In a Silent Way

In a Silent Way

ASIN: B000002699

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Miles Davis's famous mid-1960s quintet, featuring saxophonist Wayne Shorter and pianist Herbie Hancock, was intact until just a few weeks before his new, electric ensemble recorded In a Silent Way. Legendary as a kind of line in the sand challenging jazz fans during the ascendance of electric, psychedelic rock, In a Silent Way hinted at the repetitive polyrhythms Davis would employ throughout the early 1970s. It also partook generously of electric piano and bass and rekindled the tonal palette that Davis had explored famously with Kind of Blue. But In a Silent Way remains a clearly electric jazz record, part ambient color exploration, part rock-inflected energy and vibe, and part outright maverick creativity. Davis takes many long, breathy solos, and they glisten in a burnished blue against his new group's strange admixture of musical moods. --Andrew Bartlett

In a Silent Way,Miles Davis,Sony,Jazz,Jazz Music,Pop

Average customer rating:

Electric, yet eerily quiet

The bible of Miles' fusion period

Will Always Take You Where You Need to Be

Shhh, don't tell anyone but Miles gives me a headache

Fusion's Mission Statement

In a Silent Way
Miles Davis
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music
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Bitches Brew

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ASIN: B00006GO9Q
Release Date: 2002-08-20

Tracks:

Shhh/Peaceful
In A Silent Way

Amazon.com

Miles Davis's famous mid-1960s quintet, featuring saxophonist Wayne Shorter and pianist Herbie Hancock, was intact until just a few weeks before his new, electric ensemble recorded In a Silent Way. Legendary as a kind of line in the sand challenging jazz fans during the ascendance of electric, psychedelic rock, In a Silent Way hinted at the repetitive polyrhythms Davis would employ throughout the early 1970s. It also partook generously of electric piano and bass and rekindled the tonal palette that Davis had explored famously with Kind of Blue. But In a Silent Way remains a clearly electric jazz record, part ambient color exploration, part rock-inflected energy and vibe, and part outright maverick creativity. Davis takes many long, breathy solos, and they glisten in a burnished blue against his new group's strange admixture of musical moods. --Andrew Bartlett

Customer Reviews:

Electric, yet eerily quiet.......2007-05-22

Released in 1969, this album marks Miles full blown emergence into the realm of jazz rock although there are other influences besides jazz and rock including a bit of minimalism. Musically, this recording is very relaxed and is dominated by eerie organ parts and a monotonic acoustic bass and drum parts. I especially like Miles use of space; even when he is not playing it speaks volumes.

Apart from Miles (trumpet), the list of musicians on this album reads like a who's who of jazz rock: Herbie Hancock (Fender Rhodes electric piano); Chick Corea (Fender Rhodes electric piano); Wayne Shorter (tenor saxophone); Dave Holland (acoustic bass); Joe Zawinul (Fender Rhodes electric piano and organ); the amazing John McLaughlin (electric guitar); and Tony Williams (drums).

In spite of the fact that all of these guys are virtuosos, their performances on In a Silent Way are extraordinarily disciplined and restrained. The most notable example of this is Tony Williams, who simply plays a repeated rhythm on the hi-hat for all of the lengthy Shhh/Peaceful - in fact, it is not until near the end of In a Silent Way that he plays the entire kit, and for only a short time. Even John McLaughlin turns in a very sedate performance with clean tones; a marked change from the wildly savage virtuosity that characterized his playing during this early period. Although three keyboardists of such high caliber playing at the same time might not have worked under different circumstances, it works incredibly well here; the different players weave effortlessly in and around one another.

The album is split into two lengthy tracks with Shhh/Peaceful clocking in at 18'16" and In a Silent Way/It's about that Time running for 19'52". The mood of both pieces is very dreamy and quiet, with soft electric piano parts, and shimmering textures on the electric guitar fading in and out. Miles playing is very spacey and drifting - he comes in very so often and blows a few perfect notes and then stops, letting the other players do their thing. This music is deeply reflective and meditative, which is especially borne out in the hypnotic rhythm section.

All in all, this is a landmark recording that ushered in a new direction in jazz. Very highly recommended along with Bitches Brew (1970) and the much heavier sounding Jack Johnson (1971). Although a bit controversial, On the Corner (1972) is also recommended.

The bible of Miles' fusion period.......2007-04-28

This is, far and away, the best of Miles' fusion albums. Now, I'm generally not a fan of the fusion stuff - I see Bitches Brew as tepid and lackluster with a couple shining moments (title track, Miles Runs the Voodoo Down, John McLaughlin), Jack Johnson as half a masterpiece (Right Off rules) and half a bore (Yesternow... grrgh...), Live-Evil as assorted wankery (though What I Say is great), and On the Corner as a disaster, albeit a gutsy one. Now, In a Silent Way... that's a whole different free type of burger. A bigger, better, MUCH juicier burger.
What sets this apart? For one, the number of musicians. There are eight guys here, and a small army on every other album I mentioned. Eight guys contribute ideas MUCH better than a small army. Especially if Herbie Hancock, John McLaughlin, Tony Williams, Wayne Shorter and Miles himself are five of those eight guys. Hell, sneak in Ron Carter on bass and you've got the Second Great Sextet (first being the Kind of Blue band) on your hands. I know that Miles, Shorter, McLaughlin and Hancock played pivitol rows on Bitches Brew, but in a less crowded setting, they communicate better and their contributions come to the fore. Oh, and Tony Williams is my favorite drummer in the history of ever, and he left after this album, so maybe that relates to the huge drop in quality, I don't know. But even Joe Zawinul (who I'm not a fan of) and Chick Corea (who I have no opinion on) work magic on their keyboards. Basically, the only guy who DOESN'T make an amazing contribution is Dave Holland, who perfectly conforms to the stereotype of the bassist as being "random guy who nobody's heard of and doesn't draw attention to himself in his playing". He's just the bassist.
This is a haunting, restrained, atmospheric affair. The volume and tempo rarely pick up, and if they do it's only briefly (i.e. that quick little blurb in the middle of the title suite). It's an eerie calm this one gives off, like Kind of Blue (which is god) on downers. Moody, reflective Miles has always been some cool stuff, and this is no exception. Shorter's soprano is ethereal and creepy - in good senses of both terms. And John McLaughlin is, well... John McLaughlin. If you've never heard his work, this is a great place to start.
Two beautiful, otherworldly twenty-minute suites... Miles fans should be in heaven. Oh, and the cover would make a cool t-shirt. I'd buy it, at least.

Will Always Take You Where You Need to Be.......2006-07-26

I can think of few records that would fit most any situation as well as this one would. About the only thing I can't imagine this album being good for is to get one's blood pumping before an athletic competition . . . otherwise, Davis & this incredible cast of musicians made one of the most enduring & soul-caressing pieces of music imaginable. The only jazz artists who made anything to rival this for vision and harmonic genius in the '60s are named Mingus and Coltrane.

I shouldn't have to belabor what these songs sound like and why they are great. I think it should be enough to say that this is Miles's best record of the '60s (and therefore pretty much his best ever, with the only possible competition coming from _Kind of Blue_ and _On the Corner_). It settles on slow, soothing grooves and throws almost surreal harmonic and rhythmic softballs where one might least expect it . . . and, like I said, takes the listener exactly where she needs to be. To unadulterated sonic bliss.

Shhh, don't tell anyone but Miles gives me a headache.......2006-06-18

Shhh, don't tell anyone but Miles and his "in your face" trumpet give me a headache.

I like funk and groove so I should have done a bit more homework before trying out the jazz scene. For me this CD is mostly silent except for some irritating trumpet blowing like foxtail into your eardrums.

I was about to give up on the whole jazz scene when I came upon Panthalassa. Track 1 of that CD (In a silent way/Shhh/Peaceful) is nice; smoothing out and grooving out Miles while staying true: say the purists.

If you love it remixed and electrofied (yes sir!) check out DJ Cam's tribute to "In a silent way".

Fusion's Mission Statement.......2006-03-02

Miles Davis historians look at this album and at "Bitches Brew" which followed, and talk of how important these recordings were to Miles' career as a turning point. This album is the first of Miles' "electric period," a highly controversial segment of his career that produced some highly influential, profound music of arguable accessibility. But what makes this album so incredible is not just how it was a beginning for Miles in fusion; it was the equivalent of the Second Continental Congress for the new genre that would dominate the jazz scene in the 1970s. One only has to look at the personnel and think for a bit: in addition to Miles, the group consisted of Wayne Shorter on saxophone, John McLaughlin on guitar, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, and Joe Zawinul on keyboards, Dave Holland on bass, and Tony Williams on drums. This is not just a list of the absolute top tier of young musicians of the time; it is literally the core group of EVERYTHING significant that happened in fusion. Every one of these men with the exception of Dave Holland went on to start a fusion group: Shorter and Zawinul began Weather Report, Hancock started Mwandishi and later the Headhunters, Corea led Return to Forever, McLaughlin started the Mahavishnu Orchestra, and Tony Williams led Lifetime. Without exception, these groups were the defining forces of fusion (arguably the only ones that truly succeeded). That's what makes this album so incredible in historical context; anyone who would leave a mark on fusion was here, and anyone who wasn't here...wouldn't. That's what makes this more than an interesting experiment. It was the planting of a seed that altered the course of the careers of each musician here.

As for the music itself, the description has been more or less covered by the myriad of reviews already here. Suffice it to say that it is one of the rare musical documents that can be appreciated on ALL musical levels: there is enough interest in the soloists and group interaction to give it true depth and replay value, it's funky (though not overtly), it's brilliant mood music (as much as I hate that term), and it's even quiet enough to be shoved into the background (though why would you want to?). My favorite moment is when Tony Williams finally ramps up the groove about 13 minutes into the second track and pushes Miles to the next level of intensity.

Get this album to hear the music which sent forth the new wave of true innovators, arguably jazz's last (at least for now).

Average customer rating:

The picture

100 Hymns & Songs of Inspiration

Manufacturer: Castle Music UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Choruses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Hymns | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Motets | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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Praise to the Lord - Hymns From St. Paul's Cathedral

ASIN: B00008GEKT
Release Date: 2003-04-14

Tracks:

Love Divine All Loves Excelling - Choir Of Gloucester Cathedral
Father Hear the Prayer We Offer - Choir Of Gloucester Cathedral
Now Thank We All Our God - Choir Of Gloucester Cathedral
This Day, The First of Days - Choir Of Gloucester Cathedral
Stars of the Morning So Gloriously Bright - Choir Of Gloucester Cathedral
God Save the Queen - Choir Of Gloucester Cathedral
Day of Resurrection - Choir Of Gloucester Cathedral
God Rest You Merry Gentlemen - Choir Of Gloucester Cathedral
Of the Father's Heart Begotten - Choir Of Gloucester Cathedral
O Come All Ye Faithful - Choir Of Gloucester Cathedral
Awake My Soul and With the Sun - Choir Of Norwich Cathedral
Thine Arm O Lord in Days of Old - Choir Of Norwich Cathedral
All People That on Earth Do Dwell - Choir Of Norwich Cathedral
Good Christian Men Rejoice and Sing - Choir Of Norwich Cathedral
There Is a Green Hill - Choir Of Norwich Cathedral
Lord of Beauty - Choir Of Sheffield Cathedral
Rejoice Today With One Accord - Choir Of Sheffield Cathedral
New Every Morning - Choir Of Sheffield Cathedral
Lead Us Heavenly Father Lead Us - Choir Of Sheffield Cathedral
O God Our Help in Ages Past - Choir Of Sheffield Cathedral

Tracks:

Morning Has Broken - Choir Of Marlborough College Chapel
Happy Are They - Choir Of Marlborough College Chapel
In Christ There Is No East or West - Choir Of Marlborough College Chapel
Silent Night - Choir Of Marlborough College Chapel
Be Thou My Guardian - Choir Of Marlborough College Chapel
Ye Servants of the Lord - Choir Of Marlborough College Chapel
At the Name of Jesus Every Knee Shall Bow - Choir Of Marlborough College Chapel
To Thee O Lord Our Hearts We Raise - Choir Of Marlborough College Chapel
Behold the Great Creator Makes - Choir Of Marlborough College Chapel
Rejoice the Lord Is King - Choir Of Marlborough College Chapel
Creator of the Stars of Night - Ely Cathedral Choir
He Comes With Clouds Descending - Ely Cathedral Choir
O Little Town of Bethlehem - Ely Cathedral Choir
Alleluya Alleyluya Alleyluya - Ely Cathedral Choir
This Is the Day the Lord Hath Made - Ely Cathedral Choir
How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds - Ely Cathedral Choir
Lord Thy Word Abideth - Ely Cathedral Choir
Jesus Lord We Look to Thee - Ely Cathedral Choir
O Lord Our God Arise - Ely Cathedral Choir
Lord of All Hopefulness - Ely Cathedral Choir

Tracks:

Soldiers of Christ Arise - Choir Of Wakefield Cathedral
Lift Up Your Hearts - Choir Of Wakefield Cathedral
Holy Father, Cheer Our Way - Choir Of Wakefield Cathedral
Maker of the Sun - Choir Of Wakefield Cathedral
O King Most High - Choir Of Wakefield Cathedral
O Praise Our Great and Glorious Lord - Choir Of Wakefield Cathedral
Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive - Choir Of Wakefield Cathedral
We Love the Place O God - Choir Of Wakefield Cathedral
Let Us With a Gladsome Mind - Choir Of Wakefield Cathedral
Give Rest O Christ - Choir Of Wakefield Cathedral
Come Holy Ghost Our Hearts Inspire - Choir Of Truro Cathedral
O Thou in All Thy Might So Far - Choir Of Truro Cathedral
O Christ, Who Art the Light and Day - Choir Of Truro Cathedral
O God Thy Soldiers' Crown and Guard - Choir Of Truro Cathedral
Strife Is O'er the Battle Done - Choir Of Truro Cathedral
O Christ Our Hope, Our Hearts' Desire - Choir Of Truro Cathedral
Jesus Shall Reign - Choir Of Truro Cathedral
God of Love My Shepherd Is - Choir Of Truro Cathedral
O Jesu Saviour of Mankind - Choir Of Truro Cathedral
Immortal Invisible God Only Wise - Choir Of Truro Cathedral

Tracks:

Ride on Ride on in Majesty - Choir Of All Saints - Margaret Street, London
All Glory Laud and Honour - Choir Of All Saints - Margaret Street, London
Come Rejoicing - Choir Of All Saints - Margaret Street, London
God Is Love and Where True Love Is - Choir Of All Saints - Margaret Street, London
Magnificat: The Great Advent Antiphons - Choir Of All Saints - Margaret Street, London
Come, Christ's Beloved - Choir Of All Saints - Margaret Street, London
Children of the Hebrews (Palm Procession) - Choir Of All Saints - Margaret Street, London
Veneration of the Cross/The Reproaches (Veneratum and Reproaches) - Choir Of All Saints - Margaret Street, London
Once in Royal David's City - Choir Of Keble College
God Be in My Head - Choir Of Keble College
O Thou Who Camest from Above - Choir Of Keble College
Judge Eternal Throned in Splendour - Choir Of St Edmunsbury Cathedral
Christ the Lord Is Risen Again - Choir Of St Edmunsbury Cathedral
For All the Saints - Choir Of St Edmunsbury Cathedral
Thy Hand O God Has Guided - Choir Of St Edmunsbury Cathedral
Christ the Dawn of Our Salvation - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel
I Was Glad - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel
Dear Lord and Father of Mankind - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel
Locus Iste - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel
Praise My Soul the King of Heaven - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel

Tracks:

Stand Up! Stand Up for Jesus! - The Choir of the Abbey School, Tewkesbury
While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks - The Choir of the Abbey School, Tewkesbury
O Worship the King - The Choir of the Abbey School, Tewkesbury
O Heavenly Word of God on High - Choir Of The Collegiate Church Of St Mary
Praise to the Lord, The Almighty - Choir Of The Collegiate Church Of St Mary
Jesus Christ Is Risen Today - The Choir of York Minister
First Nowell - The Choir of York Minister
Abide with Me - The Choir of York Minister
Breathe on Me Breath of God - Choir Of Keble College
Rock of Ages - Choir Of Keble College
On This Day, The First of Days - Choir Of Keble College
Jesu Sweet and Mary - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel
O Quam Gloriosum - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel
Ye Holy Angels Bright - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel
O for a Closer Walk With God - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel
Prayer of St Patrick - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel
Lord's Prayer - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel
Blessed Be the God and Father - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel
Day Thou Gavest Lord Is Ended - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel
Jerusalem (And Did Those Feet in Ancient Times) - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel

Album Description

Full Title - 100 Hymns & Songs Of Inspiration. UK box-set featuring 100 tracks performed by Britain's finest Cathedral Choirs including, Gloucester Cathedral, Norwich Cathedral, Sheffield Cathedral, & many more. Five standard jewel cases housed in a slipbox. Castle Pulse. 2003.

Customer Reviews:

The picture.......2006-12-11

I haven't purchased the CD but the picture of the inside of a church on the cover is not of a British church, like one would assume since it says its a recording of British choirs. This picture is of Notre Dame Basilica in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Just thought i'd let you know. I'll be honest; I'm one to judge things by it's cover and if the company took such care to choose a 'British' church for their British choir CD, I'm willing to bet the music is equally well selected... I'm being sarcastic. But I gave the product 5 stars because I didn't want to hurt its ratings just because i'm cynical. But check out the church if you're ever in Montreal, it's truly beautiful... here I'm not being sarcastic.

Average customer rating:

The soundtrack to a religious experience
Maybe the greatest Miles ensemble ever . . .

The Complete In a Silent Way Sessions
Miles Davis
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Avant Garde & Free Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B0002199G8
Release Date: 2004-05-11

Tracks:

Mademoiselle Mabry
Frelon Brun
Two Faced
Dual Mr. Anthony Tillmon Williams Process
Splash
Splashdown

Tracks:

Ascent
Directions I
Directions II
Shhh/Peaceful
In A Silent Way (Rehearsal)
In A Silent Way
It's About That Time

Tracks:

The Ghetto Walk
Early Minor
Shhh/Peaceful (LP Version)
In A Silent Way/It's About That Time (LP Version)

Customer Reviews:

The soundtrack to a religious experience.......2006-09-25

While I would like to provide a balanced review of this box set, I simply can not. I also want to avoid using clichés but "The Complete In a Silent Way Sessions" is one of the world's greatest recordings. It would seem that such a statement must surely be victim to hyperbole. Without overstatement, my case unapologetically stands. Once the listener hears a work of this lofty caliber, words become meaningless. This box set lives somewhere beneath a wave of adjectives like "greatest ever" "amazing" and "un-friggin' believable." This was a unique and all too brief time period for Miles. Before the gauntlet was thrown down with "[...] Brew," this was Miles' light trip music. Psychedelica is omnipresent but never overpowering. This album occupies a special place that is triangulated between rock, jazz and trance music. Either this is music to contemplate at one o'clock in the morning or this is the soundtrack to a profound meditation. The original LP seems like the "In A Silent Way" starter kit compared to this full-blown box set. Indeed, this release makes the original seem painfully short since the vibe and atmosphere is consistent. The inclusion of "Dual Mr. Anthony Tillmon Williams Process" is especially appreciated. The listener must ultimately ask, so how can music be played in a silent way? Miles not only contemplates this zen paradox, he finds the path and takes us along on his vision quest. Get "The Complete In a Silent Way Sessions" and take a trip with Miles Davis on his most spiritual journey.

Maybe the greatest Miles ensemble ever . . ........2006-03-08

The initial Miles Davis - John McLaughlin collaboration at the peak of its perfection - with help from Tony Williams - Wayne Shorter -Ron Carter - Dave Holland - Joe Zawinul - Herbie Hancock - Chick Corea and others. The set represents the group at the end of its magical late 60's run of great studio sessions and on the verge of the wild fusion-funk period of larger, louder sound. In A Silent Way retains that particular introspective pathos and the intimacy of a smaller ensemble that helped make Miles' music singularly definitive . . . and here - the bluesy echoes mesh perfectly with Miles' new found discovery of electricity - moments before his music would spin completely off the edge - forever - a classic moment in jazz - captured here in all its precarious balance, delicacy, and depth.

The Collection: Sketches of Spain/Kind of Blue/In a Silent Way

Average customer rating:

Obvious choice for the beginner

The Collection: Sketches of Spain/Kind of Blue/In a Silent Way
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Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Tracks:

Concierto de Aranjuez (Adagio)
Will O' the Wisp
Pan Piper
Saeta
Solea
Song of Our Country [Issued Take][*]
Concierto de Aranjuez, Pt. 1 [Alternate Take][*]
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So What
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Blue in Green
All Blues
Flamenco Sketches
Flamenco Sketches [Alternate Take][*]

Tracks:

Shhh/Peaceful
In a Silent Way/It's About That Time: In a Silent Way/It's About ...

Customer Reviews:

Obvious choice for the beginner.......2007-03-13

Once you're into Miles Davis, you want it all. His story is a long and complex one, and each recording is an important piece of the puzzle.
On the other hand, let's say you don't want to devote your life to an in-depth study of Miles Davis' life and music. Then you need to have his three best-known, and by most accounts his three best recordings on your shelf. No one would be disappointed with this set of diverse, yet stunningly beautiful albums.

Average customer rating:

(SACD) too much hiss...
my favorite miles

In a Silent Way (Dlx) (Stereo/Multi)
Miles Davis
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Customer Reviews:

(SACD) too much hiss..........2006-04-30

This has always been a favorite Miles album. The SACD brings great separation and detail - but is marred by the presence of significant passages containing too much hiss. I am getting gunshy about these Late 50's - Mid 60's SACD reissues. Am beginning to think, overall, that the RVG, Connoisseur, Legacy, Verve, etc reissues deliver sonics that leave very little room for improvement - so that the SACD 'upgrades' are not really necessary.

my favorite miles.......2004-08-19

There is a stereo & a multichannel mix (5.1 surround) on this one SACD disc. It really is a wonderful record, 2 long tracks by Miles & the other masters. A pleasant record to have on in the background, or full on turned up loud. nice & chill.

Average customer rating:

Electric, yet eerily quiet
The bible of Miles' fusion period
Will Always Take You Where You Need to Be
Shhh, don't tell anyone but Miles gives me a headache
Fusion's Mission Statement

In a Silent Way
Miles Davis
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000002699
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Shhh/Peaceful
In A Silent Way/It's About That Time

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Electric, yet eerily quiet.......2007-05-22

The bible of Miles' fusion period.......2007-04-28

Will Always Take You Where You Need to Be.......2006-07-26

Shhh, don't tell anyone but Miles gives me a headache.......2006-06-18

Fusion's Mission Statement.......2006-03-02

Average customer rating:

A century of British art songs to delight those who love them

English Song

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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A Treasury of English Song
Favorite English Songs
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Songs by Roger Quilter
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ASIN: B0002JEG6I
Release Date: 2005-03-22

Tracks:

A Soft Day - Bernadette Greevy
Irish Skies - Bernadette Greevy
Cherry Ripe - Janice Watson
Mustard And Cress - Neal Davies
The Lily Of A Day - Janice Watson
Henry King - Neal Davies
Fain Would I Change That Note - Graham Johnson
In Summer-Time On Bredon - Christopher Maltman
The Lads In Their Hundreds - Christopher Maltman
Among The Rocks - Graham Johnson
It Was A Lover And His Lass - Anthony Rolfe Johnson
The Water Mill - Anthony Rolfe Johnson
On Wenlock Edge - Anthony Rolfe Johnson
The Call - Graham Johnson
Silent Noon - Graham Johnson
Now In These Fairylands - Philip Langridge
The Dream-City - Philip Langridge
Margrete's Cradle Song - Susan Gritton
The Heart Worships - Christopher Maltman
Take, O Those Lips Away - Anthony Rolfe Johnson
Now Sleeps The Crimson Petal - Graham Johnson
Love Calls Through The Summer Night - Anthony Rolfe Johnson
I Will Go With My Father A-Ploughing - Graham Johnson
The Rio Grande (Capstan Shanty) - Ian Partridge
Theodore, Or The Pirate King - Ian Partridge
A Long Time Ago (Hilliard's Shanty) - Ian Partridge
Oh Dear, What Can The Matter Be? - Bernadette Greevy

Tracks:

The Grenadier - Richard Edgar-Wilson
The Young Lover - Richard Edgar-Wilson
Betty And Johnny - Richard Edgar-Wilson
Rise Up And Reach The Stars - Richard Edgar-Wilson
The Bells - Nik Hancock-Child
Ann's Cradle Song - Nik Hancock-Child
As I Lay In The Early Sun - Nik Hancock-Child
The Cherry Tree - Nik Hancock-Child
Dusk - Nik Hancock-Child
Peter Warlock's Fancy - John Constable
The Frostbound Wood - John Constable
Chopcherry - John Constable
A Sad Song - John Constable
Rutterkin - John Constable
Bethlehem Down - John Constable
Wapping Old Stairs - Felicity Lott
Long Steel Grass - Martyn Hill
Tango-Pasodoble - Martyn Hill
Popular Song - Martyn Hill
Beatriz's Song - Felicity Lott
Lay Your Sleeping Head, My Love - Philip Langridge
Early One Morning - Felicity Lott
The Foggy, Foggy View - Philip Langridge
Now The Leaves Are Falling Fast - Philip Langridge
Tell Me The Truth About Love - Della Jones
The Choirmaster's Burial - Philip Langridge

Customer Reviews:

A century of British art songs to delight those who love them.......2006-06-26

These 53 songs have been collected by Naxos from their extensive acquisitions from Collins Classics, and perhaps other British sources now out of business. There's a steady cottage industry, year after year, producing the typical English art song, which is usually based on folk songs, but even in more modern idioms is profuondly conservative and nostaligic. Half these songs, not to mention half the composers, are totally unknown to American audiences, but the familiar names of Vaughan Williams and Britten represent high quality, and the lesser lights, such as Warlock and Quilter, are mainstays in this repertoire.

I'd challenge all but the most addicted listener to make it through more than ten songs at a sitting, and many of these pieces are tepid, offering comfort rather than inspiration. The singers are among the best, but Graham Johnson and Steuart Beford, who do most of the accompaniments, are lackluster. I know that won't be a popular comment, yet if you compare any of these songs with rendiitons done by Janet Baker, John Shirley-quirk, and most recently Bryn Terfel and Ian Bostridge, you immediately notice how much more intensity and drama is pesent than htis colleciton reveals.

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The Collection: Sketches of Spain/Kind of Blue/In a Silent Way
Miles Davis
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0002IQEX2
Release Date: 2004-07-13

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Concierto de Aranjuez (Adagio)
Will O' the Wisp
Pan Piper
Saeta
Solea
Song of Our Country [Issued Take][*]
Concierto de Aranjuez, Pt. 1 [Alternate Take][*]
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So What
Freddie Freeloader
Blue in Green
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Tower (Featuring Verde)
Circle
Manufacturer: Last Visible Dog
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ABSOLUTE Must Have For Miles Collectors!!!
The soundtrack to a religious experience
One of Miles' More Complete "Complete" Sets
You'll Want to Hear the Whole Thing
Miles' best

Complete In a Silent Way Sessions
Miles Davis
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00005QGAS
Release Date: 2001-10-23

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Mademoiselle Mabry
Frelon Brun
Two Faced
Dual Mr. Anthony Tillmon Williams Process
Splash
Splashdown

Tracks:

Ascent
Directions I
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Amazon.com

Recorded and released in 1969, In a Silent Way was one of Miles Davis's most mysterious and elusive efforts. That was not only because the album, boasting one long track on each side, was so austerely understated, but also because it stood apart from the music that preceded it, the music the trumpeter was performing in concert, and the revolution that followed--a.k.a. Bitches Brew. Making use of multiple keyboardists--Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea on electric piano and Joe Zawinul on organ--the trumpeter multiplies tones and melody lines and complicates textures. His mold-breaking band, also including Wayne Shorter on soprano saxophone, Tony Williams on drums, and John McLaughlin on guitar, dips into rock and R&B, gospel and classical, electronics and creative editing.

The three-disc, misleadingly titled Complete In a Silent Way Sessions gathers a brace of material recorded during the months leading up to the making of the title classic, when Davis was making the transition from his great acoustic quintet (including Hancock, Shorter, and Williams) to more populous electric units, as well as formalizing his involvement in rock. It includes two songs from Filles de Kilimanjaro that were rudely left off the Miles Davis Quintet 1965-68 box set because they were performed not by the classic quintet but with new members Corea and Dave Holland. Strong subsequent efforts by the revised quintet not released until years later on odds and ends collections. You may drift off while listening to bonus "footage," including rehearsals for Silent Way, but two previously unreleased tunes command attention: the easy and sprawling 27-minute construct, "The Ghetto Walk," which reflects Miles's interest in Jimi Hendrix and James Brown, and "Early Minor," a Zawinul composition warmed by a Spanish sunrise. The extensive notes are informative, and the packaging, as always with the ongoing Davis reissue series, is classy. --Lloyd Sachs

Customer Reviews:

ABSOLUTE Must Have For Miles Collectors!!!.......2007-02-11

This collection is a must have if you are a Miles Davis Collector or a fan of the electric era. There's a lot of new music here to explore, including some tracks with drummer Joe Chambers. High points from the previously unreleased stuff includes Joe Zawinul compositions Ascent, Directions, and something called Early Minor. Miles Davis's Ghetto Walk, a 26 minute piece is very much a missing link between Filles De Kilamajaro and Bitches Brew. There's also a "new' piece called "Splashdown", I'm unsure if that has been released elsewhere... perhaps on "Directions"? If you own Filles De Kilamanjaro, Water Babies, and In A Silent Way you will definitely duplicate some tracks but there is a lot of new stuff here. You also get to hear the raw, unedited recordings that Teo Macero used to create In A Silent Way and finally, you get the entire In A Silent Way release. Another selling point is that you get to hear some new material by quintet that featured Corea and Holland.

This is money well spent if you are a Miles collector or a big fan of Miles' work between 1967 and 1972.

The soundtrack to a religious experience.......2006-11-10

While I would like to provide a balanced review of this box set, I simply can not. I also want to avoid using clichés but "The Complete In a Silent Way Sessions" is one of the world's greatest recordings. It would seem that such a statement must surely be victim to hyperbole. Without overstatement, my case unapologetically stands. Once the listener hears a work of this lofty caliber, words become meaningless. This box set lives somewhere beneath a wave of adjectives like "greatest ever" "amazing" and "un-friggin' believable." This was a unique and all too brief time period for Miles. Before the gauntlet was thrown down with "Bitches Brew," this was Miles' light trip music. Psychedelica is omnipresent but never overpowering. This album occupies a special place that is triangulated between rock, jazz and trance music. Either this is music to contemplate at one o'clock in the morning or this is the soundtrack to a profound meditation. The original LP seems like the "In A Silent Way" starter kit compared to this full-blown box set. Indeed, this release makes the original seem painfully short since the vibe and atmosphere is consistent. The inclusion of "Dual Mr. Anthony Tillmon Williams Process" is especially appreciated. The listener must ultimately ask, so how can music be played in a silent way? Miles not only contemplates this zen paradox, he finds the path and takes us along on his vision quest. Get "The Complete In a Silent Way Sessions" and take a trip with Miles Davis on his most spiritual journey.

One of Miles' More Complete "Complete" Sets.......2006-04-27

Unlike THE COMPLETE BITCHES BREW SESSIONS, which actually contains only the BITCHES BREW album as released and pads it out with subsequent recordings (many of them rehearsal jams never intended for release), THE COMPLETE IN A SILENT WAY SESSIONS delivers on the promise of its title by offering both the unedited studio workouts from which Miles' proto-fusion classic was assembled AND the clipped-and-pasted album itself. Since all of this material would run just a few minutes more than a single CD, some padding has of course been done here as well - this time in the opposite direction, with the final two tracks from the trumpeter's previous album FILLES DE KILIMANJARO (left off the QUINTET 1965-1968 box set because they were recorded after bassist Ron Carter and pianist Herbie Hancock had left the band), the original studio versions of Joe Zawinul's "Directions" (which would become Miles' signature concert opener for a number of years) and all the other tracks and jams which Davis and Company recorded during the six months before IN A SILENT WAY filling out the three-disc package. The extra tracks make good sense in this case, however, since they fill the gap between the last days of Miles' classic mid-sixties quintet and the more wholeheartedly rock-influenced turn the Maestro would begin taking with IN A SILENT WAY, and most of them are in fact of releasable quality. While casual fans (or even hardcores of the not-particularly-hard variety) would undoubtedly do better to simply grab the remastered discs of the albums themselves, tentative completists who've found the BITCHES BREW, JACK JOHNSON and CELLAR DOOR boxes to be just too damned much can rest assured that this is indeed one of Miles' more accessible "complete" compilations.

You'll Want to Hear the Whole Thing.......2005-12-08

This boxset actually works unlike the Jack Johnson set which has multiple takes of the same song and gets somewhat tedious. Not every piece on the box set is essential but still hearing the rough drafts for "In a Silent Way" and seeing how they were spliced together to complete the final product is fascinating. Teo Macero assembled a final product that was better than the sum of its parts (unlike the Live at Fillmore, clip job disaster). And while you're at it, this music has a mellow proto-ambient vibe without suffering from the aimless meandering that much fusion would suffer from. Its hard to believe that this is the same musician who would go on to make "On the Corner" (another favorite of mine) which is as harsh and edgy as this is peaceful but then again this is so far removed from "Kind of Blue" its unbelievable. The really excellent thing about this boxset is to see how Miles' music evolved. Its not like suddenly one day he decided to go electric. The different sessions show a gradual progression. However, this is no history lesson. The music sounds as fresh as the day it was made. This is the rosetta stone of Miles music because this is where his close minded jazz purists step off and his jazz-rock fans start when it reality it is classic jazz that was cutting edge at the time and still sounds pretty damn good.

Miles' best.......2005-11-09

This is simply Miles Davis best record in my opinion. It markes a completely new transition from the more traditional jazz he had been playing. He had started the process on Filles de Kilimajaro and would continue with Bitches Brew. When I bought this CD on a very expensive japanese import at the start of the CD era, I was completely blown away. The box set is simply splendid and provides you with more touttakes taht give you an insight in this turning point. It is not yet completely what we would later call jazz rock or fusion but a blend of styles taht is incredible in its scope. Strongly recommended.

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