Elly Roberts reviews
Miles Davis: Seven Steps
Complete Columbia Recordings of Miles Davis 1963-1964 (7CD box set)
Distributed by
Sony Jazz
- Released: October 2004
- Rating: 10/10
- Cat.no.: C7K90840
To be hot and cool at the same time takes some doing.
Few musicians ever achieve it, but in the Jazz world one name stands out above
the rest.
Miles Davis is a genius, and if that reputation needs consolidating
then this magnificent collection does exactly that. Chameleon-like Miles Dewey
Davis was born into a middle class family, in Alton Illinois, May 26, 1926.
Mother and sister were both musicians, so it was inevitable they would rub off
on young Miles.
He began playing trumpet from age nine and went on to be arguably the most
inventive musician of his generation. Having played with a succession of great
musicians such as Charlie Parker, Gil Evans and Lee Konitz, it was in 1960
that he reinvented himself again after the departure of John Coltrane from his
band. He took stock and eventually reassembled what is regarded as the ‘second great quintet’.
The first great quintet (1955-56) included Coltrane, Red Garland, Paul Chambers
and Philly Joe Jones.
During an intense 18 month period the new line-up visited France, Japan, and
Germany, playing live and recording in their home country as well.
With 50 tracks on offer, you get the full picture of their masterclass
exploits spread over seven CD’s. The core of the band was Ron Carter on bass,
Herbie Hancock on piano, seventeen year old drummer Tony Williams and tenor
saxophonist George Coleman, although other musicians like Wayne Shorter, Sam Rivers,
Victor Feldman and Frank Butler make outstanding contributions. Shorter was to
become a sensation as he filled in for Coleman, after he quit the band.
This collection isn’t all about Davis himself though,because it’s about
capturing some of the greatest moments in Jazz history through their collective
creativeness and input.
They forged ahead at alarming and often dangerous rates, with their new found
adventure, and bursting with fresh ideas. Freshly minted phrases,stunning band
interplay along with his trademark haunted tone, they became the toast of New
York, and Paris in particular, where he was adored by the ‘chic set’.
The studio based tracks are predictably wonderful, as are the radio concerts,
but it’s the big ones at the Philharmonic New York and Antibes France which
impress the most. They display all their guile and craftsmanship, doing the
medium and slow pieces, with Davis’ unearthly playing of starkness of phrase
and feeling, that you truly get a grasp of their immensity. Strangely, he was
never regarded as a virtuoso trumpeter, but more than made up for his supposed
technical limitations, by emphasising his strengths with his ear for ensemble
sound,unique phrasing and his distinctive sound.
There are eight previously unreleased tracks, with three tracks in un-edited
form. It comes with a fabulous 92 page booklet, including complete discography
of time period, many rare and previously unpublished B&W photos. Sonically
superior 24-Bit digitally remastered,this is a must for every Miles Davies fan, and beyond.
Highlights: Joshua CD1 track 1, Bye Bye Blackbird CD3 track 4,
All Blues CD5 track 3, and my all time favourite, the ten minute plus
of So What, Disc 7 track 3.
For a complete track listing, check the Amazon link above.
Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.
