Search - Miles Davis :: Love Songs

Fundamental collection!

Hiram Gomez Pardo | Valencia, Venezuela | 12/25/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Since this album is an excellent compilation of several previous albums, from the first bars of every track you feel automatically the flight to another musical sphere .

Davis was a poet with intense sense of the rapture and Bacchic expression all the way .

I fall in love too easily is a love statement.

I thought about you is simply a landmark in the jazz . The smooth warmth and the sliding sound trumpet of Davis prepares to a encounter with Venus . You feel the one million per cent commitment of M.D. playing this milestone piece.

My ship is an amazing piece .It was composed by Ira Gershwin and Davis is simply floating in this aural atmosphere.

Someday my prince will come is a theme with variations . Dynamic flows and wonderful mood.

And we come to one of the highest peaks of the CD: Stella by starlight does not need presentation. Any medium melomaniac will enjoy with sublime joy this golden version .

But the jewel of the crown is definitively My funny Valentine one of the three best themes in jazz any age .Recorded live in Lincoln Center New York on January 12 , 1964 this version simply has no equal in its style . Davis in the peak of his musical powers . But the rest of the team is : Ron Carter in the bass , Herbie Hancock in the piano and Tony Williams in the drums . Expression and ravishing inspiration make of this theme by itself more than deserved the buying of this album.

A must for any lover jazz music .

"

Who said that Davis couldn't be a romantic?

Manny Hernandez | Bay Area, CA | 10/07/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I can see hardcore fans of Davis (I am becoming one, if you ask) revolting at the idea of a compilation of romantic works by what most people consider to be one the world's greatest trumpet players ever. But consider it for a second: this was actually Davis' work (and some incredible pieces, all of them, for that matter), and some albums of his (think 'Someday My Prince Will Come' and 'Seven Steps To Heaven') actually have a a 'softer' style to them (if there's anything soft about Davis' trumpet, even in ballads), in spite of his perennial "tough" attitude (I'd call it more a facade or a shield, now having read more about him in his autobiography, and heard some of his 'stronger' music alongside the types of songs contained in this compilation). Between this album and 'Love Songs 2' (issued earlier in 2003) you actually also take a good enough peak into an otherwise infamous album ("Quiet Nights") that most people consider as a flawed release driven by greed in a label, rather than to do justice to the artist's work. So, all in all, 'Love Songs' has a place and a very deserved one: it has allowed, along with his classic 'Kind of Blue' to introduce new listeners into jazz, and into the extensive catalog of works of Davis. The way I see it, this album taps into the iceberg, giving you a bit of the chills, so that you come back and take a deep plunge into the heart of his music, beyond the easy listening stuff."

The Sweetest Miles

Rebecca*rhapsodyinblue* | CA USA | 05/08/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Don't play what's there, play what's not there." ~ Miles Davis ~



Miles Davis was, no doubt, one of the top best trumpet players if not the best who ever graced the world of jazz. I love the way he artfully played his favorite instrument in all of his recordings, with no exception. He was a genius at that. But my only concern has something to do with the quote above... his repertoire. In my opinion, he had a very uniquely, individualistic choice of the tunes that are not on the mainstream - those that are rarely recorded. He wanted to be different from the rest when it comes to selecting the material for his body of work. I'm a huge fan of standards from the Great American Songbook so naturally this is my most cherished Miles Davis CD, "Love Songs." The repertoire is a tasteful collection of some of the best tunes that he ever recorded between 1957 and 1965. The interpretations are flawlessly sublime. Kudos to Gil Evans for the beautiful and enchanting chart arrangements.



There is an element of graceful elegance in the consistent execution of all the tracks especially my top choices "My Funny Valentine," "I Thought About You," "Someday My Prince Will Come," "I Loves You Porgy" and "Stella By Starlight" where he is backed by Bill Evans on piano, Cannonball Adderley on alto sax and John Coltrane on tenor sax. Listen closely to his tear-inducing, sweeping and wailing trumpet ... just about the sweetest sounds I've ever heard.



The presence of a team of talented jazz instrumentalists also adds glow to all the tunes - the likes of Grammy Awardee Herbie Hancock on piano, Ron Carter on bass, Frank Butler on drums, among many others.



There are two bonus tracks that are perfect representations of his contemporaneous approach to non-standards, "Time After Time" and "Human Nature." You can hear an upbeat Miles Davis on these delightful bonus tunes.



Listening to this CD is such a sweet musical adventure. It always takes my breath away each time I listen. With my heartfelt recommendation, you'll love it as much as I do.



* * * * * TEN STARS * * * * *

"