
Ck...try dope ascenseour pour lechafaud...miles steamin...miles workin....in silent way if you like calm jazz fusion sound...it will satisfy you for beginning...for little more psychodelic and experimental presentation bitches brew heh...i more like youger miles till the bout middle of his carrer...but 100 men 100 different tastes...enjoy...
You must have a verified phone number and physical address in order to post in the Audiogon Forums. Please return to Audiogon.com and complete this step. If you have any questions please contact Support.
