Miles Davis - What's next?? - Page 3

I agree that "In a Silent Way" is transitional, from Miles' mid-60s work to "Bitches Brew" and beyond. It floats more than anything, and is essential. Pick up the recently released 3 Cd "The Complete In a Silent Way Sessions." Excellent improvement in sound from prior reissues.

Speaking of Grant Green, my favorite session of his is "Feelin The Spirit (Herbie Hancock plays on it)." It's a beautiful and moving session of spirituals. Green's playing is heartfelt and stunning (I'm almost sure it's still in print).

Lastly, one other early Coltrane session (on Atlantic) that doesn't get mentioned as often as it should is "Coltrane Plays the Blues." It's not in "Giant Steps" league, but it's a great session in any case. Don't give up on "A Love Supreme." It will reap rewards, eventually (and then you'll be ready for "Live at the Village Vanguard Again" and "Interstellar Space," amazing records both).

What about...

While Bitches Brew will always remain one of my Top 5, I'm *seriously* diggin Miles' late 60's stuff.

You have the quintet that recorded "My Funny Valentine" and "Four & More" in 1964 (Ron Carter, Herbie Hancock, Tony Williams - who was 18 at the time, George Coleman, and Miles), this is itself a great recording. But then Coleman leaves and Wayne Shorter comes in and things start to change direction fast and Miles and jazz would never be the same.

You can hear Miles thinking on "Nefertiti". Listen to them play the theme over and over and twist it around - no intro+solos+outro on this record - just blowin'.

On "In The Sky" you can hear Tony Williams turning into, in the venacular of the time, one 'mutha****a' of a drummer. Herbie plays a Rhodes! When you listen to "In The Sky" think of the qualities of 'Tension' and 'Release'

Then you get to "In A Silent Way" and "Bitches Brew" and the doors are blown right off the hinges. These two recordings are unlike anything that ever came before them, they are landmarks, lighthouses, beacons... They are easily more intricate and groundbreaking than KoB was though not nearly as accesible to the masses.

I want to be buried with my "Complete Bitches Brew Sessions" box set.

"On The Corner" is a percussion-driven ride on the subway of life. It's so organic the way it moves and twists. Miles, by this time, wasn't playing long flowing lines. His tone on these records is sharp, like an exclamation point. That's what he plays on this record - punctuation.

So much material was recorded of Miles and new stuff filters out all the time but there is one out now that is also on my Top 5.

"Panthlassa - the music of miles davis 1969-1974 reconstruction and mix translation by bill laswell"

This is an AWESOME cd. Laswell not-so-much rearranged pieces as much as reproduced them. He brought the tabla out front of the mix with the bass, for example. He picks and chooses certain passages of the 19+ minute-long "In A Silent Way" recording and layers them over each other in ways that bring out the mystery in a recording that was mysterious to begin with. There's pieces of McLaughlin noodlin around that probably never made it into the final mix but they sound right in place here and the recording quality is EXCELLENT. I think it's a great intro to the 'electric' period of Mile's enormous body of work.

ok,
erix

I second that recommendation. It's a great overview of Miles' electric period and shows not only the genius of Miles' music but also that of Laswell as a producer.

Re: What about...

Part of the "Complete Bitches Brew" is the CD that later was released as "Big Fun." I just picked up the SACD version and I was surprised at how good it sounds compared to the original CD versions. The percussion improves tremendously, and Miles' horn sounds even darker than on the original CD.

Also, I you like even later Miles (post "Bitches Brew"), you should pick up "Dark Magus" and "Pangaea." Both take what he was doing on "Bitches Brew" to another level.

Miles Davis recorded many different kinds of music in many different styles.If you like Kind Of Blue you may not like Sketches Of Spain or Bitches Brew.If you would like to sample more Miles Davis in a similar style check out Milestones.

What about Marsalis? Any suggestions for Marsalis albums?

Edit: I just realised how old this thread is!

Long ago I decided never to get a Wynton album - at the time i thought he was more like a museum curator than a musician living in the now. But that's the bias of youth. I actually loved a set i heard of Branford doing Giant steps at the Mellon Jazz Festival. Pre-Leno, lol. He was on fire.

I suggest for Miles give 'Round About Midnight a try. the title track is killer.

ah, but then there's Branford. another kind of dude altogether.

Though it's not Miles Davis, I'd like to plug Fourplay :)

8-year-old thread!  Is this a record necro-bump?

Marsalis? For a Miles Davis fan? no way. Marsalis is border line smooth jazz imo.

 

Try John Coltrane, Electric Masada (for a Bitches Brew type of sound), Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock's solo albums (Maiden Voyage/Speak No Evil/Empyrean Isles/Juju). 

 

This thread is old but could be useful for anyone wondering the same.