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3 1/2This is a great old school release that of course mostly stays within predetermined confines but nonetheless contains some of the most gripping bop solos of the time.
Jackle","Sid's Ahead","Billy Boy","Two Bass Hit".Amazon is selling two albums called "milestones",one of which doesn't have these songs and hence is not the real "milestones." "milestones" is famous for having these songs."Dr.
I think it is terrific.If you are interested in another, equally as good, version of "Billy Boy", try Ahmad Jamal's Cross Country Tour: 1958-1961. The title track, in particular, is determined and delightful, and Miles' take on the Monk tune "Straight, No Chaser" just puts another length or two between him and the rest of the jazz pack. He can't add anything to Red Garland's razor-edged block chords, so he just lets the trio play. His chord selection is very reminiscent of Garland's, but with a more delicate touch. Miles does it with a matter of fact attitude and serious panache. They say that one of Miles Davis' greatest skills as a jazz musician was his ability to piece together bands whose members not only had incredible talent, but who were also able to work together, develop as a unit, and bring more out of the music than any individuals could do on their own or in another band.
Why, he doesn't even play on the track. Miles Davis was so prodigious, you really can't say this is his absolute best work, but for the sake of argument, I'll defend the honor of Milestones any day of the week. Personally, I feel that this CD demonstrates that ability in the foremost, and together with Miles' inimitable playing and the selection of an exciting variety of original and standard tunes, it is hard to find many CDs comparable to this one. Of course, for the rest of the tracks that he does play on, he's vintage Miles. It's pretty phenomenal. For me, an amateur jazz pianist, "Billy Boy", is the signature tune of this album and the epitome of Miles as an unequaled band leader.
(I can't imagine a modern artist laying out on their own album).
Only "Billy Boy", a trio for piano, bass and drums, seems out of place among so much brilliance. The sextet's take on Thelonius Monk's "Straight, No Chaser" brings the jazz staple far beyond its origins. 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. 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. The album succeeds musically as well. Miles Davis' 1958 album MILESTONES is his last testament in the hard bop sound of the Fifties.
However, MILESTONES features some strong performances. "Sid's Ahead" is probably the catchiest song Davis had written to date. 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. The title track "Milestones" was Davis' first foray into the modal genre. However, fans of more traditional jazz will probably find MILESTONES one of the best hard bop albums. 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.
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.
only what happens to me is that I can not stop listening. 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. this is the bridge between "round about midnight" and "kind of blue".we can not mistake the way. I was also thinking. is great. the fluidity of the notes, silences.
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