Album For Today

[Beef Oven]

Snapped up "Miles Smiles" this week which was a gaping omission from my collection although I have a number of CD's already by Miles' second quintet. This is something else, though. Since I put it on in my car earlier in the week, I've played it continously and only had another disc on for a few tracks. Staggeringly brilliant and something of a revelation insofar that I didn't think "Sorcerer" could have been improved upon. What shocked me was that this was the quintet's second record and came two years after "ESP" - what a disaster that this group never visited the studio in between! Herbie Hancock is fantastic on this record and Tony Williams hugely impressive too. If you listen hard you really start to appreciate just how fabulous Ron Carter was on bass. For me, nothing tops "Freedom Jazz Dance" even if Herbie's compoing on "Footprints" is a model of how to select choice chords behind a soloist. His solos on "circle" is also justly praised.

Made me wonder, was there ever a better studio album by Miles?

Has anyone bought the record 3 CD / 1 DVD box set of live performances by this band? I intrigued about this as it seems a possible addition to my Birthday list next month. The reviews on Amazon are all very good but with a band as great as this, it would be difficult to be less favourable.

Gaping omission in my collection too. Reading your post has cost me £4.97 - just this moment ordered it off amazon UK. I have a special place in my musical heart for Tony williams.

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[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

this project was close to his heart and after a few years mine too

[Tenor Freak]

Totally agree about Miles Smiles, though Sorcerer is still my favourite Miles quintet album.

For more of the Miles Smiles sound try the Plugged Nickel sessions - all eight CDs' worth. There's a killer version of Stella By Starlight which was a revelation, and their rendition of On Green Dolphin Street is a delight.

[Tenor Freak]

[charles t]

That's some mellow, understated stuff on Cape, Calum. Egos parked outside the studio...flowing ensemble at all times...solos emerging for less than 30 seconds (Herbie Hancock totally abstaining)...

Tony Williams' last interview:

http://www.cs.cf.ac.uk/Dave/mclaughlin/art/final.html

[Ian Thumwood]

Also managed to acquire "Nefertitti" which is effectively the last "acoustic" outing for this group. In some respects, it is more conservative than "Miles Smiles" although Tony Williams is really on form on this album. For me, "Miles Smiles" gets the nod - the other disc includes some alternative takes which aren't too inspired. The best track is "Fall" but I've heard better performances by Shorter with Miles. Tracks like "Pinnochio" have a much more conversative feel too, esepcially the way that William's lays down a pretty orthodox swing groove. For me, "Smiles" is their best effort although "Sorcerer" is not far behind. Criminal that this group made so few recordings in the studio.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

review

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

Jimmy Owens Monk Project

Distinctly Monkian touches abound, such as half-steps and solos constructed from abstractions of the theme. (The latter approach is a Barron specialty, notably on the closing “Epistrophy.”) Even the ensemble is just a French horn short of Monk’s innovative 1959 Town Hall orchestration. But Owens stamps the album with his burnished tone and melodic, logically developed solos, as in the boozy burlesque of “Blue Monk” and supple lyricism of “Reflections.” In short, Thelonious would approve.
review

[Byas'd Opinion]

Calum, I haven't heard the new Fly album yet, but I like their previous one "Sky and Country" a lot. There's a contrast between Turner's cool, unemotive playing and the much more heated, swinging, contribution from the bass and drums which was initially a bit disconcerting - almost like two different bands playing simultaneously - but has really grown on me.

[handsomefortune]

i like em too - i love trios, and 'fly' are particularly adventurous - thanks for the tip/review calum da jazbo.

burning dog's rolland track on the subject of volunteer slavery was pretty good (on other 'mingus at 90 yrs' thread).

[Tenor Freak]

NP

[Byas'd Opinion]

Benny Golson, "This is for you, John". Golson and Pharoah Sanders on tenor saxes, Cedar Walton on piano, Ron Carter on bass and Jack de Johnette on drums. Effortlessly classy mellow hard bop from some of the greats.

Not nearly as much of a tribute to Coltrane as the title might suggest: they do Greensleeves, and there's a Golson piece dedicated to John Coltrane, but that's as far as it goes. There's a good contrast between Sander's gravelly sound and Golson's midweight, slightly reedy one, and on the rare occasion when both tenor players solo at once it's a lot easier to make out what's going on than it is on the Coltrane/Sanders albums, even if much of the ecstatic intensity is missing. Very enjoyable, even though they all seem to be playing well within themselves.

The recent reissue has a black and white picture of Benny Golson on the cover, but here's the original:

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

i must scored this lp in 62 or 63 ............... he never did anything as good again but it is an album to treasure

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

In Person live at the Blackhawk is a masterpiece through and through been listening to it all day .... stunning

[Alyn_Shipton]

Well that Blackhawk gig was selected in two Jazz Libraries as exceptional - Miles and Hank.