Miles Davis Forum

Miles Davis

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Miles is one of my favorite musicians. I love his haunting sound and the contexts he places himself in. I am not much of a fan of his 70's work, but his 80's stuff is o.k.. The 70's so-called "sellout" period is actually quite avant guard with many world music elements. My favorite Miles music is his small group stuff from the early 50's through to 1969. The musicians he worked with were amazing, especially the groups with Coltrane and the his 60's "second great quintet". There is such an amazing sense of telepathy in the members of these groups. They created a unified sound.

>>By atticus74@juno.com (Thursday, 16 Jan 2003 05:41)

It's always been so ridiculous to me when people say he "sold out" in the 70's. First of all he lost ALOT of fans during that period. Second that music is some of the most challenging I've ever heard.

>>By MightyAfroWhitey (Tuesday, 19 Aug 2003 21:18)

Hey atticus74@juno.com

I agree with you! I have over 70 C.D.s by Miles Davis, and also feel that the Quintet period(s) were/are the best. How about those Prestige albums he just kicked out before signing to Columbia? Steamin', Workin', Relaxin', and Cookin'...some awesome work there. I also love Birth of the Cool, his early collaboration with Gil Evans. There's a great album you may not know about called Ascenseur pour lechafaud (Lift to the Scaffold), which is Miles doing a soundtrack to a 1956 Louis Malle film- great, haunting stuff! Have you heard this? While I'm not as huge a fan of his later fusion stuff, he still started 4 major schools of jazz almost singlehandedly. For fusion, my favorite is still the Mahavishnu Orchestra, with John McLaughlin et. al. Any thoughts on your part? Write soon!

>>By teacher (Saturday, 15 Nov 2003 09:47)

Hey! Any other Miles Davis fans out there? Please respond to my latest posting

teacher

>>By teacher (Saturday, 15 Nov 2003 09:50)

A very open-minded musician, constantly exploring new areas in music.He looked sharp in a suit but along the way he lost his sartorial sense of style.The man became a walking fashion abortion.But the music remained wicked throughout.

>>By thom (Friday, 21 Nov 2003 01:59)

I simply think it is fantastic that the guy remained creative and influencial throughout his life. The influence of all his musical periods is undisputable and as a musicain and listener. So many musicians out there settle into something and don't change and with the exception of music which is naturally well ahead ofit's time it almost always becomes stayed. Miles Davis has my total respect.

>>By whistule (Wednesday, 24 Dec 2003 03:13)

I own Sketches of Spain" and Kind Of Blue. Other recordings have passed through my fingers, but his work with Gil Evans stands out. The tone he achieves in painting a picture of a bull fight is vivid, as was his life. "Blue In Green" off of Kind Of Blue is spectacularly moving and a great modal moment.

As a musician, he took no shit. So many people wish to give musicians less than they deserve and when someone like Miles comes along who commands deference, they think him a dangerous radical. He was radical, but he endangered no one not deserving. He staked out ground for other musicians and so many owe him. Parker still owes him money. He gon' git it.

>>By obelus (Wednesday, 24 Dec 2003 20:06)

I couldn't agree with you folks more. Davis' work as much as anyone else turned me onto Jazz with a capital 'J'. I am particularly enthralled by his albums from the early 1950's to the mid 1960's. I agree that his work with Gil Evans and the two truly outstanding quintets. The box set of his work with Evans is gorgeous work of art itself. I feel it is such a respectful and honoring way to package such art. As "teacher" wrote before, the live discs "Relaxin With", "Cookin" and the others are incredible examples of the band's unity and improvisational skills. I mean, Coltrane, Garland, Chambers, Handcock?! Just brilliant. The eight second of 'Concierto De Aranjuez' sends shivers down my spine and is a divine moment in jazz! And 'Saeta', too. Then I listen to the "1964 My Funny Valentine + Four" live album and what he does on 'My Funny Valentine' is breathtaking. His horn is so distinct to me. I could go on and on: 'Stella By Starlight', 'All Blues', 'Blues By Five', 'Budo' and the entire "Round About Midnight" album. His work with Monk was amazing, as was his work with Parker and Adderly. I took a great History of Jazz class once, and the one piece song that the instructor used as the central piece for the class was 'So What', very appropriate with its structure and the innnovations Davis and his band and Evnas brought to it.

>>By exile103 (Saturday, 27 Dec 2003 06:17)

I had been listening to a Miles compilation CD a friend made for me. I love it. I suspect it's stuff from the Kind of Blue period. Anyway I just bought Bitches Brew and my mind is blown. I think I'm going to get Live Evil next. I love the rock and funk elements. Is Live Evil as funky and rockin' as Miles gets? What records of his would you recommend to someone who prefers his electric sound?

>>By Seward3 (Monday, 12 Jan 2004 03:08)

OMG, is this all thats been commented on Miles? Jesus.

Very good contributions guys n girls, but its sad that there aren't so many fans.

U guys seem to know you jazz well, i'm a pretty newbie, but I like Miles, Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, Joe Henderson, Ken Vandermark, Archie Shepp.....can't think of many others.
I seem to love bebop, and like avant garde every once in a while, but I need more names in terms of bebop that I want to check out and say I like (once i've rated them).
I've expored fusion quite a bit, so am not looking for more of that, unless its trippy, or modern and more emotional (rather than fast and frantic). Maybe some fusion with more progressive rock elements.

Any suggestions?

Would love if there's a certain world type of influence, especially indian or latin rythems.

stevie69_m@hotmail.com

>>By Savvy_stevie (Thursday, 29 Jan 2004 12:10)

I agree with pretty much everyone, miles is so inventive and experimental and that is what I like about him. Somebody once said that all important works of music stand at the frontier of meaninglessness and you get the feeling that miles does especially in the 70's where really tests the limits of musical expression.My favourites however have to include Blue from Aura and Milestones

>>By Talvez (Thursday, 15 Jul 2004 21:35)

He have good emotions in his trompet!

>>By Marts (Thursday, 16 Dec 2004 08:12)

Love Miles' stuff. Anyone else read "The making of Kind of Blue" by Eric Nisenson? It made me go back to the album with fresh ears!

>>By planet ear (Saturday, 18 Dec 2004 04:01)

So I'm updating Miles for the new year (2006).

If you are 23 to 28 years old.... READ THIS!

Get this album.

If you do, you will be ahead of artists, politicians, lovers, and ex-lovers. This is a MUST is your music collection. Don't argue... get it first, argue with me later.

19 to 22 1/2 year olds can go back to buying Green Day.

>>By Johnny L (Friday, 3 Feb 2006 03:19)

Well, my introduction to Miles came with all those so-called fusion period albums during the first half of the '70s. I love them all for their mix of jazz, rock, funk, world-music, & avant-garde. I've heard examples of Miles' other work (Sketches Of Spain, Kind Of Blue, Time After Time) but still prefer his fusion period. It paved the way for many, inc bands like Lifetime, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Return To Forever, Weather Report that were formed by his alumni, but in my book Miles still did it all first.

>>By nonyeb (Saturday, 16 Dec 2006 20:14)

I'm the first person to write about Miles Davis in the year 2007. I want to thank my mom and dad for their support. I'd like to thank my agent. And oh, who could forget, I couldn't have done this with out Jesus. I'll share this honor with all my fans.

>>By jakjonsun (Friday, 11 May 2007 04:29)

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