I was thinking of calling this tread, the best Miles Davis but realizing how subjective that is I've decided to querry your favorite Miles Davis album. If you can't keep it to an album (and most of us can't) then I will grudgingly permit an era. The definition of an era is up to you as long as you show your calculations.

Personally I am in love with the Gil Evans collaborations. Kind of Blue is one of the best albums ever recorded, but my personal favorite is Sketches of Spain because of the melancholic latin vibe. Pure masterpiece.

I'm fairly inexperienced when it comes to Miles Davis, but I've heard four of his albums, two of which are great, two of which I didn't care for.

I liked
Birth of Cool
Kind of Blue

Didn't like
Bitches Brew
In a Silent Way (this one I liked much more than Bitches Brew)

I guess I like Davis better when he isn't in rock star mode.

My favorite: Kind of Blue (honorable mention to Bitches Brew)

Least favorite: Porgy and Bess

My favourite is the Miles Davis sextet that recorded Milestones (Miles/ Adderley/ Garland/ Chambers/ Joe Jones/ Coltrane). The Gil Evans is fine and the orchestra is captured best at the double disc Live at Carnegie Hall (there are two LP versions plus the additional "More Music from Carnegie Hall"). I'm not a huge fan of post-Bitches Brew era even though some parts of Live Evil rocks and Agharta is superb funk-rock/ jazz.

The essentials:

1. Ascenseur Pur L'echafaud soundtrack - This is the sexiest and the most stylish of Miles Davis' music. Improvised with a Euro-band, this soundtrack hogs the limelight in a movie that fails to keep you at the edge of your seats and impress (unlike Les Diaboliques)
2. Kind of Blue - a no-brainer
3. Milestones
4. Live at Carnegie Hall
5. Cookin' at the Plugged Nickel
6. Porgy & Bess
7. Bitches Brew
8. Birth of the Cool
9. Agharta
10. Seven Steps to Heaven

Sketches of Spain and In a Silent Way exude the same cool vibe. Listening to Sketches of Spain and dropping acid was the inspiration for Grace Slick to create "White Rabbit".

I agree the Ascenseur Pur L'echafaud soundtrack is amazing. I am not exactly sure why, but my favorite is Sketches of Spain. It just affects me differently than all the others I have lestened to.

This has to be one of the best threads we've ever had in the jazz forums. Everybody is offering up really great, thoughful posts. Thanks one and all!

quote:

Originally posted by Hemorrhoids:
My favourite is the Miles Davis sextet that recorded Milestones (Miles/ Adderley/ Garland/ Chambers/ Joe Jones/ Coltrane).

We have such similar taste, H., that at times it's scary.

Milestones is by no stretch of the imagination Miles' best or most influential album. The Gil Evans collaboration Miles Ahead that preceeded it and the landmark Kind of Blue that followed it dwarf on virtually ever level save for the fact that it was the recording debut of Davis' single greatest working group.

That being said, for pure enjoyment I turn to Milestones more than any other Miles Davis recording and I sincerely cannot say why beyond the fact that it just makes me happy to listen to it. Surely, I could go on and on about individual musical moments (the opening bars of Cannonball Adderley's solo on the title track, for instance), but on the whole it's my favorite for no other reason that it makes me happy.

I'm thrilled, though, to see more than a little love for Ascenseur Pur L'echafaud. In the pre-CD era, it was out of print or available as an important only as often as not and tended to be terribly underrated. The fact that its mentions here are only the latest in a series of instances where I have heard it referenced lately makes me very happy indeed.

Now Playing: "Are You Ready" Graham Coxon Happiness in Magazines

On The Corner
Bitches Brew
In A Silent Way

AAAAAAGGGHHHHHH!!

Finally, after not having a turntable for the last 5 years, I had one given to me. I hooked it up and was ready to play Dylan's Planet iof Waves but the needle was busted, and I can't find a replacement!!! I have Kind Of Blue on vinyl, and it was next on deck to listen too!!!! AAAGGGHHHHH!!

Kind of Blue is just that more amazing on record, than CD (to me anyways....) I figure I'll just buy a new player soon, as my hopes were really high this weekend. DAmn!

In general, I prefer Miles' live albums as opposed to the studio ones. "Live At The Blackhawk 1+2" is among the very best things he ever did.
Some of the early 80s stuff isn't bad either (although often hated by the critics)"Star People" and "We Want Miles" in particular.

Talking about the live stuff, avoid anything Miles Davis releated released on the JazzDoor label. As I'm sure jazz fans already know, these are all illegally taped bootlegs offering absolutely terrible sound quality.

*Ascenseur Pur L'echafaud - Great pic! I don't know if I'd have remembered it if some of you hadn't mentioned it.
*Bitches Brew - if you like this record and don't have the 4 CD set that came out a few years ago, it's worth the extra $$$.
*Workin' - probably my most played Miles album, along with my next pic.
*Miles Ahead - see above
*Quiet Nights - anything with Gil Evans
*Miles in the Sky

The one Miles record I could never get into was Miles on the Corner. I was constantly catching myself tuning out.

Sketches of Spain- which is weird as on the whole I think the Gil Evans stuff is over-rated. Somehow this is an album that keeps creeping back into my CD player though.

Surprise, surprise, surprise, but KOB is my favorite Miles Davis. What can you say that hasn't been said about this jazz classic?

I pretty much like all of Miles Davis up to BITCHES BREW/IN A SILENT WAY. In other words, I like acoustic Miles. I prefer the Workin', Cookin', et al CDs that he recorded in the mid fifties. I love the Coltrane/Adderley/Evans-Kelly/Cobb/Chambers band. I also love the previous quintet with the Garland/Philly Joe/Chambers rhythm section.

I'll weigh in with "Big Fun", arguably Davis's most neglected release. More diverse than "Jack Johnson". KOB is, of course, a thing apart. Even my wife, who hates jazz, likes that one

I enjoy "Live Around The World" (a comp. of his final performances in the 80's) simply for hearing a young, budding Kenny Garrett. His solo on "Human Nature" is phenomenal -- Miles had a keen eye for new talent right up to the end.

'Round About Midnight (1955)

Cookin'/Relaxin'/Steamin'/Workin' (1956)

Kind of Blue (1959)

I doubt I've heard enough of him to have an educated opinion on this, but here goes:

filles de kilimanjaro - I really like Tony Williams on the drums.

Miles Smiles

Sketches of Spain

I bought Kind of Blue a couple months ago. Always something I knew I should pick up, so finally, I bit the bullet.

I can say with 100% confidence that Kind of Blue is the best Miles Davis album I have ever heard....and the only one.

Anyway, I love the album. It's perfect everywhere....but I especially love it when I'm in the tub, lights dimmed. Too much information, I suppose.

I am not too familiar with jazz music, but I do like to hear new things. I bought a few jazz albums a couple years ago that feature Nels Cline on guitar. That guy is one mean monster on the guitar. I bought; Jeff Gautier Goatette Mask and the Nels Cline Singers The Giant Pin and I can't recall the name of the other one. They were all from "free jazz" community that apparently calls San Fran home. Anyway, a few tracks stand out, but a lot are waaaay out there and don't seem all too purposeful, but the good tracks make it worth it.

Anyway, I want to get more into Miles or Coltrane...and I need some reccomends please.

Should I be picking up Ascenseur Pur L'echafaud or is that for the hardcore only? Anyway, a lil help would go a long way....also, please let me know if there are remestered versions so I don't have to buy the early 80's cd version.

Cheers!

quote:

Originally posted by Il Mago:
I bought Kind of Blue a couple months ago. Always something I knew I should pick up, so finally, I bit the bullet.

I can say with 100% confidence that Kind of Blue is the best Miles Davis album I have ever heard....and the only one.

Anyway, I want to get more into Miles or Coltrane...and I need some reccomends please.
Cheers!

KOB is a wonderful album, as close to perfect as can be.

As for recommends, I prefer "electric" Miles myself. To see if that grabs you, try A Tribute To Jack Johnson, with Miles and John McLaughlin in top form. Another great one, and one that might suit your obvious attention to personal hygiene, is In a Silent Way, gentle and beautifully atmospheric.

If you want another pre-electric recommend, I've always been partial to ESP, I think this is post-bop(?)

Don't know much about Coltrane. A Love Supreme is the acknowledged classic, and I like My Favourite Things. The first Coltrane album I bought was Meditations, which is a challenge but worth it (great McCoy Tyner piano work).

Hope that helps.

Put me in the early Miles Davis camp -- so what should I listen to next?

Best of....
Birth of Cool - 1950
Kind of Blue - 1959
Sketches of Spain - 1960
Round About Midnight - 1956

Okay...
Silent Way Sessions (1969) - I think my problem was I got a "Complete Silent Way Sessions" which would be perfect for someone who loves the albumn but is too much for an introduction.

Didn't get
On the Corner - 1972

I am no fan of Miles Davis - much prefer Msrs Coltrane and Mingus but nonetheless the following (in this order) are my faves:

1. In a Silent Way
2. Kind of Blue
3. Bitches Brew