Miles Ahead (album)

Last updated
Miles Ahead
MilesAhead original.jpg
Studio album by
Miles Davis
ReleasedOctober 21, 1957 (1957-10-21) [1] [2]
RecordedMay 6, 10, 23, 27 and August 22, 1957
Studio Columbia 30th Street (New York City)
Genre
Length37:21
Label Columbia (CL 1041)
Producer George Avakian, Cal Lampley
Miles Davis chronology
Cookin' with the Miles Davis Quintet
(1957)		Miles Ahead
(1957)		 Bags' Groove
(1957)
Alternate cover
Miles Ahead.jpg
LP cover used for reissues

Miles Ahead is an album by Miles Davis that was released in October 1957 by Columbia Records. [1] [2] It was Davis' first collaboration with arranger Gil Evans following the Birth of the Cool sessions. Along with their subsequent collaborations Porgy and Bess (1959) and Sketches of Spain (1960), Miles Ahead is one of the most famous recordings of Third Stream, a fusion of jazz, European classical, and world musics. [3] Davis played flugelhorn throughout.

Contents

Background

Evans combined the ten pieces that make up the album into a suite, each flowing into the next without interruption; the only exception to this rule was on the title track since it was placed last on side A (this has been corrected on the CD versions). Davis is the only soloist on Miles Ahead, which features a large ensemble consisting of sixteen woodwind and brass players. Art Taylor played drums on the sessions and the then current Miles Davis Quintet member Paul Chambers was the bassist.

A fifth recording date involved Davis alone (re-)recording material to cover or patch mistakes or omissions in his solos using overdubbing. The fact that this album was originally produced in mono makes these inserted overdubbings rather obvious in the new stereo setting. [4]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [5]
Disc Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg＋ [6]
DownBeat Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [7]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [8]
Entertainment Weekly A [9]
Tom Hull B+ [10]
The Independent (favorable) [11]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [12]

The Penguin Guide to Jazz gave Miles Ahead a four-star rating out of a possible four stars, and called the album "a quiet masterpiece... with a guaranteed place in the top flight of Miles albums." [13] Of Davis' flugelhorn, Kevin Whitehead of Cadence wrote that it "seemed to suit [Davis] better than trumpet: more full-bodied, less shrill, it glosses over his technical deficiencies." [14] The Penguin Guide, on the other hand, opined that "the flugelhorn's sound isn't so very different from his trumpet soloing, though palpably softer-edged.... [S]ome of the burnish seems to be lost." [13] Tony Hall of Disc said the album "one of the finest records of the decade" and rated five stars and plus. [6]

Album cover

Davis was reportedly unhappy about the album's original cover, which featured a photograph of a young white woman and child aboard a sailboat. He made his displeasure known to Columbia executive George Avakian, asking, "Why'd you put that white bitch on there?" [15] Avakian later stated that the question was made in jest. For later releases of the record, however, the original cover-photo has been replaced by a photograph of Davis.

Jon Hendricks' vocalization

Jon Hendricks had been working on vocalizing Miles' parts on the album for over 50 years, and Pete Churchill, on hearing this, approached him to talk about developing it with ensemble the London Vocal Project. Together they finished scoring all the parts and writing the lyrics, for the band parts as well as for Miles, which the LVP then rehearsed extensively. On February 17, 2017, the LVP performed the entire album at St Peter's Church in New York, which was funded by Quincy Jones. The soloists were Anita Wardell, Michele Hendricks, Kevin Fitzgerald Burke, and Jessica Radcliffe. [16] [17]

Track listing

  1. "Springsville" (John Carisi) – 3:27
  2. "The Maids of Cadiz" (Léo Delibes) – 3:53
  3. "The Duke" (Dave Brubeck) – 3:35
  4. "My Ship" (Kurt Weill, Ira Gershwin) – 4:28
  5. "Miles Ahead" (Davis, Evans) – 3:29
  6. "Blues for Pablo" (Evans) – 5:18
  7. "New Rhumba" (Ahmad Jamal) – 4:37
  8. Medley Pt. 1: "The Meaning of the Blues" (Bobby Troup, Leah Worth) – 2:48
  9. Medley Pt. 2: "Lament" (J. J. Johnson) – 2:14
  10. "I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone but You)" (Harold Spina, Jack Elliot) – 3:05

Bonus tracks on the 1997 CD reissue:

  1. Springsville (Remake take 7)
  2. Miles Ahead (incorrectly labeled as being one of "Blues for Pablo")
  3. Medley (Rehearsal): The Meaning of the Blues/Lament
  4. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone but You) [Alternate take]

Personnel

Source: Miles Ahead (album) at Discogs.

Related Research Articles

<i>Birth of the Cool</i> Miles Davis album

Birth of the Cool is a compilation album by the American jazz trumpeter and bandleader Miles Davis, released in February 1957 by Capitol Records. It compiles eleven tracks recorded by Davis's nonet for the label over the course of three sessions during 1949 and 1950.

<i>Sketches of Spain</i> 1960 studio album by Miles Davis

Sketches of Spain is a studio album by the jazz trumpeter and composer Miles Davis. It was released on 18 July 1960 through Columbia Records. The recording took place between November 1959 and March 1960 at the Columbia 30th Street Studio in New York City. An extended version of the second movement of Joaquín Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez (1939) is included, as well as a piece called "Will o' the Wisp", from Manuel de Falla's ballet El amor brujo (1914–1915). Sketches of Spain is regarded as an exemplary recording of third stream, a musical fusion of jazz, European classical, and styles from world music.

<i>Svengali</i> (Gil Evans album) 1973 live album by Gil Evans

Svengali is a live album by jazz composer, arranger, conductor and pianist Gil Evans, recorded in 1973 by Evans with an orchestra featuring Ted Dunbar, Howard Johnson, David Sanborn, Billy Harper, Richard Williams, Trevor Koehler, and Hannibal Marvin Peterson. The name of the album is an anagram for Gil Evans.

<i>Milestones</i> (Miles Davis album) 1958 studio album by Miles Davis

Milestones is a studio album by Miles Davis. It was recorded with his "first great quintet" and released in September of 1958 by Columbia Records.

<i>Big Fun</i> (Miles Davis album) 1974 compilation album by Miles Davis

Big Fun is an album by American jazz trumpeter Miles Davis. It was released by Columbia Records on April 19, 1974, and compiled recordings Davis had made in sessions between 1969 and 1972. It was advertised as a new album with "four new Miles Davis compositions" One of three Davis albums released in 1974 and largely ignored, it was reissued on August 1, 2000, by Columbia and Legacy Records with additional material, which led to a critical reevaluation.

<i>Porgy and Bess</i> (Miles Davis album) 1959 studio album by Miles Davis

Porgy and Bess is a studio album by the jazz musician Miles Davis, released in March 1959 on Columbia Records. The album features arrangements by Davis and collaborator Gil Evans from George Gershwin's 1935 opera of the same name. The album was recorded in four sessions on July 22, July 29, August 4, and August 18, 1958, at Columbia's 30th Street Studio in New York City. It is the second collaboration between Davis and Evans and has garnered much critical acclaim since its release, being acknowledged by some music critics as the best of their collaborations. Jazz critics have regarded the album as historically important.

<i>Consummation</i> (The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra album) 1970 studio album by Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra

Consummation is an album by the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra. It was released in 1970 on Blue Note Records and re-released in 2002. It was recorded at A&R Studios in New York City. The album was nominated for a 1970 Grammy award in the "Best Jazz Performance - Large Group..." category. All tracks were included in Mosaic's limited edition boxed set, The Complete Solid State Recordings of the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra.

<i>Mel Tormé, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass</i> 1986 studio album by Mel Tormé

Mel Tormé, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass is a 1986 studio album by Mel Tormé, accompanied by Rob McConnell's Boss Brass Big band. Tormé and McConnell's follow up album, Velvet & Brass was released in 1995.

<i>Miles & Quincy Live at Montreux</i> 1993 live album by , Miles Davis and Quincy Jones

Miles & Quincy: Live at Montreux is a collaborative live album by American jazz trumpeter Miles Davis and conductor Quincy Jones. It was recorded at the 1991 Montreux Jazz Festival and released by Warner Bros. Records in 1993.

<i>Miles Davis & Gil Evans: The Complete Columbia Studio Recordings</i> 1996 box set by Miles Davis and Gil Evans

Miles Davis & Gil Evans: The Complete Columbia Studio Recordings is a box set of music by jazz musicians Miles Davis and Gil Evans originally released on CD in 1996 and remastered and re-released in 2004. It collects work from 1957 through 1968 at Columbia Records recording studios.

John E. Carisi was an American trumpeter and composer.

<i>The Individualism of Gil Evans</i> 1964 studio album by Gil Evans

The Individualism of Gil Evans is an album by pianist, conductor, arranger and composer Gil Evans originally released on the Verve label in 1964. It features Evans' big band arrangements of five original compositions and compositions by Kurt Weill, Bob Dorough, John Lewis and Willie Dixon.

<i>Concert in the Garden</i> 2004 studio album by Maria Schneider

Concert in the Garden is the fourth studio album by American jazz composer Maria Schneider. The album was released in 2004 by ArtistShare and won the Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album in 2005.

<i>Into the Hot</i> (Gil Evans album) 1962 studio album by Gil Evans

Into the Hot is an album released under the auspices of Gil Evans featuring a large ensemble under the direction of John Carisi and the Cecil Taylor Unit. The album was released on the Impulse! label in 1962.

<i>Super Hits</i> (Miles Davis album) 2001 greatest hits album by Miles Davis

Super Hits is a greatest hits album from Miles Davis. Released in 2001, it reached #22 on Billboard's Jazz Albums chart.

<i>Basic Miles: The Classic Performances of Miles Davis</i> 1973 compilation album by Miles Davis

Basic Miles: The Classic Performances of Miles Davis is a compilation album by American jazz musician Miles Davis, released in 1973 by Columbia Records and recorded from 1955 through 1962.

<i>The Gil Evans Orchestra Plays the Music of Jimi Hendrix</i> 1974 studio album by Gil Evans Orchestra

The Gil Evans Orchestra Plays the Music of Jimi Hendrix is an album of Jimi Hendrix's compositions by jazz composer, conductor and pianist Gil Evans. The music was arranged by Evans and members of his orchestra. The album was recorded in 1974 and performed by Evans with an orchestra featuring David Sanborn, Howard Johnson, Billy Harper, and John Abercrombie. The album was re-released with additional tracks on CD in 1988.

<i>There Comes a Time</i> (album) 1976 studio album by Gil Evans and His Orchestra

There Comes a Time is an album by the jazz composer, arranger, conductor and pianist Gil Evans, recorded in 1975 and performed by Evans with an orchestra featuring David Sanborn, Howard Johnson, Billy Harper and Ryo Kawasaki. The album was re-released with an altered tracklist on CD in 1988.

<i>Invitation</i> (Jaco Pastorius album) 1983 live album by Jaco Pastorius

Invitation is the third album by Jaco Pastorius, released in December 1983. This is a live album recorded at various venues during a tour of Japan in September 1982, featuring his "Word of Mouth" big band. While his debut album showcased his eclectic and impressive skills on the electric bass, both Invitation and his previous album, Word of Mouth focused more on his ability to arrange for a larger band.

<i>Coming About</i> 1996 studio album by Maria Schneider

Coming About is a large-ensemble jazz album by composer, arranger, and conductor Maria Schneider and her orchestra that was released in 1996 by Enja Records.

References

  1. 1 2 "Miles Ahead". Miles Davis. Sony Music. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  2. 1 2 "October Album Releases" (PDF). The Cash Box. The Cash Box Publishing Co. Inc. 12 October 1957. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  3. 1 2 Kanzler, George (7 November 2009). "Miles Revisited: Sketches of Spain (50th Anniversary Edition) & Miles Ahead Live". All About Jazz . Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Miles Ahead - overdubbed solo". Miles Davis Official Site. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
  5. ↑ AllMusic review
  6. 1 2 Hall, Tony (24 May 1958). "Get it―one of the finest albums of the decade". Disc . No. 16. p. 16.
  7. ↑ "Down Beat review".
  8. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN   978-0195313734.
  9. ↑ "Remembering Miles Davis". EW.com.
  10. ↑ Hull, Tom (n.d.). "Jazz (1940s–50s)". tomhull.com. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  11. ↑ The Independent review
  12. ↑ "Penguin Guide to Jazz review".
  13. 1 2 Cook, Richard; Brian Morton (2006) [1992]. The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings. The Penguin Guide to Jazz (8th ed.). New York: Penguin. p.  321. ISBN   0-14-102327-9.
  14. ↑ Whitehead, Kevin (1994). Ron Wynn (ed.). All Music Guide to Jazz . San Francisco: Miller Freeman. p.  196. ISBN   0-87930-308-5.
  15. ↑ Miles Davis and Quincy Troupe, Miles: The Autobiography, Simon and Schuster, 1989, ISBN   0-671-63504-2.
  16. ↑ BWW News Desk. "Jon Hendricks' MILES AHEAD Gets New York Premiere 2/17". BroadwayWorld.com.
  17. ↑ "London Vocal Project". www.londonvocalproject.com.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.