Search - Miles Davis :: Blue Moods: Music for You

NOT a Remastering of the classic album "Blue Moods"

Mark A. Elliott | Richmond, VA United States | 05/07/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This compilation should not be confused with the 1955 recording for Debut, "Blue Moods" (now available on the OJC label). This album is the Miles Davis entry in Legacy's "Music for You" series, and is NOT a remastered original recording. This seems a rather odd set of choices for a compilation, some tunes apparently chosen because the word "Blue" appears in the title. Many of the songs are not blues at all (such as the abstraction "Circle" from Miles Smiles), though they are mostly mellow and moody. In attempting to cover Miles' entire career, this collection includes some misfits like "Old Folks" and the late-career cover of Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time".
The pieces with the Gil Evans Orchestra are better heard in their original context, and the other tracks do not seem to relate to one another in any coherent way. A mellow sampler of Miles, with nothing to especially recommend it."

A LITTLE MONOTONOUS.

Crabby Apple Mick Lee | INDIANAPOLIS, IN USA | 11/02/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"With the sole exception of the first cut, "Time After Time", all the selections for this compilation are from Miles pre-fusion period (1956-1968). Even so, all the pieces here have the same slow mellow atmosphere suggesting lazy ease if not melancholia (hence the title "blue"). For some people, this constitutes prime romantic (as in S.E.X.) music. I don't quite see it but then there is no accounting for other's tastes. (One young couple I knew who let everyone within earshot know that sex with each other was just Tony The Tiger "GREAAAAT!!!" once claimed that the best "make out" music was Herb Alpert's "The Lonely Bull".)



With one or two exceptions, all the music here has been readily available in Miles previous albums. Only "Summer Night" comes from the favored quartet format while "Sweet Pea", "Drad Dog", "Old Folks", and "Circle" are from quintet settings. The remaining selections are with various large ensembles-two from the KIND OF BLUE lineup.



It is a coin toss whether one would purchase this CD as mood music or for Miles Davis. My guess is that the pitch is mostly toward the causal record buyer interested in some quality jazz. They will certainly get that. But the average jazz consumer will probably be more interested in the original albums in Davis' catalogue as the dominance of one mood throughout gets a little monotonous.



For those with a beginning interest in jazz and Miles Davis, I would recommend these albums;



1. Kind Of Blue

2. `Round About Midnight

3. In A Silent Way

4. Relaxin' with the Miles Davis Quintet

5. Miles Ahead

6. Miles Smiles

"

Mellow Miles is always great

R. Riis | NY | 06/02/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"A pleasant sample of Miles Davis ballads spanning nearly 30 years and all manner of combo sizes. It's hard to criticize these excellent-sounding samples of Miles at his mellow best, even if these pieces are best heard in their original contexts. Makes for smooth listening or as an accompaniment to relaxing or romantic moments."