Miles Ahead

Occupation

Miles Ahead - Miles Davis 19 - Orchestra under the Direction of Gil Evans, the full title, is a jazz album by Miles Davis, recorded with the Gil Evans Orchestra in four recording sessions in May and August 1957, published by Columbia Records the same year.

Background to the album

Mid-1950s, won the music of Miles Davis Nonet of 1949 ( Birth of the Cool ), through its re-release on LP new relevance. Miles Davis moved - not least because of his success at the Newport Jazz Festival and the publication of the first Columbia album ' Round About Midnight - to a broad audience. George Avakian of Columbia Records was looking now for a new marketing concept, to present his new star. Recordings as a quartet or quintet, there was no shortage; it should be something else, Third Stream, the connection from European symphony and jazz 'was in vogue. Miles Davis suggested the then almost forgotten arranger and pianist Gil Evans, with whom he had been close friends since the Birth of the Cool - days. Miles Davis had worked on the The Music for Brass album by Jay Jay Johnson and John Lewis; Similarly, Davis wanted to develop the Nonet of 1949 /50. " Instead of the cool pastel colors of the nonet should have the new band richness and layered timbres. " This was followed in the spring of 1957 a series of meetings, to the conception of the album it was clear; Miles laid the framework necessary for Evans chose the musicians and the compositions and retreated to write the arrangements.

The album

In contrast to Birth of the Cool Miles Davis played here flugelhorn and was the only soloist; In contrast to the Nonet played a big band here. Evans noted, "an odd big band line-up together, in which there is no saxophone section, but - besides the usual trumpet and trombone groups -. A strangely unreal acting grouping of french horns, alto saxophone, bass clarinet and flute " He had put together the various pieces into a kind of suite; each title follows the other without interruption. Here Evans referred to the recordings of Duke Ellington in the early 1940s. Thus, the title " Maids of Cadiz " in the type of orchestration reminiscent of " I Do not Wanna Be Kissed " on. The sound " is aware of any temperamental attacca stripped, quiet, lyrical, static, each peak far in advance preparing and anbahnend, great lines in all respects preferring, not only the melody, but also in terms of the harmony, but it moves over the old, swinging, pulsing rhythm, creating the Paul Chambers on bass and Art Taylor on drums. "

Joachim Ernst Berendt said about the album: " Gil Evans is the man who can turn into orchestral sound the Miles Davis sound most fully - in sound. "

Miles Ahead was the first album that Miles Davis recorded with Gil Evans; shortly thereafter, the collaboration with Porgy and Bess (1958) and Sketches of Spain (1959 /60) continued.

The title

  • The CD release contains alternate takes of " Springville ," " Miles Ahead ," a rehearsal take of "The Meaning of the Blues", " Lament " and "I Do not Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) ".

Trivia

  • Miles Davis was very unhappy about the original cover of the album, which showed a photo of a young white woman aboard a sailboat. He asked George Avakian " Why'd you put did white bitch on there? " In later releases a picture of Miles Davis was used.

Literature / Sources

  • George Avakian: liner notes to Miles Ahead
  • Richard Cook & Brian Morton The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD 6th edition. ISBN 0-14-051521-6
  • Konrad Heidkamp: Snow White and Rose Red - Gil Evans and Miles Davis, luxurious memories of two soul mates. THE TIME, No. 46, November 8, 1996, p 52
  • André Hodeir: liner notes to Miles Ahead
  • Erik Nisenson: Round About Midnight - A portrait of Miles Davis. Vienna, Hannibal, 1985
  • Peter Wießmüller: Miles Davis - His life, his music, his records. Gauting, Oreos ( Jazz Collection ) 1985
Record label Genre John Carisi Joe Bennett (footballer) James Buffington Bill Barber (musician) Miles Davis and the Modern Jazz Giants John Lewis (Pianist) Porgy and Bess (Miles Davis album) Dave Brubeck Ahmad Jamal Bobby Troup J. J. Johnson Richard Cook (journalist) Gunther Schuller Michel Legrand Wynton Kelly
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