MILES DAVIS QUARTET
Miles Davis, trumpet; John Lewis, piano; Charlie Mingus, piano (on SMOOCH
only); Percy Heath, bass, Max Roach, drums.
WHEN LIGHTS ARE LOW
TUNE UP
MILES AHEAD
SMOOCH
recorded May 19, 1953
supervision - Ira Gitler; engineer - Doug Hawkins
Horace Silver, piano and Art Blakey, drums in place of Lewis and Roach.
FOUR
OLD DEVIL MOON
BLUE HAZE
recorded March 10, 1954
supervision - Bob Weinstock; engineer - Les Cahan
MILES DAVIS QUINTET
Miles Davis, trumpet; Davey Schildkraut, alto sax; Horace Silver, piano; Percy
Heath, bass; Kenny Clarke, drums.
I'LL REMEMBER APRIL
recorded April 3, 1954
supervision - Bob Weinstock
engineer - Rudy Van Gelder
all sessions remastered by Van Gelder
Users of wide-range equipment should adjust their controls to the
RIAA curve for best results.
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Up to the time of the Newport Jazz Festival of 1955, Miles Davis
was bidding fair to become the forgotten man of 1955 just as he had been in
1954. A chance appearance on the Festival's final night, as part of an all-star
group, woke the slumbering critics suddenly. They couldn't say enough in praise
of Miles. I thought he had played well but not fantastically enough to awaken
the writers who had snored through '54 while he mode many excellent records.
Here, in this collection, is proof that it was not Miles who made
a comeback at Newport but rather the men of the fourth estate. Why he was so
good, he even awakened the talent scavengers.
WHEN LIGHTS ARE LOW is a delicate solo by Miles at medium tempo,
John Lewis contributes a thoughtful chorus between Miles' opening and close.
TUNE UP is a Davis original with a long string of exhilirating
choruses by Miles. After John solos, Miles and Max trade "fours".
MILES AHEAD is another original by Miles. Based on the changes of
MILESTONES, it features the same format as TUNE UP with the exchanges between
Miles and Max especially interesting. John's comping underlines and punctuates
beautifully.
SMOOCH was composed by Charlie Mingus and because John Lewis was
forced to leave because of an emergency, the composer had the opportunity to
assist in the playing of his piece. Miles solos throughout, conveying the
haunting mood perfectly.
FOUR, written by Miles, shows his certain "something" wonderfully
in both its theme and his solo. Horace Silver who would swing even if he was
trying not to, has a sparkling solo here.
OLD DEVIL MOON is a tune of a number of years back which Miles
seems to have revived. Since his recording both Sarah Vaughan and Carmen McRea
have also done it. The stopping and then swinging is most effective as Miles
romps with Art Blakey adding timely comments with his sticks.
BLUE HAZE could be easily subtitled "When Lights Are Out" for that
was the situation in the studio when this was made. Only the light from the
control room shed slight illumination. The blues mood was aided greatly as
everyone relaxed in the haze. Percy sets the pace and then Miles takes an
extended set of choruses. Horace has a short but moving solo before Miles
closes it out.
I'LL REMEMBER APRIL is rendered at up tempo with two choruses each
by a muted Miles, Horace, and Davy Schildkraut. Horace comes back for another
and then the rhythm section comes to the fore with Kenny's impeccable brushwork
outstanding and Percy's rock of a beat a joy to hear.
notes by IRA GITLER
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