Miles
Davis
I
have been on this Miles Davis downloading rampage that is
starting to concern me. I do not just download for the sake
of downloading, no, I actually listen to and watch everything
I acquire as well. I recently found three fabulous recordings.
One was the last concert he ever did at the Jazz fest in
Montreal with Quincy Jones. Another was live in Paris, another
live in Montreal. I stayed up until 2am watching, and then
dozed off listening with a smile on my face. Upon awakening
I immediately loaded my winamp with more Miles and worked
with the sounds vibrantly filling my apartment.
Then
there is the Complete Prestige Recordings which consists
of 8 CD’s. Next I found the Complete in the Silent
Ways Sessions. Only three CD’s. The complete Columbia
Recordings with John Coltrane that came with a file full
of cool pics as well, that I changed every hour as my desktop.
Then I found the Complete Jack Johnson Sessions, which I
never even heard of before. Ten CD’s and thirty more
singles. I have always loved Miles and have a lot of his
music, but this is like winning the Jazz lottery. I realize
I can listen anytime but I can’t stop myself. Is there
a Miles Davis anonymous I can join? Will I miss work because
of my ailment?
All
three of the live recordings had interviews with Miles.
I love to listen to him talk. He had that weird raspy voice
that fascinates me. He thought out every note, every movement.
He went from his classic with the mute that makes me crazy
to his extreme avant-garde phase. He was indeed the Picasso
of Jazz. He utilized the timbral qualities of his trumpet,
expressing an emotional state that takes you to that place,
if you understand and love jazz. And did I mention his use
of the mute? It is an experience that only another jazz
lover can know. To some it is elevator music. They don’t
get it. At the Detroit Jazz fest a few years back and friend
and myself saw a young trumpet player named Wallace Roney,
who told us how when he played with Miles, Miles turned
to him and in his raspy voice said "you sound more
like me than I do" This guy was smoking.
Miles
Davis is and was the best. He died in 1991.
he