Miles Davis - Your three favorite albums

[patskywriter]

I'll list 3 of my favorite Miles Davis cuts:

1. “Bye Bye Blackbird” (from Round About Midnight) — beautiful playing, hummable solos, and Philly Joe Jones's uncanny ability to double up right at the time the mind starts to wander.

2. “New Rhumba” tied with “I Don't Wanna Be Kissed” (both from Miles Ahead) — both fun and playful, wonderful interplay with Gil Evans' arrangements, great melodies and solos.

3. “Maiysha” (from Get Up with It) — I love this because it's completely absurd. It's apparent that Miles didn't inform the other members of the band about the melody or chord changes, and they just had to wing it. They started out real tentative and then figured it all out on the way. SO fun (and ludicrous at the same time).

Years ago, a friend of mine was going through my LPs, noting that I had an affinity for trumpet. He was pleased to see that I had records by Art Farmer, Miles, Lee Morgan, Diz, Clifford Brown, but frowned when he came across my Herb Alpert LPs. "Why do you have records by him?" He actually grimaced. I said, "Out of all the trumpet players out there, Herb Alpert made it look like music is FUN, and that it's something people should try out. That's why." Forget about lifestyle, fashion, and all that stuff. If musicians are somehow able to lead you to the music, then that's what really counts (for me).

[captaincanada]

At the moment:

My Funny Valentine
Somethin' Else
Miles in the Sky

[cosmic gumbo]

This week it's

Birth of the Cool
Milestones
Agharta

[wintermoon]

hmm, 29 posts before someone [cosmic jumbo] mentioned Milestones....interesting...
maybe it's just perceived by some as a 'blowing session', and not particularly groundbreaking, but really the title track is a pretty early foray into the modal scene.

much as I like the 5 'in' lps, Milestones represents the pinnacle of his classic straight ahead bop band, for me.
I love Bill Evans on KOB, but my favorite Miles band is the 'in' band plus Cannonball.
I do have a soft spot for 'Bags Groove' as it was my introduction to Monk [never forget where I was when I first heard that!]

killer performances on Milestones, though the recording quality isn't anywhere near as good as the Van Gelder stuff [not that affects anything, just an observation]

[jbromusic]

miles smiles
filles de kilimanjaro
milestones

[Doctor Jeff]

Kind of Blue--I have listened to it hundreds of times, and still find it fresh and rewarding to listen to. I learn something new everytime I put it on.

Bitches Brew--this is a man in control of his music. He is willing to change directions, and in fact changed jazz entirely with this one. I don't see how it could be "unlistenable"--it is difficult and complex, but if you can understand his language you can dig it entirely. I have heard he was extremely tough on his band and pushed them to play outside their comfort zone.

Jack Johnson--the grooviest, funkiest album ever made. As always, he assembled a stellar group of sidemen and let them have at it. In particular John McLaughlin pushed this album--I think for once Miles let a sideman take control, for the benefit of the production.

From Wiki entry: "The first major recording session for the album, which took place on April 7, 1970, was almost accidental: John McLaughlin, awaiting Miles's arrival, began improvising riffs on his guitar, and was shortly joined by Michael Henderson and Billy Cobham. Meanwhile, the producers brought in Herbie Hancock, who had been passing through the building on unrelated business, to play the Farfisa organ. Miles arrived at last and began his solo at about 2:19 on the first track."

Special mention to Circle in the Round, the first Miles album I actually bought, which has some really wonderful versions of several songs, including 2-Bass Hit, Theo's Bag, Love for Sale, and especially Guinnevere.

[Average Joe]

The Studio recordings from 58 w Dolphin Street, Fran Dance, Love for Sale and Stella was my first Davis album and still hold a very special position for me. As perfect as any recording of his that I've heard


My other favourite album is Cannonball Adderley's Into Something. I know Davis is a sideman on it, but his playing is outstanding and it is probably one of the records featuring him that I've listend to the most.

A third one? A tie beteen ESP/Nefertiti/Jack Johnson

[cmajor9]

1. Seven Steps to Heaven
2. Kind of Blue
3. Birth of the Cool

[David B]

Agharta
Miles Smiles
Milestones

[jazzfreak]

Kind of Blue
ESP
Miles Smiles

I appreciate some of his later period; namely, Bitches Brew. But, I'm a firm believer that his cocaine addiction significantly changed his personality - and not in a good way.