Miles Davis
Posted by: ft-o8 on 02 March 2009
Hey,
I am a more helplessly newby for the music of miles davis.
Can anybody me give a "must have list" over the five most importent records of Miles ?
Posted on: 04 March 2009 by Huwge
quote:
Originally posted by willem:
Davis is OK as a starter. If you want to move on from there go Coltrane - Mingus- Coleman - Shepp - Cherry - Sun Ra - Art Ensemble of Chicago - Anthony Braxton.
Or backwards to Armstrong's Hot 5s and 7s?
Posted on: 04 March 2009 by Huwge
The Miles album I play the most is Porgy and Bess, but I listen to most of them at some time or other in the year.
Posted on: 05 March 2009 by mikeeschman
quote:
Originally posted by Huwge:
The Miles album I play the most is Porgy and Bess, but I listen to most of them at some time or other in the year.
i second this, followed by seven steps to heaven.
Posted on: 06 March 2009 by ft-o8
So.
My basecollecton of Miles is:
Amandlia
Ascenseur pour l'échafaud
Aura
In a silent way
Kind of blue
Pangea
thats enough stuff at the beginning.
Posted on: 06 March 2009 by fred simon
Well, it's a list of good albums, but nothing before Kind of Blue? Nothing with the classic Shorter/Hancock/Carter/Williams quintet? I dunno ... you might have to get your wallet out again. (insert emoticon here)
Best,
Fred
Posted on: 07 March 2009 by ft-o8
Fred,
6 Alben in one week.
The others come later this year.
Posted on: 07 March 2009 by JamieL
Looks like a very good start to me.
Best to get to know those albums well, rather than buying lots and lots of albums you hardly get time to listen to.
I hope you enjoy discovering Miles Davis' music, even after being a fan for over 20 years I still discover new likes in his music. It took all that time to get into the 'Bitches Brew'/'On The Corner' period, but I finally did, and I still have not really got into the second great quintet (Shorter/Hancock/Carter/Williams), but I am sure it will happen someday.
Posted on: 07 March 2009 by fred simon
Of course it's great to get into a master like Miles any way one can, bottom line.
I just think that if one can start from scratch, it's enlightening to hear where Kind of Blue departs from before hearing Kind of Blue itself. Likewise, hearing the all-acoustic classic second quintet (Shorter, et al) after one has digested Kind of Blue and other stuff with Miles first classic quintet (Coltrane, et al). And then moving on to In A Silent Way, Bitches Brew, etc. You can get so much from the continuity of a chronological discovery.
Just my two cents, and, admittedly, I do teach jazz at the university level.
All best,
Fred
Posted on: 08 March 2009 by Max Bass
I'm gonna have to start crackin' some heads if ft- at the very minimum, does not, or will not pick up "Milestones"!!!
I can't stop playing this great, classic album! "Billy Boy" is so amazing! Just the smoking rhythm section of Red Garland, Paul Chambers, and Philly Jo Jones at break neck speed playing death defying solos! Their performances on this cut alone is worth the price of admission. Probably scared Miles from even attempting to play anything on this one standard.
Any player would do well just to transcribe the incredible solos on this song alone!
And that's only one cut from this classic, bluesy, essential album!!!
Max
Posted on: 12 March 2009 by Sigmund
I suggest trying to hear some of his stuff online or at friends' houses even if it's snippets from
www.allmusic.com since he was active during several musical periods and his music varied widely from time to time.
Posted on: 12 March 2009 by DeltaSigma
quote:
Originally posted by Max Bass:
I'm gonna have to start crackin' some heads if ft- at the very minimum, does not, or will not pick up "Milestones"!!!
I can't stop playing this great, classic album! "Billy Boy" is so amazing! Just the smoking rhythm section of Red Garland, Paul Chambers, and Philly Jo Jones at break neck speed playing death defying solos! Their performances on this cut alone is worth the price of admission. Probably scared Miles from even attempting to play anything on this one standard.
Any player would do well just to transcribe the incredible solos on this song alone!
And that's only one cut from this classic, bluesy, essential album!!!
Max
It is a classic indeed - Coltrane's blistering solo on the "Two Bass Hit" track blows my mind every time I hear it.
Posted on: 12 March 2009 by DeltaSigma
I agree with Fred's remarks above about the fascination one gets from following the chronological development of Miles' career. Unusually, in my case, I first got into Kind of Blue (like most people) then the music of the Second Quintet and then only well afterwards began to fully appreciate the work of the First Quintet 10 years earlier - and especially John Coltrane's work within that group (probably the finest of his career IMV).
Posted on: 12 March 2009 by Skip
I am no expert but I like these:
KOB (I have it on 45 and it is amazing.)
Something Else (Cannonball,but really KOB.2)
Birth of the Cool. (10 Music. 7 Sound.)
Smiles, Seven Steps to Heaven, Nefertiti (Or something from the Herbie Hancock Wayne Shorter band.)
Live highlights from the Plugged Nickel
Live at the Blackhawk
Posted on: 12 May 2009 by Nickc78
Bottom line is your really cannot go wrong with Miles - unless you hear any of the really late stuff ('81-'91). All the early stuff is great as is the electric stuff even though it is quite different to what he recorded in the '50's. It opens doors to all sorts of other avenues - be-bop, free/avant and fusion.
Kind of Blue
In a Silent Way
On the Corner
Bitches Brew
Posted on: 12 May 2009 by Brilliant
It always amazes me that 'Someday My Prince Will Come' is not mention in these threads
One could start with the Columbia Miles Davis 'Greatest Hits'
Posted on: 13 May 2009 by Paper Plane
I'd lob in Quiet Nights as a contender for a place.
steve
Posted on: 14 May 2009 by Greengenes
I too am a total novice with Miles Davis but before I start buying the music I have a small question. Are there preferred/better recordings of a given album or are they all the same ? Sorry if this sounds a little naive, but if you are familiar with what happened with the Zappa back catalogue when released on CD (many TERRIBLE transfers to CD!) you will understand why I ask
