@falconwing This is one of my favorites http://mlkshk.com/p/G09J Not to sound to hyperbolic but he changed my perception of what music could be. I have absorbed more of his music than any other artist and he constantly amazes me even 20+ years after I started listening to him.
Anything that you can find from this particular European tour ca. 1960 is just stupendous.
This one is also excellent http://mlkshk.com/p/G09T same tour but Stockholm. The above is Paris with a slightly different line-up.
@LocalStain Wow. I can't express how great that music sounds to me. Thank you. I had NO idea. You know, this is
what I like about life, there are always amazing surprises.
@LocalStain Thanks for an artist to associate with this. I've always loved smooth trumpet with upright bass and laid back skins, but didn't know who to search for to find good stuff. I like a lot of music genres for different types, and now I can pursue this genre. So, what is this genre? Besides "jazz," what name/label etc would best describe it when I'm searching for other music like it? I've heard cool jazz, would that fit?
@justabaldguy Yeah I guess cool jazz would work. This is also kind of known as the Gil Evans era as well as the "Blue" period, in reference to "Kind of Blue". Both of the above songs appear on that album and this tour was in support of the album as well.
Honestly I could go on and on about Miles but "Kind of Blue" is the best place to start. There is a reason it's the best selling jazz album of all time(http://books.google.com/books... great book on the subject)His work prior to this, the "Post Bop" and "Hard Bop" eras is much more frenetic and his work after this branches out into the heavier funk and electrified jazz of the 70's(see also Bitches Brew). Like he says above he changed music 5 or 6 times over the course of his lifetime.
A few albums to start you off- Cookin' With the Miles Davis Quintet, "the" Quintet, one of the greatest meetings of musical minds pretty much ever. Sketches of Spain, w/ Gil Evans. Kind of Blue, essential, just start it from the beginning, rinse, repeat. My favorite part is that Miles didn't have any music written for the session, he simply had some abstract "sketches" of what he wanted the music to "sound" like. Then his later 60's "modal" jazz where he eschewed chord based compositions. Nefertiti and Filles de KilImanjaro. After that things get rather dark and sinister, but in the best possible way. I personally like his early stuff better but there are some amazing recordings on "Dark Magus" and "Agartha".
Sorry for the ramble. I can get rather verbose when discussing my main man Miles.
And just to clarify @justabaldguy, "cool" jazz may be okay, though I'll admit I never heard that term. But stay far, far away from "smooth jazz" please. but @LocalStain gave some wonderful recommendations. Gil Evans' "Waltz for Debbie" is another great one from around the same time period. No Miles, but the same pianist who played on "Kind of Blue" and "Sketches of Spain"
The era of "cool" or sometimes "west coast" jazz came about in the late '40s and early '50s. Gerry Mulligan, Chet Baker, Bix Beiderbecke, Stan Getz, Dave Brubeck were all at one time or another progenitors of "cool" jazz. It was something of a response to the frenetic improvisation supplied by Bop and all of it's flavors.
Like I said for what it's worth. I don't claim to be an expert by any stretch just been a passion of mine for many years.
Ahh, that makes sense. I guess I never knew that period actually had the name "cool jazz."
And I've got huge respect for Miles and especially Kind of Blue (kindofblue.com was the first domain name I registered for myself, way back in '96). Love the bop era of jazz, and especially Monk.
@billturner I know smooth jazz, and it's alright by me, and clearly this is NOT smooth jazz! :-) Truthfully, I'm contemplating buying the infamous Weather Channel soundtrack as that stuff used to be awesome to groove to. I think the "bop" stuff is more what I'm looking for here, and with this plethora of info time to start adding albums to my Amazon wish list.
@LocalStain keep giving information...this is all new and all a revelation! You have given me a start. Personally, I think you should start a cool jazz shake so you can give us your commentary and opinion......as well as others. This way, I am getting inspiration as well as knowledge. Passion is what gives zest to life-sharing your passions is what makes it worthwhile:)
I am a bit biased though as Miles is my all time favorite performer. He was nothing if not abrasive.
Anything that you can find from this particular European tour ca. 1960 is just stupendous.
This one is also excellent http://mlkshk.com/p/G09T same tour but Stockholm. The above is Paris with a slightly different line-up.
Either way enjoy.
Cheers.
what I like about life, there are always amazing surprises.
@justabaldguy Yeah I guess cool jazz would work. This is also kind of known as the Gil Evans era as well as the "Blue" period, in reference to "Kind of Blue". Both of the above songs appear on that album and this tour was in support of the album as well.
Honestly I could go on and on about Miles but "Kind of Blue" is the best place to start. There is a reason it's the best selling jazz album of all time(http://books.google.com/books... great book on the subject)His work prior to this, the "Post Bop" and "Hard Bop" eras is much more frenetic and his work after this branches out into the heavier funk and electrified jazz of the 70's(see also Bitches Brew). Like he says above he changed music 5 or 6 times over the course of his lifetime.
A few albums to start you off- Cookin' With the Miles Davis Quintet, "the" Quintet, one of the greatest meetings of musical minds pretty much ever. Sketches of Spain, w/ Gil Evans. Kind of Blue, essential, just start it from the beginning, rinse, repeat. My favorite part is that Miles didn't have any music written for the session, he simply had some abstract "sketches" of what he wanted the music to "sound" like. Then his later 60's "modal" jazz where he eschewed chord based compositions. Nefertiti and Filles de KilImanjaro. After that things get rather dark and sinister, but in the best possible way. I personally like his early stuff better but there are some amazing recordings on "Dark Magus" and "Agartha".
Sorry for the ramble. I can get rather verbose when discussing my main man Miles.
Enjoy.
*hangs head in shame*
FWIW http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki... also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki...
The era of "cool" or sometimes "west coast" jazz came about in the late '40s and early '50s. Gerry Mulligan, Chet Baker, Bix Beiderbecke, Stan Getz, Dave Brubeck were all at one time or another progenitors of "cool" jazz. It was something of a response to the frenetic improvisation supplied by Bop and all of it's flavors.
Like I said for what it's worth. I don't claim to be an expert by any stretch just been a passion of mine for many years.
And I've got huge respect for Miles and especially Kind of Blue (kindofblue.com was the first domain name I registered for myself, way back in '96). Love the bop era of jazz, and especially Monk.