The quality of his 1954 studio output for Prestige exceeded most of his early 1950s recordings and yielded some of the best records in his career thus far: Walkin’, Bag’s Groove and Miles Davis and the Modern Jazz Giants. His tone on the trumpet improved and so his ability to lead groups of musicians at recording sessions and in clubs. After kicking his heroin habit at his father’s house in 1953, he came back to New York City a more complete musician. In the first half of 1955 Miles Davis was in a much better shape than he was in a long time.

14 The Miles Davis Quintet Recordings, 1955-1956.Learn more about The Final Tour: The Bootleg Series, Vol. But it’s a cool degree, and Davis was artfully accommodating. Here, via Trane, it gets the better of him, to a degree. I wouldn’t say the music is over-busy, but it flirts with it. It’s a 1985 Jesus and Mary Chain concert without the feedback and at many times the length. This is the raw power of the Stooges, but with better technique. To Davis’ credit, he lets the tenor saxophonist have his head, and these recordings become a celebration of individuality gone feral. He’s dynamic, but his version of dynamic knocks the unit out of kilter. But Coltrane wanted to leave, and you can tell. Chops-wise, Davis and Coltrane are both in peak periods here. That speaks to his skills not just as a trumpeter, but as an artist who honed the sound design of his ensemble from the stage. You’ll note a theme as we go along: the sonic integration of Davis’ bands. Not as crazy as it might seem at first blush. Dude has this remarkable-and it is remarkable-collection of March 1960 recordings from Europe in the 10 spot. Sacrilege! Okay, let’s get it out of the way. I think that this list of the 10 best live Miles Davis recordings-confining ourselves to whole records or dates-would cause the man himself to say, “Other level.” The blending of the entertainment, the innovation, the art, and that Miles-ian quality where you’re awed and think he can’t go any higher, any realer, before he does, in the next bar, and then higher and realer again. A combo.īut for a primer, we’re going to hit you with a list.

Even when it doesn’t outright “work” as art, it works as entertainment. But where to begin, right? Is the amount of material not overwhelming?įirst, here’s a tip that has served me well, mostly because it’s true: You can’t go wrong with any of it. I’d suggest imagining that you’re at the venue in question, hearing Davis alongside others who are also hearing him.

Miles davis discography album