Miles Davis - Miles Ahead (Mono, Edition Japonaise)
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Flugelhorn – Miles Davis [click here to see more vinyl featuring Miles Davis]
Drums – Art Taylor [Click here to see more vinyl featuring Art Taylor]
Bass – Paul Chambers [click here to see more vinyl featuring Paul Chambers]
Alto Saxophone – Lee Konitz [click here to see more vinyl featuring Lee Konitz]
Bass Clarinet – Danny Bank
Bass Trombone – Tom Mitchell
Flute, Clarinet – Edwin Caine, Romeo Penque, Sid Cooper
French Horn – Jim Buffington, Tony Miranda, Willie Ruff
Trombone – Frank Rehak, Jimmy Cleveland, Joe Bennett
Trumpet – Bernie Glow, Ernie Royal, John Carisi, Louis Mucci, Taft Jordan
Tuba – Bill Barber
Conductor – Gil Evans
Arranged by Gil Evans
Written by Miles Davis (A5), John Carisi (A1), Léo Delibes (A2), Dave Brubeck (A3), Kurt Weill (A4), Ira Gershwin (A4), Gil Evans (A5, B1), Ahmad Jamal (B2), Bobby Troup (B3), Leah Worth (B3), J. J. Johnson (B4), Harold Spina (B5), Jack Elliot (B5)
1 LP, Gatefold jacket
Limited edition
Original analog Master tape : YES
Heavy Press : 180g
Record color : black
Speed : 33 RPM
Size : 12'’
Mono
Studio
Record Press : Sony Japan
Label : Sony Japan
Original Label : Columbia
Recorded at Columbia 30th Street (New York City) on A2, A3 - May 6, 1957 (A2-3), May 10, 1957 (A4-5), May 23, 1957 (A1, B1-2), May 27, 1957 (B3-5)
Produced by George Avakian, Cal Lampley
Liner Notes by André Hodeir
Sleeve Notes by George Avakian
Photography by Norman Menard
Originally released in October 1957
Reissued in August 2023
Tracks :
Side A:
- Springsville
- The Maids Of Cadiz
- The Duke
- My Ship
- Miles Ahead
Side B:
- Blues For Pablo
- New Rhumba
- The Meaning Of The Blues
- Lament
- I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You)
Awards:
2017 Grammy Award: Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media
Reviews :
“Despite countless hours enjoying and studying the many stages of the storied career of Miles Davis - from The Birth Of The Cool through his first and second great quintets, back to the Blackhawk recordings with Hank Mobley, then on to his groundbreaking Silent Way/Bitches Brew/Jack Johnson/On The Corner period and even a stage where I soaked up the freaky electric sound circuses of albums like Big Fun, Miles Davis In Concert, Agharta and Pangaea - there has always been one period of Davis' that has alluded me, and that is his time spent with Gil Evans in the late 1950s. The concept of an orchestra alongside Miles never did it for me in my younger days, but as I grow older I have come to appreciate this period more than I used to. I haven't yet fully embraced it, but I do find myself understanding the impetus behind the partnership, and when I chanced upon an original pressing of Miles Ahead I jumped at the opportunity to explore it even further.
I'll get my basic problem with the Miles Davis/Gil Evans albums out front right away: it doesn't feel like jazz to me. Yes, Sketches Of Spain is a beautiful album, and both Porgy & Bess and Miles Ahead show off what the academics have termed as the "Third Stream" movement - a successful synthesis between classical music and jazz - but, the end results of these albums don't feel like "modern jazz" to my ears, that inventive and spontaneous conversation between improvising musicians that marks the best of jazz music from it's golden age.
All that said, Miles Ahead is a good listen - especially for fans of Davis - it just isn't the first album I'm bound to reach for when I'm ready for a little bit of The Dark Prince in my life. The album is undoubtedly a success, as we do have the outsized talents of Davis and Evans (who worked together earlier on the legendary The Birth Of The Cool sessions) at a time when both were realizing the heights their talents could take them. Miles sounds fantastic on the flugelhorn, which is not surprising since he was coming off of the creative outburst marked by his time at Prestige with his first great quintet (the albums Workin', Steamin', Relaxin' and Cookin'). Miles is the only "soloist" on Miles Ahead, and while there are no real overpowering or memorable moments, when he does step up to the mic he rides the melodies laid down by the orchestra perfectly. He is still very much in his lyrical "cool" mood, with his flugelhorn dancing and floating through Evan's compositions.” The Jazz Record
Ratings :
Discogs : AllMusic : 2.5 / 5