Four Generations of Miles: A Live Tribute to Miles [Live]

Four Generations of Miles: A Live Tribute to Miles [Live]

ASIN: B00006J3XK

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Of the four musicians presented here, saxophonist George Coleman is the least represented on record with the great Miles Davis. But he's swinging here like he wants to play catch-up on this straight-ahead set recorded in a studio with an audience. The concept is as sound as the music, but don't expect any fusion-like explosions from guitarist Mike Stern, who joined Miles in the early '80s. The guitarist doesn't sacrifice the essence of his "dirty" sound; it's just that he's much more in the tradition than he ever was during his tenure with Miles. Stern and bassist Ron Carter do reach back into Miles's In a Silent Way prefusion era on a haunting version of "Blue in Green," circling and darting around the slow meter while Coleman rains down a Coltrane-like sheet of sound. Jimmy Cobb, one of the trumpeter's more subtle drummers, continuously makes sure his voice is heard throughout this nine-song set without ever getting in the way, just as he did with Miles in the late '50s and early '60s. This is really Coleman's record though, with Stern delivering some excellent solos, particularly on Carter's "81." This obviously heartfelt tribute finds the quartet completely on their game, and with Coleman's tasteful, underrated saxophone style leading the way. --Mark Ruffin

Tracks:

There Is No Greater Love
All Blues
On Green Dolphin Street
Blue In Green
81
Freddie Freeloader
My Funny Valentine
If I Were A Bell
Oleo

Amazon.com

Of the four musicians presented here, saxophonist George Coleman is the least represented on record with the great Miles Davis. But he's swinging here like he wants to play catch-up on this straight-ahead set recorded in a studio with an audience. The concept is as sound as the music, but don't expect any fusion-like explosions from guitarist Mike Stern, who joined Miles in the early '80s. The guitarist doesn't sacrifice the essence of his "dirty" sound; it's just that he's much more in the tradition than he ever was during his tenure with Miles. Stern and bassist Ron Carter do reach back into Miles's In a Silent Way prefusion era on a haunting version of "Blue in Green," circling and darting around the slow meter while Coleman rains down a Coltrane-like sheet of sound. Jimmy Cobb, one of the trumpeter's more subtle drummers, continuously makes sure his voice is heard throughout this nine-song set without ever getting in the way, just as he did with Miles in the late '50s and early '60s. This is really Coleman's record though, with Stern delivering some excellent solos, particularly on Carter's "81." This obviously heartfelt tribute finds the quartet completely on their game, and with Coleman's tasteful, underrated saxophone style leading the way. --Mark Ruffin

Customer Reviews:

Stern and Coleman in great form !.......2003-07-29

I don't accord with robert o'neill. Mike Stern & George Coleman are fantastic in this record ! A nice tribute.

overall disapointment.......2003-01-26

i bought this cd with great anticipation, but it was a major letdown. coleman is a monster, but in his effort to sound like miles'trumpet, he is out of tune and way outside the changes. stern offers gorgeous solos but the phaser/flanger that he employs on his telecaster sounds awful. his tone is terrible. jimmy cobb dissapears in the background and the bassist tries to hold this session together with some succcess. overall, this gig stunk, and the cd will gather some dust.

overall dissapointment.......2003-01-26

i bought this cd with alot of anticipation, but it is a serious letdown. the quartet sounds out of whack and the sax is hopelessly out of tune. coleman is a monster but in his effort to sound like a miles trumpet is hard to digest. the great jimmy cobb is lost in the background, and mike stern's tone(he plays his telecaster with a lousy phaser effect) absolutly stunk. i was shocked. stern has some good moments but the horrible flanger/phaser tone ruins his efforts. the bassist tries to hold this gig together with some success. this one will gather some dust.

a pleasant surprise.......2003-01-17

miles davis had a career that practically spanned the entirety of jazz in the 20th century, debuting in the bebop era (40s) and playing through his death in the 90s. along the way, he was a pioneer in developing the sound of jazz, setting the standard for cool jazz, then modalism, then launching fusion. the four players gathered here, george coleman (tenor), mike stern (guitar), ron carter (bass), and jimmy cobb (drums) were all part of major bands in davis' storied career, albeit save for stern, they were generally present in the 60s--cobb was on "kind of blue"; coleman was on "four and more-live at lincoln center"; carter was part of the great 60s quintet, and mike stern part of the later fusion bands.

the music here comes mostly from the "kind of blue" era, meaning fans of stern's fiery solos may be disappointed as he tones things down--he still plays beautifully, however. the star is george coleman, though. this underrated tenor player swings with abandon and completely captures the listener. coleman is always something of a surprise, leaving you wondering why no one has much noticed him over the years.

highlights are "green dolphin street" and the burning "oleo". this is an all-star session that cooks.

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