Audio CD review:
Miles Davis - Milestones

Miles Davis - Milestones

Band: Miles Davis Title: Milestones Rating: Release Date: 2001-04-17 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Dr. Jackle - Miles Davis, McLean, Jackie 2: Sid's Ahead - Miles Davis, Davis, Miles 3: Two Bass Hit - Miles Davis, Lewis, John [01] 4: Milestones - Miles Davis, Davis, Miles 5: Billy Boy - Miles Davis, Traditional 6: Straight, No Chaser - Miles Davis, Monk, Thelonious 7: Two Bass Hit - Miles Davis, Lewis, John [01] 8: Milestones - Miles Davis, Davis, Miles 9: Straight, No Chaser - Miles Davis, Monk, Thelonious

Miles takes hard bop as far as he wanted to go with it Besides Davis on trumpet, it features Cannonball Adderley on alto saxophone, John Coltrane on tenor saxophone, Red Garland on piano, Paul Chambers on double bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums. Miles Davis' 1958 album MILESTONES is his last testament in the hard bop sound of the Fifties. MILESTONES has often been overshadowed by the album released after it, KIND OF BLUE, which is often held up as the greatest jazz album of all time. However, MILESTONES features some strong performances. John Coltrane often steals the show, as the great saxophonist was here in the middle of his "sheets of sound" era where every solo came as a flurry of 16th notes. I have to admit, though, I never found Red Garland's piano playing as tight as that of other pianists who have worked with Davis, namely Herbie Hancock and Bill Evans. The album succeeds musically as well. The title track "Milestones" was Davis' first foray into the modal genre. The sextet's take on Thelonius Monk's "Straight, No Chaser" brings the jazz staple far beyond its origins. "Sid's Ahead" is probably the catchiest song Davis had written to date. Only "Billy Boy", a trio for piano, bass and drums, seems out of place among so much brilliance. It's a pity that Columbia reissued this with a few rejected takes, which breaks the flow of the album as originally conceived and which is obviously just advertising for Columbia's expensive box set of the complete sessions. Personally, I prefer Miles' output of the '60s and '70s and rarely return to this. However, fans of more traditional jazz will probably find MILESTONES one of the best hard bop albums. The bridge between "round about midnight" and "kind of blue" To start, I am not very addicted to jazz, but I love this record . could not provide valuable information to justify buying this record,but I say something. . is great!!!!! the fluidity of the notes, silences . . . . . . . only what happens to me is that I can not stop listening . . . I was also thinking . . . this is the bridge between "round about midnight" and "kind of blue" . . . we can not mistake the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Good Solid Miles.... " I wanted to listed to the contrast and progression of his musical thinking. I bought this album because it was the album before his ground breaking "Kind of Blue. Its good, but I'm glad Miles Davis reinvented his narcissistic self - musically any way. . A Good Period For Miles Davis The title track is a perfect example of Miles approach to composition: simple melodies, complex improvisations. "Milestones" was released on Columbia Records in 1958, Miles was starting to find his sound in modal jazz. This compositional approach would carry on with him through the rest of the 50s to mid-60s. I thought this album overall compared to some of his earlier recordings was considerably weaker. I don't think that John Coltrane and Cannonball Adderley particularly blended well together on this session. The piano of Red Garland was outstanding as usual, Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones are solid. The overall song selection was very weak for Miles. Many of the tunes don't really go anywhere and the improvisations aren't particularly cohesive. Again, the title track is the best tune on the record. Miles would go on to do great things after "Milestones. " In my opinion, I thought that "Seven Steps To Heaven" was Miles' best record. Many people didn't like that it, but I think the compositions were alot better, three of them being, the title track, "So Near, So Far," and "Joshua. " "Milestones" isn't a record I go back and listen to very much, but does have some very memorable moments. Definitely worth acquiring if you're a fan of Miles or jazz in general. Kind of Wild- Jazz doesn't get much more exciting Also, if you are looking for some nice background jazz music while you have your dinner party this is probably not the album for you. Hot Jazz; If you are looking for a second "Kind of Blue" album , then "Milestones" will disappoint. On the other hand, if you are looking for an album that features five of the most talented musicians ever to play jazz, cooking on some really great tunes and playing together like they've been doing this all their life then this might be the album for you. This one does not contain (as one reviewer stated) the same lineup as "Kind of Blue". Milestones has Philly Jo Jones on drums and Red Garland on piano. This is an album you really need to listen to closely to appreciate. Contains some seriously virtuosic playing; A Jazz Tour de Force . You can see a complete list of all Miles Davis discography, or go back to the Miles Davis tabs