What Jazz or Blues are you spinning?

[Tim]

Ascenseur pour l'échafaud
Miles Davis
1958

[Barry]

I've always wanted to hear that (and see the film).

[Tim]

I've always wanted to hear that (and see the film).

I've done both and controversially I'm going to say Kind of Blue is overrated, also Birth of the Cool and Sketches - this is Miles' best album IMO. That's not to take anything away from the aforementioned, they are without doubt some of the best jazz recordings ever made, especially KoB, I just think this is superior - it epitomises the pure essence of jazz and really illustrates the level of his incredible talent.

That's actually not the right cover, there are different versions of the session, I have two, the standard 1958 10 track album (as first pictured) and a 1988 Fontana release of the complete recordings, which is 26 tracks. This cover with purple writing (mine actually says Complete Recordings as well);



That's what I'm actually playing. The booklet has great notes about how the session was recorded. I would recommend the full session version if you ever fancy buying it. You might not agree it's better than KoB, but it's essential Miles IMO.

The film's good too

[Barry]

Thanks Tim. I will go for the 26 track version: the CD set is about £42, so I'll buy it shortly.

Also think I'll track down a DVD of the film as I enjoy foreign films.

[Tim]

Kind of Blue
Miles Davis
1959



Having said all that, I still play this an awful lot, just not quite as often as Ascenseur pour l'échafaud. What I like about it is it's raw purity, whereas KoB is almost too perfect, too polished. There's a certain honesty to Ascenseur pour l'échafaud, it feels more immediate. At the end of the day though, they are both masterpieces from a musical genius.

[Tim]

Dancing in the Dark
The Fred Hersch Trio • Fred Hersch • Drew Gress • Tom Rainey
1993

[Alex_UK]

I've done both and controversially I'm going to say Kind of Blue is overrated, also Birth of the Cool and Sketches - this is Miles' best album IMO. That's not to take anything away from the aforementioned, they are without doubt some of the best jazz recordings ever made, especially KoB, I just think this is superior - it epitomises the pure essence of jazz and really illustrates the level of his incredible talent.

That's actually not the right cover, there are different versions of the session, I have two, the standard 1958 10 track album (as first pictured) and a 1988 Fontana release of the complete recordings, which is 26 tracks. This cover with purple writing (mine actually says Complete Recordings as well);



That's what I'm actually playing. The booklet has great notes about how the session was recorded. I would recommend the full session version if you ever fancy buying it. You might not agree it's better than KoB, but it's essential Miles IMO.

The film's good too

I only have a few Miles Davis albums, and this isn’t one of them, so giving it a go on Tidal. Like most casual fans I guess KoB is my “go to” though I do love Birth of the Cool and Sketches of Spain too.

[Tim]

I only have a few Miles Davis albums, and this isn’t one of them, so giving it a go on Tidal. Like most casual fans I guess KoB is my “go to” though I do love Birth of the Cool and Sketches of Spain too.

Apologies if you already know this Alex, but what makes this stand out for me are the circumstances of the recording. It's a film soundtrack for a French film - Davis was invited to do the music after being shown the film at a private screening. He assembled his other musicians at the recording studio with no prior preparation other than Davis giving them a few rudimentary harmonic sequences he'd put together in his hotel room. The session was improvised late at night with no pre-composed themes, while edited loops of the musically relevant film sequences were projected on a screen, so they put the music together on the fly as it were, whilst watching the film.

Everyone knows about those other albums, so much so they are almost mainstream 'go to' jazz albums - I think this is unique and more organic, so more authentic than the well known favourites. YMMV

[Lawrence001]

Apologies if you already know this Alex, but what makes this stand out for me are the circumstances of the recording. It's a film soundtrack for a French film - Davis was invited to do the music after being shown the film at a private screening. He assembled his other musicians at the recording studio with no prior preparation other than Davis giving them a few rudimentary harmonic sequences he'd put together in his hotel room. The session was improvised late at night with no pre-composed themes, while edited loops of the musically relevant film sequences were projected on a screen, so they put the music together on the fly as it were, whilst watching the film.

Everyone knows about those other albums, so much so they are almost mainstream 'go to' jazz albums - I think this is unique and more organic, so more authentic than the well known favourites. YMMV

I didn't know this I'm going to listen to it properly and I might appreciate it more.

[Macca]

Donald Byrd - trumpet
Pepper Adams - baritone saxophone
Duke Pearson - piano
Laymon Jackson - bass
Philly Joe Jones - drums