Book123

    Free register and download UseNet downloader, then you can FREE Download from UseNet.

    Download without Limit " Lyrics & Music Miles Davis and Gil Evans - Complete Columbia Studio Recordings (6CD Box) (2004) " from UseNet for FREE!

More

Miles Davis and Gil Evans - Complete Columbia Studio Recordings (6CD Box) (2004) Genre: Jazz

In the early 1960s, two giants of jazz went into the studios to collaborate on some of the most haunting, beautiful music ever. Miles was, by this time, a jazz star, a great trumpet player, composer and bandleader (his bands would be "finishing schools" for future titans: John Coltrane, Bill Evans, Dave Holland). Gil Evans was a subtly superb composer and arranger, who wrote for the big band of Claude Thornhill and singers Johnny Mathis and Helen Merrill, as well as the small groups of Gerry Mulligan and Teddy Charles, and would go on to leading his own edgy, modern big band (he even recorded an album of Jimi Hendrix songs!). This six-CD set comprises, alternate takes & all, the Davis/Evans albums MILES AHEAD, PORGY AND BESS, SKETCHES OF SPAIN, QUIET NIGHTS, and PLUS 19. This is some of Miles' most gorgeous playing in intricate, thoughtful, lush and majestic orchestral settings, with more that a few subtle classical shadings. Save your pennies and dimes for this elaborately annotated (it has CD-sized "miniatures" of original album covers!) box, a treasure for fans of Miles, Evans, orchestral jazz and heartfelt instrumental music.

THE COMPLETE COLUMBIA STUDIO RECORDINGS compiles all of Miles Davis' collaborations with composer/arranger Gil Evans. Included are the original and alternate versions of the four albums that Davis and Evans made together--MILES AHEAD, PORGY AND BESS, SKETCHES OF SPAIN and QUIET NIGHTS--as well as various outtakes and unreleased tracks. More than half of the material is previously unreleased.

THE COMPLETE COLUMBIA STUDIO RECORDINGS won 1997 Grammy Awards for Best Historical Album, Best Album Notes (by George Avakian, Bob Belden, Bill Kirchner and Phil Schaap), and Best Recording Package - Boxed.

.............

The success rate of Miles Davis and Gil Evans astounds - their first three albums, Miles Ahead, Porgy And Bess and Sketches Of Spain, are masterpieces, monuments in the history of recorded jazz. All of their collaborations are important and will remain influential. Newly remixed from the original session tapes, this set brings to light the natural sonic beauty of the music as originally recorded, and digs further into the making of these complex masterpieces. In addition to alternate takes and later sessions, producer Phil Schaap has unearthed telling rehearsal sequences and overdub sessions that bring the listener into the process.

Disc One introduces the original Miles Ahead Lp in stereo for the first time, despite failed attempts to reissue the album in its original form and assertions that the raw material did not exist to rebuild this heavily-edited work in stereo. Following the original masters is the entire suite repeated in alternate takes, mostly unissued.

The original Porgy And Bess begins Disc Two. It is followed by a set of alternate takes which appear, unlike the album, in operatic order. These bonus tracks are framed by alternate takes of Gil Evans' "Gone".

Sketches Of Spain occupies Disc Three. Following the album, bonus tracks are framed by two takes of "Song Of Our Country", a related piece belatedly issued on a 1981 anthology.

Disc Four begins with the six Evans/Davis recordings that made up the bulk of the Quiet Nights Lp, followed by a unique sextet session with Bob Dorough. Two previously unissued sessions, which have been the subject of much speculation over the years, follow. "The Time Of The Barracudas" was written and recorded by Miles and Gil as music to accompany a stage presentation of Peter Barnes' play of the same name. Although this original version of the suite is released here for the first time, the score did give birth to two Gil Evans classics, "Hotel Me" and "General Assembly". The exotic "Falling Water" from 1968 is the last orchestral studio collaboration by Davis and Evans. Its unusual instrumentation was revived later that year for their legendary Berkeley Jazz Festival appearance.

The remainder of Disc Four brings us back to the beginning with alternate takes from the Miles Ahead sessions. Their inclusion covers musical fragments used in the two previous CD attempts to reissue the original album. Rather than duplicate any editing that was not part of the original, the complete performances of the takes used to make those hybrid versions are issued here.

Disc Five is essentially the making of Miles Ahead with more takes, illuminating rehearsals and studio discussions that Schaap uncovered in his quest to do the near impossible - give us the original Miles Ahead in stereo. Disc Six features the final piece of the Miles Ahead puzzle, the session at which Miles overdubs his flugelhorn on sections of four masters from the album. This is followed by rehearsal material and more alternate takes from Porgy And Bess. The set closes with a return to Sketches Of Spain, Miles' favorite. The highlight is a version of "Concierto De Aranjuez", with Gil conducting and Miles just listening.

Personnel includes: Miles Davis (trumpet, flugelhorn); Gil Evans (arranger, conductor); Bob Dorough (vocals, piano); Steve Lacy (soprano saxophone); Lee Konitz, Cannonball Adderley (alto saxophone); Wayne Shorter (tenor saxophone); Ernie Royal, Bernie Glow (trumpet); Jimmy Cleveland, J.J. Johnson, Frank Rehak (trombone); Julius Watkins, Gunther Schuller (French horn); Bill Barber (tuba); Romeo Penque (flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, oboe); Hubert Laws (flute); Jack Knitzer (bassoon); Janet Putnam (harp); Wynton Kelly (piano); Herbie Hancock (piano, electric piano); Joe Beck (electric guitar); Paul Chambers, Ron Carter (bass); Arthur Taylor, Philly Joe Jones, Jimmy Cobb, Tony Williams (drums); Willie Bobo (bongos); Elvin Jones (percussion).

Buy Book at Lowest Price on Amazon

Disc One

Disc Two

Disc Three

Disc Four

Disc Five

Disc Six

Rating:
2.5 out of 5 by Book123