The Complete Columbia Recordings: Miles Davis & John Coltrane [Box set]

The Complete Columbia Recordings: Miles Davis & John Coltrane [Box set]

The Complete Columbia Recordings: Miles Davis & John Coltrane [Box set]

ASIN: B00004SCH8

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Between 1955 and 1959, with occasional changes in personnel, trumpeter Miles Davis led a simply extraordinary small band that changed the course of jazz. This quintet/sextet primarily spotlighted tenor saxophonist John Coltrane but also included such greats as alto saxophonist Cannonball Adderley; pianists Red Garland, Bill Evans, and Wynton Kelly; bassist Paul Chambers; and drummers Philly Joe Jones and Jimmy Cobb. The Complete Columbia Recordings of Miles Davis and John Coltrane comprise such fabled Davis albums as 'Round About Midnight, Milestones, Jazz at the Plaza, Volume 1, Someday My Prince Will Come, and the legendary Kind of Blue. Also included are the Davis-with-Coltrane selections that appeared on Miles and Monk at Newport, Jazz Track, Basic Miles, and Circle in the Round. In all, the set boasts 60 tracks, of which 18 are previously unreleased--14 of them complete takes.

This is sumptuous, vital music that's alternately exhilarating and emotive, rhythmically dynamic and smoothly flowing, complex and easy on the ear. It's music that defies classification. It's neither bebop nor hard bop yet has elements of both and remains contemporary to this day, as evidenced by such timeless numbers as "All Blues" and "So What."

From the opening "Two Bass Hit" on Disc One to the final "Straight, No Chaser" on Disc Six, we hear the dazzling contrast of two preeminent jazz stylists: Davis's singing, luminescent tone and lyrical, often laid-back yet surely swinging improvisations and Coltrane's zealous-toned, bursting-forth solos. Adding additional color and interest are the bebop-based piano work of Garland, the harmonically advanced offerings of pianist Evans, the rich, serpentine lines of alto saxophonist Adderley, the crisp-then-thumping beats from drummers Jones and Cobb, and the globular, hearty tones of Chambers's bass.

The numbers represent a minihistory of modern jazz. There are bebop tunes such as "Budo," "Two Bass Hit," and "Au-Leu-Cha," all given updated and unique airings. There are classic standards such as "All of You," "Stella by Starlight," "Green Dolphin Street, " "Sweet Sue," and "Bye Bye Blackbird," most of which were rediscovered after Davis recorded them. There are ace tunes by such Davis contemporaries as Thelonious Monk ("'Round About Midnight," "Straight, No Chaser") and Jackie McLean ("Little Melonae") that are heard fresh as arranged by the trumpeter. Finally, there are the Davis originals, pieces such as "Milestones" and "All Blues," which are now part of the jazz canon. Each of these numbers is given the kind of insistent, spirited, and deeply musical interpretation that warrants repeated listening.

Rounding out the topnotch package are essays by original producer George Avakian and Kind of Blue drummer Cobb, an insightful track-by-track overview by noted critic Bob Blumenthal, and the original liner notes to Kind of Blue by pianist Evans. --Zan Stewart

From Jazziz
The legendary Miles Davis album Kind of Blue is just part of a new six-CD Columbia/Legacy boxed set, The Complete Miles Davis featuring John Coltrane. Chronicling the six-year association of the two legends, the set also includes music from records such as 'Round About Midnight, Jazz Track, and Someday My Prince Will Come.

--- JAZZIZ Magazine Copyright © 2000, Milor Entertainment, Inc.

The Complete Columbia Recordings: Miles Davis & John Coltrane,Miles Davis,John Coltrane,Sony,Bop,Box Sets (Audio Only),Cool,Hard Bop,Jazz,Jazz Blues,Jazz Music,Modal Music,Pop
Seven Steps: The Complete Columbia Recordings 1963-1964
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Seven Steps: The search for the 2nd great quintet
  • The Story of the Birth of the Second Quintet
  • Labor pains have never been so pleasurable.
  • Some of Miles' Best Playing
  • Music in between eras.
Seven Steps: The Complete Columbia Recordings 1963-1964
Miles Davis
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Bebop GeneralBebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B0002YCVSI
Release Date: 2004-09-28

Tracks:

  1. Joshua
  2. I Fall In Love Too Easily
  3. Baby Won't You Please Come Home
  4. So Near, So Far
  5. Basin Street Blues
  6. Seven Steps To Heaven (Take 3)
  7. Seven Steps To Heaven (Take 5)
  8. Summer Night

Tracks:

  1. Seven Steps To Heaven (Rehearsal Take)
  2. Seven Steps To Heaven
  3. So Near, So Far
  4. Joshua
  5. Introduction By Andre Francis
  6. Autumn Leaves
  7. Milestones
  8. I Thought About You

Tracks:

  1. Joshua
  2. All Of You
  3. Walkin'
  4. Bye Bye Blackbird
  5. Bye Bye (Theme)

Tracks:

  1. Introduction By Mort Fega
  2. Autumn Leaves
  3. So What
  4. Stella By Starlight
  5. Walkin'
  6. All Of You
  7. Go-Go (Theme And Announcement)

Tracks:

  1. Introduction By Billy Taylor
  2. All Blues
  3. My Funny Valentine
  4. Joshua
  5. I Thought About You
  6. Four
  7. Seven Steps To Heaven
  8. There Is No Greater Love
  9. Go-Go (Theme And Re-Introduction)

Tracks:

  1. Introduction By Teruo Isono
  2. If I Were A Bell
  3. My Funny Valentine
  4. So What
  5. Walkin'
  6. All Of You
  7. Go-Go (Theme)

Tracks:

  1. Milestones
  2. Autumn Leaves
  3. So What
  4. Stella By Starlight
  5. Walkin'
  6. Go-Go (Theme)

Amazon.com

The seven CDs of Seven Steps chronicle the formative period of Davis's "Second Great Quintet" from its first arrival, bassist Ron Carter in the spring of 1963, to its last, tenor saxophonist Wayne Shorter in the fall of 1964.

The set begins with the West Coast studio session for the Seven Steps to Heaven LP, with Miles, Carter, and tenor saxophonist George Coleman joined by L.A. musicians Victor Feldman (piano) and Frank Butler (drums). Then it's off to New York where Miles would cover the same material with Herbie Hancock in the piano chair and Tony Williams on drums. (The original LP selected tracks from each group, but all the tracks from both sessions are here, including unissued alternate takes.) The rest of the set features concert performances in which the band plays established Davis anthems along with a few choice standards. The leader is inspired throughout, lashing out with passion and urgency on trumpet that's clearly fuelled by the young and extraordinary rhythm section bubbling underneath him--Hancock shows an uncanny ability to shape a group's performance on a number of levels, balanced by the steady Carter and the incendiary Williams, whose drumming is both polyrhythmic and consistently, freely lyrical.

In some ways, the set is a search for the right tenor saxophonist, but all are contenders. The polished Coleman constructs solos with remarkable tension curves. Sam Rivers is a startling presence, pressing the envelope with pin-wheeling runs and an assortment of accelerated bleats that highlight the rhythm section's avant-garde sympathies. However, the arrival of Shorter is unquestionably the highpoint, as the group dialogue developed by Davis and the rhythm section finally meets its perfect complement in Shorter's complex, multi-dimensional playing. As with Columbia's previous Davis sets, Seven Steps is another triumph of design, sound, and documentation. --Stuart Broomer

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Seven Steps: The search for the 2nd great quintet.......2007-05-29

Although I already owned much of the material presented on this sprawling 7 CD box set, I bought it for completist reasons like most of the folks who love Miles. It is a musical document of Davis in transition. Coltrane had split from Davis in 1960, and other crucial personnel (Kelly, Chambers) were soon to depart as well. By 1963, Davis was ready to hit the road again. This box set chronicles the story of his search and formation of what was to become the 2nd great Miles Davis quintet. This group was poised to take jazz music to the next level.

As a whole, the music on this box set is excellent. Although the box set is a bit pricey, we are treated to previously unissued studio tracks as well as "complete" concert performances (including the proper sequence of the 64 Lincoln Center concert). I also need to mention that the sound quality (with the exception of the mono "In Europe" '63 Antibes show) on these tracks is exceptional, as the music is sonically superior, given the 24 bit digital remastering treatment.

From this writer's perspective, the heart of this box set is arguably the February 1964 Lincoln Center concert. The band was "on" this night and the listener gets treated to definitive performances of just about every song. Although saxophonist George Coleman was considered too conservative (he was later to be replaced by Wayne Shorter, considered by his bandmates to be the perfect fit for their evolving musical exploration and ideas), he was on fire at this concert. The overall playing and ability of all five members as represented here at Lincoln Center equals nothing short of musical perfection. In particular, discs 4 & 5 showcases the extraordinary talents of five individuals who appear to be able to lock in and communicate telepathically with one another. In particular, the musical interaction of the rhythm section (Hancock, Carter and Williams) at this venue is simply outstanding.

There is much more that I could add about the music contained in this box set. As stated previously, this is a document of a transitional period in the life of Miles Davis. However, it is certainly not insignificant or "throw away" music. Yes, there are a few "standard" selections from the Miles Davis songbook that are repeated on several of the live concerts presented here, however, the band takes risks and pushes the musical envelope- stretching the boundaries on this material, thus creating exciting and rewarding music for the listener. From this writer's perspective, the music on this box set is exceptional (and still holds up by today's standards), and is another must have for the serious Miles Davis collector.

5 out of 5 stars The Story of the Birth of the Second Quintet.......2007-02-02

After Miles' first great quintet had disbanded, he was at a point of transition. Though he soldiered on for a couple of years with Hank Mobley, Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers and Jimmy Cobb, a group that produced some amazing music (Someday My Prince Will Come, Friday and Saturday Nights At The Blackhawk), he wasn't breaking any new ground artistically. And though that period of his career rates as a favorite with many a Miles fan, Miles himself was not exceedingly happy with the group (Mobley in particular), feeling that he was in an artistic "rut" of sorts. It was around this time that Kelly, Chambers and Cobb left the group to pursue their own interests, effectively leaving Miles without a group, and thus beginning a transition that would culminate with his soon-to-be legendary second quintet.

The story begins in 1963, with Miles putting together a new group and laying down tracks for his next record, Seven Steps To Heaven. The new group began with tenor saxophonist George Coleman and bassist Ron Carter. Drummer Frank Butler was enlisted, though Miles really wanted 17-year-old prodigy Tony Williams, who had commitments at the time with Jackie McLean. Pianist Victor Feldman rounded out the group, and brought along some fresh and lyrical new material ("Joshua" and "Seven Steps To Heaven"). Feldman declined Davis' offer to join the band, so Davis went back to New York and finished the record with Herbie Hancock on piano and Tony Williams on drums, who was now free from his commitment with McLean. It was evident from the first session that the group was going to be special; it was Williams' amazing ability and propulsive force that drove the group and forced everyone else to play beyond their abilities. Miles knew that Williams (and his feel for the "new thing") was needed to guide him towards developing a new sound, so he relied heavily upon his direction and advice during the formation of this group. Disc one (and half of disc two) contains the entire album Seven Steps To Heaven, along with previously unreleased rehearsal and alternate takes.

Starting midway through disc two, this set chronicles Miles' new group as they experiment with the tenor chair, beginning with their appearance at the Antibes Festival in France (released in 1964 as Miles Davis In Europe). Though the set still consists of the same mixture of Miles' "hits" from the Coltrane era and standards (along with the new Feldman tunes), the band managed to stretch and mold the material into an entirely new form, almost unrecognizable from previous arrangements. Williams drives the group, often at breakneck tempos, controlling the tempo with his frenetic ride cymbal work, pushing and pulling the meter and pulling out all the polyrhythmic stops. His mastery of the drums is flat out amazing and unprecedented (and still unmatched), regardless of age. His arrival on the scene totally changed the way jazz drummers would play from that point on, and many an experienced veteran was sent back to the woodshed after hearing him for the first time.

The real highlight of this set is discs four and five, which consist of the entire performance at the Philharmonic Hall in New York on Feb. 12, 1964, which had been released in 1965 and 1966 as My Funny Valentine and Four & More, respectively. The entire concert is presented for the first time in its entirety, and includes a previously unreleased version of "Autumn Leaves." This recording represents this incarnation of the group at its absolute finest, as the play with a passion and intensity that results in an invigorating and uplifting experience. The band's intensity may have been borne of the fact that Miles had just informed them before going onstage that their usual earnings were being donated to charity that evening, which enraged the group to the point of exchanging words with the leader. Miles himself suggests in his autobiography that their anger was responsible for their frenetic performance; he also says that Coleman played that night better than he's ever heard him play.

It was Coleman, however, that was the one piece of the puzzle that still was not quite the right fit. He plays throughout this set with a brilliantly melodic ease, with clean and lyrical lines firmly entrenched in the bebop tradition. Williams was dissatisfied with Coleman's playing, however, which he thought was too traditional for his tastes. Likewise, the group was a bit too adventurous for Coleman's tastes, so he left and was replaced at Williams' urging by Sam Rivers. The sixth disc of this set features Rivers on the album Miles In Tokyo, which had been released in 1969 as and was previously available only in Japan. Rivers is an intriguing option, sort of the anti-Coleman, if you will, with his angular and often guttural sound that skirted the boundaries of tradition and form and eschewed traditional bebop clichés. Regardless of who is manning the tenor chair, the group remains cohesive and inspired, and often explosive.

Ultimately, Rivers proved to be a bit too far out for what Miles was looking for, which was exploratory, yet still respective of the boundaries of time, melody and structure. Upon returning from Tokyo, Miles received word that Wayne Shorter was now free from his commitment with Art Blakey, so he immediately offered him the job. Shorter proved to be just what Miles was looking for, the perfect compromise between Coleman's melodic traditionalism and Rivers' exploratory modernism. In addition to being a fine soloist, Shorter was a great writer, whose compositions brought to the quintet the infusion of new material it had so sorely needed. The final disc consists of a recording of the band's appearance in Berlin, which was released in 1969 as Miles In Berlin, and was previously only available in Germany. This disc captures Shorter still settling in a bit, though it is immediately evident that his distinct voice is a perfect fit for the group, thus concluding an 18-month audition for a saxophonist.

5 out of 5 stars Labor pains have never been so pleasurable........2006-05-16

This box set begins with a false start (a session in LA with a pick-up group), but then bursts into flower as Miles acquires a rhythm section of mere kids; those kids, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter and particluarly seventeen year-old tinderbox Tony Williams, light such a blaze that they will propel the leader from the massive re-working of his live-set documented here (the continuous sets played without breaks between songs, breakneck tempos, or else abrupt shifts in tempo, a return to modal playing not heard from Miles since Kind of Blue), to the edge of Free Jazz (documented in the Plugged Nickel box), to a whole new songbook of originals that sound shockingly Ornette Coleman-ish (the ESP box set) and finally into r&b grooves and electricity. All in just four years. No artist in jazz ever mutated so quickly, and as Miles says of this group, "It wasn't all me, it was them too."

This box covers the first stage of that extraordinary journey. It could well be dubbed the search for the saxophonist, as the band picks up then discards hard-boppish George Coleman, avant gardist Sam Rivers, and finally splits the difference stylistically by settling on Wayne Shorter. Aside from two perfunctory studio dates on the first disc, we then get four concerts from 1963-64(Antibes and the famous CORE concert with Coleman, a Tokyo date with Rivers, and a Berlin date with Shorter); much of the repertory is the same from show to show, but I feel that actually increases rather than diminishes the interest of this box; for in the great jazz tradition, Heraclitus-like,these improvisors never approach the material the same way twice. These recordings are transitional, a warm-up for the material on the ESP and Plugged Nickel box sets; But Miles Davis' transitional periods would be considered masterpieces for most other artists. Plus, none of these concerts have ever been released complete and un-edited before, the CORE concert (originally split artificially into ballads and fast numbers) has been restored to its proper order, and the sound is spectacular. Finally, note-for-note, this might be the most technically perfect trumpet playing of Miles' career. His high-notes, virgin territory for him, are hair-raising, and he would never play at such untrammelled length again. This alone makes this set mandatory.

4 out of 5 stars Some of Miles' Best Playing.......2006-02-28

Yes, this set gets a little repetitive. But I like it because 1) the studio sessions are gorgeous, a continuation of the ideas laid down on "Kind of Blue", 2) it actually is interesting to compare Coleman and Rivers and Shorter, and 3) this is some of Mile's best playing, studio or live. He is inspired by the new band, and he is on FIRE.

4 out of 5 stars Music in between eras........2005-11-04

Some music invariably slips through the cracks, particularly when a musician has as enormous a catalog as Miles Davis. Certainly, "Seven Steps: The Complete Columbia Miles Davis 1963-1964" covers one such period. Admittedly, it's an easy period to overlook-- after the triumphs of John Coltrane's tenure with the band and the brilliant collaborations with Gil Evans, Davis was tapped out. Coltrane left the band in 1960, his replacement Hank Mobley never seemed to work out, and the rhythm section left en masse.

So Davis began gathering a new band, starting with tenor saxophonist George Coleman and bassist Ron Carter. Coleman, unrecognized, was a sax player who could match Davis both in energy and lyricism, while Carter was one of those rare virtuosos of the bass who could make just about everyone stop in their tracks. Davis briefly worked with pianist Victor Feldman and drummer Frank Butler in the studio in 1963 before completing his first small-band studio record in two years with pianist Herbie Hancock and drummer Tony Williams. In Hancock and Williams, he had musicians who could play straight, but who were also interested in the burgeoning avant-garde movement, and who would eventually help push Davis to the free jazz line.

"Seven Steps to Heaven" proved to be the only studio session Davis would do until 1965-- the album itself is a bit fractured with the different rhythm sections, but it plays nicely, with Davis framed by Feldman or Hancock and playing lyrically throughout. Coleman, for his part, seems remarkably out of place (when he's present, Davis works as a quartet on the ballads), but most noticable is the presence of Williams on the cuts from the last session-- his explosiveness coaxes dynamic performances out of Davis.

Coleman stayed wiht the band until the spring of 1964-- three shows, one from Antibes in 1963 (released as "Miles in Europe") and two sets from New York City in 1964 (split up as "My Funny Valentine" and "Four and MOre") document his time with Davis. The quintet performs excitedly, with the rhythm section encouraging Davis and Coleman, the latter challenging the leader to better performances, but it seems quite honestly that everyone seems to run out of steam now and again on these sessions, particularly the '63 show. Nonetheless, there's many just superb performances throughout the sets, in particular from 1964.

But in the spring Coleman left and Davis needed a replacement for a summer tour of Japan in 1964, picking up Sam Rivers for what would be recorded as "Miles in Tokyo". Rivers was a square peg in a round hole with the Davis band-- his playing is agressive and powerful, but eschews conventional rhythm and sound and sometimes even looses the rhythm section. As exciting as the performance is to hear because of its historical oddity, it just doesn't work.

The final disc in the set finds Davis with the band that would be integral to the next several years of his career-- tenor saxophonist Wayne Shorter finally filled the reed seat in his band for a European fall tour. The resulting show (released separtely as "Miles in Berlin") finds Davis and company feeling each other out-- the performances are quite good but stuck pretty close to the mainstream.

Like all the Columbia boxed sets, this one comes with rather extensive liner notes and superb sound, it's really a nice package (and looks great next to the rest of the series). Davis' career would have higher points, but there's enough interesting material in here to make this worth having.
The Complete Columbia Recordings: Miles Davis & John Coltrane
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Not for everyone, but great for its target audience
The Complete Columbia Recordings: Miles Davis & John Coltrane
Miles Davis , and John Coltrane
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Bebop GeneralBebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
Hard BopHard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B00020W0YM
Release Date: 2004-05-04

Tracks:

  1. Two Bass Hit
  2. Two Bass Hit
  3. Ah-Leu-Cha
  4. Ah-Leu-Cha
  5. Ah-Leu-Cha
  6. Little Melonae
  7. Budo
  8. Budo
  9. Dear Old Stockholm
  10. Bye Bye Blackbird
  11. Bye Bye Blackbird
  12. Tadd's Delight
  13. Tadd's Delight

Tracks:

  1. Dear Old Stockholm
  2. All of You
  3. All of You
  4. Sweet Sue, Just You
  5. Sweet Sue, Just You [False Start with Discussion]
  6. Sweet Sue, Just You
  7. Sweet Sue, Just You
  8. Miles Davis Comments
  9. 'Round Midnight
  10. Two Bass Hit
  11. Two Bass Hit
  12. Billy Boy
  13. Straight, No Chaser

Tracks:

  1. Straight, No Chaser
  2. Milestones
  3. Milestones
  4. Sid's Ahead
  5. Little Melonae
  6. Dr. Jackle
  7. On Green Dolphin Street
  8. Fran-Dance
  9. Fran-Dance
  10. Stella by Starlight

Tracks:

  1. Love for Sale
  2. Freddie Freeloader
  3. Freddie Freeloader
  4. So What
  5. Blue in Green
  6. Flamenco Sketches
  7. Miles Davis Comments
  8. Flamenco Sketches
  9. All Blues

Tracks:

  1. Someday My Prince Will Come
  2. Teo
  3. Introduction by Willis Conover - John Coltrane, Willis Conover, Miles Davis
  4. Ah-Leu-Cha
  5. Straight, No Chaser
  6. Fran-Dance
  7. Two Bass Hit
  8. Bye Bye Blackbird
  9. Theme

Tracks:

  1. If I Were a Bell
  2. Oleo
  3. My Funny Valentine
  4. Straight, No Chaser

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Not for everyone, but great for its target audience.......2006-09-26

Who should buy this set? Well first of all anyone interested in Miles Davis or John Coltrane and especially their interplay together will probably be interested, but this set seems to have been made for the completist or armchair jazz scholar. This is more of a personal library piece, to be treated as such rather than an introduction or overview of these two jazz "giants". This set covers Miles Davis' work with John Coltrane during Miles' time with Columbia Records. The albums that this would entail are:
'Round About Midnight
Milestones
Miles At Newport
Kind Of Blue
Someday My Prince Will Come
As well as many alternate takes and live recordings not found on these albums.
So you may have heard that Kind Of Blue is a great starting point for jazz. This colletion comprises that entire album and some alternate takes, but the disc that has that album has another song at the beginning and some Miles Davis comments as well as presenting the tracks out of order from the original album order. There is nothing like putting in Kind Of Blue for the first time, hearing the low bass strumming and the explosion of Miles' first notes of "So What". Here you would have to skip to track 4 and then back around for that experience. Or what if (like me) Someday My Prince Will Come is one of your favorite albums by early Columbia Miles Davis. Sadly Coltrane did not play with Miles on every track so the album is not included here in its entirety for obvious reasons. Many times alternate takes are placed one after the other for comparison sake. Rather than listening to these discs like albums with an overall feel, these discs should really be approached as study guides and keys to the interworking of Miles and Trane.
If you are new to jazz or at least to Miles and Coltrane then buy Kind Of Blue and explore it over and over, buy Someday My Prince Will Come and listen to "Pfrancing" and see if it does not speak to you.
If you have the aforementioned albums and you do not really care about alternate takes or the liner notes, then this set was not made for you.
If you have had the aforementioned albums for some time and you love Miles and Trane, buy this set and dig deeper. Listen to the alternate takes placed next to the takes you remember from the albums. Study Miles and Trane together, the call and response, the give and take. Read the wonderful booklet enclosed with the set and learn more about Miles and trane and the other musicians in this classic quintet.
The Miles Davis and Gil Evans: Complete Columbia Studio Recordings
Average customer rating: Not rated
    The Miles Davis and Gil Evans: Complete Columbia Studio Recordings
    Miles Davis , and Gil Evans
    Manufacturer: Sony
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    3. Sun Ship
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    ASIN: B0002199H2
    Release Date: 2004-05-11

    Tracks:

    1. Springville
    2. The Maids Of Cadiz
    3. The Duke
    4. My Ship
    5. Miles Ahead
    6. Blues For Pablo
    7. New Rhumba
    8. The Meaning Of The Blues
    9. Lament
    10. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You)
    11. Springsville (Remake Take 7)
    12. The Maids Of Cadiz (Take 1)
    13. The Duke (Take 11)
    14. My Ship (Take 1)
    15. Miles Ahead (Take 4)
    16. Blues For Pablo (Take 1)
    17. New Rhumba (Take 5)
    18. The Meaning Of The Blues (Rehearsal Take)
    19. Lament (Rehearsal Take)
    20. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (Take 8)
    21. Pause Track

    Tracks:

    1. Buzzard Song
    2. Bess, You Is My Woman Now
    3. Gone
    4. Gone, Gone, Gone
    5. Summertime
    6. Oh Bess, Oh Where's My Bess
    7. Prayer (Oh Doctor Jesus)
    8. Fishermen, Strawberry And Devil Crab
    9. My Man's Gone Now
    10. It Ain't Necessarily So
    11. Here Come De Honey Man
    12. I Loves You, Porgy
    13. There's A Boat That's Leaving Soon For New York
    14. Gone (Take 3)
    15. Summertime (Take 2)
    16. Prayer (Oh Doctor Jesus) (Take 2)
    17. I Loves You, Porgy (Take 1, Second Version)
    18. There's A Boat That's Leaving Soon For New York (Take 2)
    19. Oh Bess, Oh Where's My Bess (Take 5)
    20. Gone (Take 4)
    21. Pause Track

    Tracks:

    1. Concierto De Aranjuez (Adagio)
    2. Will O' The Wisp
    3. The Pan Piper
    4. Saeta
    5. Solea
    6. Song Of Our Country (Issued Take)
    7. Saeta (Full Version Of Master)
    8. The Pan Piper (Take 1)
    9. Concierto De Aranjuez (Adagio) (Part One, Alternate Take)
    10. Concierto De Aranjuez (Adagio) (Part Two, Alternate Take)
    11. Song Of Our Country (Take 14)
    12. Pause Track

    Tracks:

    1. Song No. 2
    2. Once Upon A Summertime
    3. Ads Pes Da Cruz
    4. Song No. 1
    5. Wait Till You See Her
    6. Corcovado (Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars)
    7. Blue Xmas
    8. Nothing Like You
    9. Devil May Care
    10. The Time Of The Barracudas
    11. Falling Water (Take 4)
    12. Falling Water (Take 6)
    13. Falling Water (Take 8)
    14. Falling Water (Take 9)
    15. Springsville (Take 5)
    16. The Maids Of Cadiz (Take 11)
    17. The Maids Of Cadiz (Take 11, Insert 1)
    18. Lament (Medley: Take 2)
    19. The Duke (Take 1)
    20. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (53225 Issued Version)

    Tracks:

    1. Springsville (Rehearsal Sequence)
    2. Springsville (Rehearsal With Piano)
    3. The Maids Of Cadiz (Take 9)
    4. The Maids Of Cadiz (Take 10)
    5. The Maids Of Cadiz (Rehearsal Sequence)
    6. Count Off For The Duke (Take 3)
    7. The Duke (Take 8)
    8. The Duke (Piano Take 3)
    9. My Ship (Take 6)
    10. Miles Ahead (Rehearsal Sequence)
    11. Miles Ahead (Take 12)
    12. Miles Ahead (Take 15)
    13. Studio Discussion
    14. My Ship (Take 7)
    15. Miles Ahead (Piano Insert-Mono)
    16. Blues For Pablo (Rehearsal Sequence)
    17. New Rhumba (Take 2)
    18. Lament (Take 1)
    19. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You)
    20. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (Take 5)
    21. Studio Discussion
    22. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You)
    23. Pause Track

    Tracks:

    1. Studio Discussion
    2. Springsville (Take 8 Without Overdubs)
    3. Studio Discussion
    4. Miles Ahead (Take 11 Without Overdubs)
    5. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (Take 3 Without Overdubs)
    6. Springsville (Overdubs Take 1)
    7. Springsville (Overdubbed Solos 4-5)
    8. Springsville (Overdubbed Solos 6-9)
    9. Springsville (Issued Overdubbed Solo)
    10. Miles Ahead (Issued Overdubbed Solo)
    11. Miles Ahead (Overdubbed Solo)
    12. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (Overdubbed Solo 1)
    13. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (Overdubbed Solo 2)
    14. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (Overdubbed Solo)
    15. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You (Overdubbed Solo 9)
    16. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (Overdubbed Solo 19 & 19c)
    17. Miles Ahead (Mono Master)
    18. Gone (Rehearsal Sequence)
    19. Gone, Gone, Gone (Rehearsal Sequence)
    20. Studio Discussion
    21. Bess, You Is My Woman Now
    22. It Ain't Necessarily So
    23. Oh Bess, Oh Where's My Bess
    24. I Loves You, Porgy (Rehearsal Sequence)
    25. There's A Boat That's Leaving Soon For New York (Remake)
    26. My Man's Gone Now (Remake Take)
    27. Song Of Our Country (Take 9)
    28. Concierto De Aranjuez (Adagio) (Rehearsal)
    29. Concierto De Aranjuez (Adagio) (Alternate Ending)
    30. Pause Track

    Amazon.com

    From their first work together on the Birth of the Cool sessions in 1949, Miles Davis and Gil Evans forged a unique relationship as great soloist and brilliant arranger. The real opportunity to explore their shared vision didn't come until 1957, however, when Davis had forged a relationship with a major record label able to support it. Though a product of the big-band tradition, Evans was never limited by sectional voicings and riffs. He had an interest in unusual instrumentation and a talent for creating subtle mixes of distinct voices, adding French horns, oboe, bassoon, and harp to the conventional big band and thinning its saxophone, trumpet, and trombone sections. His arrangements for Davis are like settings for the finest jewels, whether he's creating rich, brass chords or adding only light percussion to the trumpeter's solitary lament. Together Davis and Evans produced three orchestral masterpieces: Miles Ahead (1957), Porgy and Bess (1958), and Sketches of Spain (1960). They're all here, along with less-inspired, later projects like the Quiet Nights bossa nova album. What most distinguishes the box set is the archival work of Phil Schaap, who has compiled a wealth of alternate takes. They reveal much about the processes that went into these works, including extensive editing and even some overdubbing. As early as 1957, Evans and Davis were already beginning to use the studio itself as an integral part of their music. --Stuart Broomer
    The Complete Columbia Studio Recordings
    Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    • Hearing Masterpieces In Progress
    • Why Boxed Sets Aren't For Everyone
    • The music -- perfection! This package -- a rip-off!
    • THANKS!........
    • Miles can do no wrong
    The Complete Columbia Studio Recordings
    Miles Davis , and Gil Evans
    Manufacturer: Sony
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    Avant Garde & Free JazzAvant Garde & Free Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
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    1. The Complete Columbia Recordings: Miles Davis & John Coltrane
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    3. Blowin' the Blues Away
    4. Out to Lunch
    5. Live at the Five Spot

    ASIN: B000002BDB
    Release Date: 1996-09-03

    Tracks:

    1. Springsville
    2. The Maids Of Cadiz
    3. The Duke
    4. My Ship
    5. Miles Ahead
    6. Blues For Pablo
    7. New Rhumba
    8. The Meaning Of The Blues
    9. Lament
    10. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed(By Anyone But You)
    11. Springsville (Remake Take 7)
    12. The Maids Of Cadiz (Take1)
    13. The Duke (Take 11)
    14. My Ship (Take 1)
    15. Miles Ahead (Take 4)
    16. Blues For Pablo (Take 1)
    17. New Rhumba (Take 5)
    18. The Meaning Of The Blues (Rehearsal Take)
    19. Lament (Rehearsal Take)
    20. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You)(Take8)
    21. Pause Track

    Tracks:

    1. Buzzard Song
    2. Bess, You Is My Woman Now
    3. Gone
    4. Gone, Gone, Gone
    5. Summertime
    6. Oh Bess, Oh Where's My Bess
    7. Prayer (Oh Doctor Jesus)
    8. Fishermen, Strawberry And Devil Crab
    9. My Man's Gone Now
    10. It Ain't Necessarily So
    11. Here Comes De Honey Man
    12. I Loves You, Porgy
    13. There's A Boat That's Leaving Soon For New York
    14. Gone (Take3)
    15. Summertime (Take 2)
    16. Prayer (Oh Doctor Jesus) (Take 2)
    17. I Loves You, Porgy (Take 1, Second Version)
    18. There's A Boat That's Leaving Soon For New York (Take 2)
    19. Oh Bess, Oh Where's My Bess (Take 5)
    20. Gone (Take 4)
    21. Pause Track

    Tracks:

    1. Concierto De Aranjuez (Adagio)
    2. Will O' The Wisp
    3. The Pan Piper
    4. Saeta
    5. Solea
    6. Song Of Our Country (Issued take)
    7. Saeta (Full Version Of Master)
    8. The Pan Piper (Take 1)
    9. Concierto De Aranjuez (Adagio) (Part One, Alternate take)
    10. Concierto De Aranjuez (Adagio) (Part Two, Alternate take)
    11. Song Of Our Country (Take 14)
    12. Pause Track

    Tracks:

    1. Song No. 2
    2. Once Upon A Summertime
    3. Aos Pes Da Cruz
    4. Song No. 1
    5. Wait Till You See Her
    6. Corcovado
    7. Blue Xmas
    8. Nothing Like You
    9. Devil May Care
    10. The Time Of The Barracudas
    11. Falling Water (Take 4)
    12. Falling Water (Take 6)
    13. Falling Water (Take 8)
    14. Falling Water (Take 9)
    15. Springsville (Take 5)
    16. The Maids Of Cadiz (Take11)
    17. The Maids Of Cadiz (Take11, Insert 1)
    18. Lament (Medley: Take 2)
    19. The Duke (Take 1)
    20. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Any One But You)(53225 Issued Version)

    Tracks:

    1. Springsville (Rehearsal Sequence)
    2. Springsville (Rehearsal With Piano)
    3. The Maids Of Cadiz (Take 9)
    4. The Maids Of Cadiz (Take 10)
    5. The Maids Of Cadiz (Rehearsal Sequence)
    6. Count Off For The Duke (Take 3)
    7. The Duke (Take8)
    8. The Duke (Piano Take 3)
    9. My Ship (Take 6)
    10. Miles Ahead (Rehearsal Sequence)
    11. Miles Ahead (Take 12)
    12. Miles Ahead (Take 15)
    13. Studio Discussion
    14. My Ship (Take 7)
    15. Miles Ahead (Piano Insert-Mono)
    16. Blues For Pablo (Rehearsal Sequence)
    17. New Rhumba (Take 2)
    18. Lament (Take 1)
    19. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (Rehearsal)
    20. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (Take 5)
    21. Studio Discussion
    22. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You)(Piano Take 4)
    23. Pause Track

    Tracks:

    1. Studio Discussion
    2. Springsville (Take 8 Without Overdubs)
    3. Studio Discussion
    4. Miles Ahead (Take 11 Without Overdubs)
    5. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But Yoy)(Take 3 Without Overdubs)
    6. Springville (Overdub Take 1)
    7. Springville (Overdubbed Solos 4-5)
    8. Springville (Overdubbed Solos 6-9)
    9. Springville (Issued Overdubbed Solo)
    10. Miles Ahead (Issued Overdubbed Solo)
    11. Miles Ahead (Overdubbed Solo)
    12. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (Overdubbed Solo 1)
    13. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (Overdubbed Solo 2)
    14. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (Overdubbed Solo 4)
    15. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (Overdubbed Solo 8)
    16. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You)(Overdubbed Solo 19 & 19C
    17. Miles Ahead (Mono Master)
    18. Gone (Rehearsal Sequence)
    19. Gone, Gone, Gone (Rehearsal Sequence)
    20. Studio Discussion
    21. Bess, You Is My Woman Now (Rehearsal Take)
    22. It Ain't Necessarily So (Take 1)
    23. Oh Bess, Oh Where's My Bess (Take 3)
    24. I Loves You, Porgy (Rehearsal Sequence)
    25. There's A Boat That's Leaving Soon For NewYork (Remake)
    26. My Man's Gone Now (Remake Take)
    27. Song Of Our Country (Take 9)
    28. Concierto De Aranjuez (Adagio) (Rehearsal)
    29. Concierto De Aranjuez (Adagio) (Alternate Ending)
    30. Pause Track

    Amazon.com

    From their first work together on the Birth of the Cool sessions in 1949, Miles Davis and Gil Evans forged a unique relationship as great soloist and brilliant arranger. The real opportunity to explore their shared vision didn't come until 1957, however, when Davis had forged a relationship with a major record label able to support it. Though a product of the big-band tradition, Evans was never limited by sectional voicings and riffs. He had an interest in unusual instrumentation and a talent for creating subtle mixes of distinct voices, adding French horns, oboe, bassoon, and harp to the conventional big band and thinning its saxophone, trumpet, and trombone sections. His arrangements for Davis are like settings for the finest jewels, whether he's creating rich, brass chords or adding only light percussion to the trumpeter's solitary lament. Together Davis and Evans produced three orchestral masterpieces: Miles Ahead (1957), Porgy and Bess (1958), and Sketches of Spain (1960). They're all here, along with less-inspired, later projects like the Quiet Nights bossa nova album. What most distinguishes the box set is the archival work of Phil Schaap, who has compiled a wealth of alternate takes. They reveal much about the processes that went into these works, including extensive editing and even some overdubbing. As early as 1957, Evans and Davis were already beginning to use the studio itself as an integral part of their music. --Stuart Broomer

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Hearing Masterpieces In Progress.......2007-01-16

    Amen to a lot of what other reviewers have said here. Here's my two cents: I enjoy listening to these albums very much (Sketches of Spain is my favorite in this collection because it's so damn beautiful and creative). But I also enjoy listening to the outtakes.

    Yes, most of these outtakes deserve to be on the cutting room floor. But it is neat to listen to Miles and Gil work out those phrases that we all know and love so very much. It's sort of like looking over Picasso's shoulder as he paints or Hemingway's as he writes. The outtakes let you hear a little bit on how these masterpieces were put together.

    3 out of 5 stars Why Boxed Sets Aren't For Everyone.......2006-05-08

    The four albums (well, three and a half) that trumpeter Miles Davis and arranger Gil Evans recorded together between 1957 and 1964 rank among the most celebrated works in either man's discography, and indeed they contain a wealth of fine music. They were and remain, however, carefully rendered studio sculptures, pared down from many hours' worth of recordings deemed unworthy of release at the time by the principals, whose judgment we should certainly note even if we choose to ignore it, as Columbia Records has repeatedly done (for better and worse) in assembling and releasing its ongoing series of "complete" Miles Davis boxed sets.
    Miles' and Gil's COMPLETE COLUMBIA STUDIO RECORDINGS was, of course, the very first of these packages, and as such it has served as the mould for all of the expertly remastered, tastefully packaged and extensively annotated boxes which have followed over the past decade. No doubt about it: it's a first-class piece of work. The trouble, alas, is the music itself, which in this case really does disprove the old adage about too much never being enough. Stunning as they frequently are in their own right, these precisely orchestrated, heavily arranged pieces don't lend themselves particularly well to alternate versions and outtakes; and with nearly three whole CDs (each the length of two full albums) devoted to material from the single LP MILES AHEAD, monotony is a powerful presence in this box.
    Fortunately, MILES AHEAD - as well as PORGY & BESS, SKETCHES OF SPAIN and QUIET NIGHTS - can be easily obtained by itself with the same wonderful sound and even a few of the bonus tracks included herein; and unless you're utterly fascinated by the long, slow process through which albums are - or at least were - assembled, that would probably be the better way to go. Kudos to Columbia for its fine Miles boxes (all of which started here) nevertheless!

    2 out of 5 stars The music -- perfection! This package -- a rip-off! .......2005-02-06

    I bought this awhile back, and I wish I hadn't. The music, of course, cannot be over-praised -- five stars just aren't enough. I am infinitely grateful that this music graces our planet, and my life. Thank you, Miles and Gil and company!

    So what's the problem? This package (Columbia 67397, $110 at this writing) is awful. It's at least sixty percent alternate takes, rehearsal fragments, and studio chatter. If that stuff interests you, great -- I just want the core music. The physical package stinks, too. The discs are in cardboard sleeves, difficult to extract, and the book can't be read at all unless it's removed from the binding (and, in my opinion, there's very little of interest in the book).

    All four original discs, with the same remastering and all the significant alternate takes, can be purchased right here at Amazon for $45. The only new (previously unreleased) material, "Time of the Barracudas" is included on "Quiet Nights," so you're not missing out on anything. Spend the $65 difference on more music, not pretty packaging and filler.

    5 out of 5 stars THANKS!...............2003-09-04

    ...THESE CATS MILES AND GIL WERE TERRIFIC TOGETHER! I CAN LISTEN TO THIS ALBUM A 1000 TIMES MORE THAN I PLAYED IT! SUMMERTIME IS MY FAVORITE AND LIKE LIFE ITSELF IT IS JUST TOO DAMN SHORT! 3:16 HEY! ISN'T THAT IN THE BIBLE SOME WHERE? ANYWAY, TO MILES AND GIL FOR STOPPING BY ON EARTH HERE..THANKS!

    5 out of 5 stars Miles can do no wrong.......2002-08-08

    I already own three other Miles Davis Box Sets; the one with John Coltrane, the "In A Silent Way" Box Set and the "Live At The Plugged Nickel 1965" set. Of course, these three box sets are far more exciting than this one. With Coltrane you get "Kind of Blue", the first real 'Modal Jazz' album, the "Plugged Nickel" is really exciting and furiously loose hard bop and "In A Silent Way" is the beginnings of fusion. With all these things stacked up against it, what would a Hard Bop loving cat like myself find appealing in this collection of cool toned orchestrated music?

    Well this is really GOOD cool jazz, not the lousy stuff you get on radio. Every album (even the not-so-good Quiet Nights) is really good. My favourite is the material that makes up Sketches of Spain. This album is just amazing. It is not really jazz or classical music, but is really great.

    All in all a great box set; not just for the people who are into cool jazz but for hard boppers looking for a little distraction.
    The Complete Columbia Recordings: Miles Davis & John Coltrane
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • Complete and Exhaustive
    • Only for the completist
    • Wow!
    • I HAVE FINALLY FOUND THE ANSWER: DOUBLE UP!!!!
    • The Utmost
    The Complete Columbia Recordings: Miles Davis & John Coltrane
    Miles Davis , and John Coltrane
    Manufacturer: Sony
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    Bebop GeneralBebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
    Hard BopHard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
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    ASIN: B00004SCH8
    Release Date: 2000-04-11

    Tracks:

    1. Two Bass Hit (Alternate Take)
    2. Two Bass Hit
    3. Ah-Leu-Cha (Alternate Take)
    4. Ah-Leu-Cha
    5. Ah-Leu-Cha (Take 5)
    6. Little Melonae
    7. Budo (Alternate Take)
    8. Budo
    9. Dear Old Stockholm
    10. Bye Bye Blackbird (Alternate Take)
    11. Bye Bye Blackbird
    12. Tadd's Delight
    13. Tadd's Delight (Alternate Take)

    Tracks:

    1. Dear Old Stockholm (Alternate Take)
    2. All Of You (Alternate Take)
    3. All Of You
    4. Sweet Sue, Just You (First Version)
    5. Sweet Sue, Just You
    6. Sweet Sue, Just You (Alternate Take)
    7. Sweet Sue, Just You
    8. MIles Davis Comments
    9. 'Round Midnight
    10. Two Bass Hit (Alternate Take)
    11. Two Bass Hit
    12. Billy Boy
    13. Straight, No Chaser (Alternate Take)

    Tracks:

    1. Straight, No Chaser
    2. Milestones (Alternate Take)
    3. Milestones
    4. Sid's Ahead
    5. Little Melonae
    6. Dr. Jackle
    7. On Green Dolphin Street
    8. Fran-Dance (Alternate Take)
    9. Fran-Dance
    10. Stella By Starlight

    Tracks:

    1. Love For Sale
    2. Freddie Freeloader (False Start)
    3. Freddie Freeloader
    4. So What
    5. Blue In Green
    6. Flamenco Sketches (Alternate Take)
    7. Miles Davis Comments
    8. Flamenco Sketches
    9. All Blues

    Tracks:

    1. Someday My Prince Will Come
    2. Teo
    3. Introduction By Willis Conover
    4. Ah-Leu-Cha
    5. Straight, No Chaser
    6. Fran-Dance
    7. Two Bass Hit
    8. Bye Bye Blackbird
    9. The Theme

    Tracks:

    1. If I Were A Bell
    2. Oleo
    3. My Funny Valentine
    4. Straight, No Chaser

    Amazon.com

    Between 1955 and 1959, with occasional changes in personnel, trumpeter Miles Davis led a simply extraordinary small band that changed the course of jazz. This quintet/sextet primarily spotlighted tenor saxophonist John Coltrane but also included such greats as alto saxophonist Cannonball Adderley; pianists Red Garland, Bill Evans, and Wynton Kelly; bassist Paul Chambers; and drummers Philly Joe Jones and Jimmy Cobb. The Complete Columbia Recordings of Miles Davis and John Coltrane comprise such fabled Davis albums as 'Round About Midnight, Milestones, Jazz at the Plaza, Volume 1, Someday My Prince Will Come, and the legendary Kind of Blue. Also included are the Davis-with-Coltrane selections that appeared on Miles and Monk at Newport, Jazz Track, Basic Miles, and Circle in the Round. In all, the set boasts 60 tracks, of which 18 are previously unreleased--14 of them complete takes.

    This is sumptuous, vital music that's alternately exhilarating and emotive, rhythmically dynamic and smoothly flowing, complex and easy on the ear. It's music that defies classification. It's neither bebop nor hard bop yet has elements of both and remains contemporary to this day, as evidenced by such timeless numbers as "All Blues" and "So What."

    From the opening "Two Bass Hit" on Disc One to the final "Straight, No Chaser" on Disc Six, we hear the dazzling contrast of two preeminent jazz stylists: Davis's singing, luminescent tone and lyrical, often laid-back yet surely swinging improvisations and Coltrane's zealous-toned, bursting-forth solos. Adding additional color and interest are the bebop-based piano work of Garland, the harmonically advanced offerings of pianist Evans, the rich, serpentine lines of alto saxophonist Adderley, the crisp-then-thumping beats from drummers Jones and Cobb, and the globular, hearty tones of Chambers's bass.

    The numbers represent a minihistory of modern jazz. There are bebop tunes such as "Budo," "Two Bass Hit," and "Au-Leu-Cha," all given updated and unique airings. There are classic standards such as "All of You," "Stella by Starlight," "Green Dolphin Street, " "Sweet Sue," and "Bye Bye Blackbird," most of which were rediscovered after Davis recorded them. There are ace tunes by such Davis contemporaries as Thelonious Monk ("'Round About Midnight," "Straight, No Chaser") and Jackie McLean ("Little Melonae") that are heard fresh as arranged by the trumpeter. Finally, there are the Davis originals, pieces such as "Milestones" and "All Blues," which are now part of the jazz canon. Each of these numbers is given the kind of insistent, spirited, and deeply musical interpretation that warrants repeated listening.

    Rounding out the topnotch package are essays by original producer George Avakian and Kind of Blue drummer Cobb, an insightful track-by-track overview by noted critic Bob Blumenthal, and the original liner notes to Kind of Blue by pianist Evans. --Zan Stewart

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars Complete and Exhaustive.......2004-02-24

    Bought this (metal) box set when it first came out. Listened to it straight thru. Ripped and burned the tracks that are timeless classics, even the alternate take of Milestones and forget the rest. Sold the box. There is a reason these are alternate takes. Do yourself a favor and buy the recently remasterd re-releases of these 4 albums on cd (2003). Better sound quality, less filler and an overall better, more digestable presentation, the way Miles and Teo wanted it to be heard. ... That's why there is a ton of these for sale used.

    2 out of 5 stars Only for the completist.......2003-07-25

    There is some excellent material here but it's all in sequential order and I really don't feel Miles wanted us to hear it that way. If he did, it would've been released sequentially by Miles. My advice would be to get the albums from this era and hear the material as Miles intended. Unless of course you want four different versions of 'Two Bass Hit' which aren't really that different, anyway.

    Also, I have to say the packaging is not that great. It's awkward getting to the cds.

    5 out of 5 stars Wow!.......2003-03-12

    and I thought the Miles Davis Quintet 1965-1968 was amazing!!

    This box set may put that one to shame. This is great music for the ears and soul.

    Sit back with either headphones or turn it up loud on your home stereo, because this music demands your full attention! This is not passively listening music. This is music to really listen to and digest.

    Yes, this is some of the best stuff in Jazz!!

    4 out of 5 stars I HAVE FINALLY FOUND THE ANSWER: DOUBLE UP!!!!.......2003-02-06

    I am a huge jazz fan and for that reason own some box sets, but had never really grasped why the organizers of such box sets are not really into reproducing the original art cover, liner notes, the original sequencing and some minor details like those... until I got to read the frank words of some mr., or should I say 'SIR' Bob Blumenthal (by the way, another Sir is found sharing his thoughts with us in this box set)- pay attention, kids - :

    "Since Miles Davis albums were especially well programmed, some listeners may complain more vehemently than usual about the chronological presentation here; but they should note that Davis's major albums remain as separate titles in the Columbia/Legacy catalogue, and that these classics will remain available in their original form." p.53

    TRANSLATION: WHEN BUYING A JAZZ BOX SET, DON'T FORGET TO ORDER THE SAME STUFF YOU'RE BUYING IN ITS ORIGINAL FORM, UNLESS YOU'VE GOT MAGNIFYING LENSES TO CHECK OUT THE ORIGINAL ART COVER - which is the case here, and it's also in b&w, which I reckon they must have thought of bringing us back to the late 50's - AND A COMPUTER TO INSERT ALL THE DATA NEEDED TO HEAR THE ALBUMS IN THEIR ORIGINAL SEQUENCES - which has got to be done by the listener himself.

    THANK YOU COLUMBIA, ATLANTIC, IMPULSE, BLUE NOTE, VERVE etc. FOR MAKING THIS WORLD SO FULL OF MUSIC!!!

    5 out of 5 stars The Utmost.......2002-11-08

    Miles Davis was the most brilliant minimalist in musical history. John Coltrane was probably the greatest soloist and most brilliant "maximalist" in jazz (though I might give Jimi Hendrix the nod if we move out to all forms of music). They made the most of their time together. Miles took these sessions for Columbia very seriously, aimed for excellence; with the help of Trane and the other brilliant players here (especially Red Garland, Philly Joe Jones, Paul Chambers, and Bill Evans) he laid down a series of recordings that are probably the utmost in jazz.

    The "Round About Midnight" sessions, here to include other scattered and unreleased tracks, are stunning. The LP as originally configured was stunning and the utmost in "cool" sound applied to jazz; the extra material only magnifies this band's brilliance. This material includes close to 20 minutes' worth of takes of "Sweet Sue" that help to illustrate just what was going on here.

    The "Milestones" sessions are rightfully famous for breaking ground and producing more gems. The "Kind of Blue" tracks are rightfully famous and well-known for their wispy elegance - but have you heard the session (three tracks) with Bill Evans that preceded that LP? It's cut from the same cloth and similarly brilliant.

    After all of that perfection, discs 5 and 6 contain mostly live performances with flawed acoustics - no bass sound on the Newport '58 material, and very low-fi on the Plaza gig. But good lord those first 4 discs.
    The Miles Davis Quintet: The Complete Columbia Studio Recordings Sampler
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      The Miles Davis Quintet: The Complete Columbia Studio Recordings Sampler
      Miles Davis Quintet
      Manufacturer: Sony Music Entertainment / Columbia
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD
      ASIN: B000NJPLG6

      Product Description

      Song list: (1) E.s.p. (2) Gingerbread Boy (3) Circle (4) Nefertiti (5) Madness (rehearsal) (6) Madness (7) Country Son (Alternate Take) (8) Stuff (9) Petits Machins
      Seven Steps: The Complete Columbia Recordings 1963-1964
      Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
      • I am sure is Really Good
      Seven Steps: The Complete Columbia Recordings 1963-1964
      Miles Davis
      Manufacturer: Sony
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

      Bebop GeneralBebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
      Hard BopHard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
      ASIN: B0002TB7QK
      Release Date: 2004-10-11

      Tracks:

      1. Joshua (A)
      2. I Fall In Love Too Easily (A)
      3. Baby Won't You Please Come Home (A)
      4. So Near, So Far (A)
      5. Basin Street Blues (A)
      6. Seven Steps To Heaven ( Take 3) (A)
      7. Seven Steps To Heaven ( Take 5) (A)
      8. Summer Night (A)
      9. Seven Steps To Heaven ( Rehearsal Take ) (B)
      10. Seven Steps To Heaven (B)
      11. So Near, So Far (B)
      12. Joshua (B)
      13. Introduction By Andre Francis (C)
      14. Autumn Leaves (C)
      15. Milestones (C)
      16. I Thought About You (C)
      17. Joshua (C)
      18. All Of You (C)
      19. Walkin' (C)
      20. Bye Bye Blackbird (C)
      21. Bye Bye (C)
      22. Introduction By Mort Fega (D)
      23. Autumn Leaves (D)
      24. So What (D)
      25. Stella By Starlight (D)
      26. Walkin' (D)
      27. All Of You (D)
      28. Go-Go ( Theme And Announcement) (D)
      29. Introduction By Teruo Isono (E)
      30. If I Were A Bell (E)
      31. My Funny Valentine (E)
      32. So What (E)
      33. Walkin' (E)
      34. All Of You (E)
      35. Go-Go ( Theme )(E)
      36. Milestones (F)
      37. Autumn Leaves (F)
      38. So What (F)
      39. Stella By Starlight (F)
      40. Walkin' (F)
      41. Go-Go ( Theme ) (A)

      Album Details

      Limited Seven CD Box Set of Live and Studio Recordings Between 1963 and 1964. Includes Many Unreleased Tracks.

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars I am sure is Really Good.......2004-11-24

      but $us 250 to Towers $us 109 is a BIG Chunk . Where Did U guy's come with this Price ? ... Not Reasonable ...

      Jazz Music:

      1. Three Suites
      2. Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson (Score) [Soundtrack]
      3. Viva Kenton [Original recording remastered]
      4. Weary Blues
      5. Word of Mouth Revisited
      6. XXL [DualDisc]
      7. 50th Birthday Celebration, Vol. 11 [Box set] [Live]
      8. A Night in Tunisia
      9. A Stan Kenton Christmas
      10. Afro-Cuban

      Jazz Music

      Jazz Music