Search - Miles Davis :: Blue Haze

Early Miles!! Outstanding Miles!!

RBSProds | Deep in the heart of Texas | 07/26/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Yeah, we know Miles went through many phases and stages, but this is where I started with Miles after I initially heard "Sketches of Spain", then I went to "Round MidNight" with Coltrane, and then backwards to Mile's Charlie Parker days, then I went forward to "Live at the BlackHawk", then "Kind of Blue". Whew. That's alot of ground, but Miles was mercurial and great at everything he did, never stopping very long to smell a particular group of roses before moving on to the next challenge.



The 'Piece D'Resistance' here is the extended performance of "I'll Remember April". A huge, mind-opening performance!! Arrangement-wise (very uptempo & Native-American oriented), performance-wise, it's just wonderful, and I've listened to it for decades with the same wonder and enjoyment. Kenny Clarke's brushwork is too much, and Davey Schildkraut (alto) and Miles (muted trumpet) blow wonderful, inspired solos still fresh today; but Horace Silver's two piano solos steal the show and even his piano fills during the magnificent Percy Heath 'walking bass' section are exceptional. Worth the entire CD!! Don't miss this!



"Tune Up" and "Smooch" (with Mingus' amazing pianism and double stops) are also great, but another gem is "Four". Few times in the history of jazz music has so much wonderful stuff been done in so little time than on "Four". Totally mesmerizing. And I absolutely love Miles' solo, the ultra hip and clever Horace Silver piano solo, and Blakey's wonderful rimshot groupings. WOW!



AFTERTHOUGHT: The song "Tune Up" later received a legendary extended and wonderful performance by Sonny Rollins on The Very Best. Mingus also displays more of his piano work on his solo piano CD [Mingus Plays Piano]. Buy all three and enjoy the overlap."

Among the Best of Mid-Career Miles

Jerry Engelbach | Brooklyn, NY | 08/27/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm a jazz pianist. I still have the orignal LP of this, the first by Miles that I ever owned. Several of the hundreds of songs I know I learned from this album. It's a classic, with an enviable lineup of world-class musicians and first-rate, sensitive solos. It marks a time of extended transition for Miles between his bebop/cool beginnings and his later modal and post-bop periods."

Boppin' a Cool Groove

Mr. Richard D. Coreno | Berea, Ohio USA | 03/15/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Taken from three distinct recording sessions - with bassist Percy Heath being the only consistent sideman - the album was released in 1954.



Featuring musicians like Kenny Clarke (d), Art Blakey (d), Horace Silver (p) and Charles Mingus (p), the material is from May 19, 1953; March 15, 1954 and April 3, 1954. The eight tracks clock in at 30:05, with Miles Ahead and the title track edging away from the tight pack of quality music.



The playing may not be fast and furious, but the sound is smooth as Miles is churning out cool grooves."