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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