Miles Davis - Miles Deep (2016)

Compilation exclusive to Rolling Stone Germany

During his lifetime, Miles Davis published more than 40 albums. The classic "Kind Of Blue", "Sketches Of Spain" and "Bitches Brew" likely even fewer jazz listeners interested in their collection. "Miles Deep" is the work of the great man now approaching side roads: on fantastic live versions and lesser known Studio beads.

It starts with the legendary performance of " 'Round Midnight" at the Newport Folk Festival in 1955, the Davis finally earned a recording contract with Columbia. Davis' work with arranger Gil Evans are documented on "Miles Deep" with their version of a composition of the French poet Léo Delibes: "The Maids Of Cadiz" appeared in 1957 on "Miles Ahead", indicated stylistically but already on the summit of this cooperation, "Sketches of Spain" of 1960. A touch of "Kind of Blue" is blowing even through the first take of "Fran Dance," which Davis for his girlfriend, the dancer Frances Taylor, wrote and in 1958 took up with his sextet.

The second great Miles Davis Quintet sat with interpretations of standards to be his triumph. One of the highlights of this practice is the performance of "Stella By Starlight" at the Newport Folk Festival in 1966. The quintet Davis also began a tentative affair with rock music. Keyboardist Joe Zawinul provided with "In A Silent Way", the title track for the first pure fusion album. During rehearsals Miles made the piece, as can be heard here, our own. The sessions for "Bitches Brew" is immersed in a different form as "Take It Or Leave It" again. "I wanna use it somehow," Davis whispered at the end and passes on its way to, take small sections and assemble with producer Teo Macero in longer tracks.

Also "Willie Nelson" from which is heard here the second take with the guitarist John McLaughlin and Sonny Sharrock, finally found in "Yesternow" to "Jack Johnson" from 1971 again. Davis admired the vocal phrasing of the eponymous Country Songwriters. Live altered the pieces in the fusion phase continuously: The Wayne Shorter composition "Sanctuary", originally on "Bitches Brew", compressed Davis in the summer of 1970 at the Fillmore East in just over three minutes. The "In A Silent Way" track "It's About That Time" grooved end of the year in The Cellar Door in Washington / DC subtle, but effective.