Personnel:
Miles Davis (tp), Wayne Shorter (ts), Herbie Hancock (p, el-p), Ron Carter (b), Tony Williams (d)
Reference: 88697 921582
Recorded between January 20, 1965 and June 21, 1968, these 6 CDs include all five complete studio albums cut by the second great Miles Davis Quintet. 56 tracks (13 previously unreleased along with rare session tracks) represented in this 1999 Grammy-winning package, with extensive booklet with rare photos, essays, sessions analysis and discography.
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"There's little argument that the quintet Miles Davis led between 1965 and 1968 was one of the classic combos in the history of jazz. By teaming with the adventurous young musicians Wayne Shorter (tenor sax), Herbie Hancock (piano), Ron Carter (bass), and Tony Williams (drums), Davis pushed mainstream jazz toward the avant-garde, expanding on the modal jazz he inaugurated with 'Kind of Blue' and laid the groundwork for fusion.
Four of their five studio albums - 'ESP', 'Miles Smiles', 'Sorcerer', 'Nefertiti' - were essential, and even when they were slightly off the mark, as on 'Miles in the Sky', they were still filled with provocative sounds and ideas. That's the reason why 'The Miles Davis Quintet 1965-68: The Complete Columbia Studio Recordings' is an essential release.
It contains all the music from each of the five studio records, plus half of the material released on 'Filles De Kilimanjaro' and 'Water Babies', as well as several alternate takes and 13 previously unreleased selections.
There's no question that this material is necessary for any jazz collection, but this may not necessarily be the best way to acquire it. The strict chronological sequencing is according to session order, which means the sequencing of the original albums - which was quite effective in conveying the combo's ideas - is thrown out of line, and the long stretches where alternates and master takes are back to back may be tedious to some listeners. Also, packaging all the discs within cardboard mock-record sleeves in a bound booklet may look attractive, but it's impractical and not designed for heavy listening. In other words, this music is essential, and this set will appeal to most serious jazz fans and historians, but less dedicated listeners are better served by the original albums."
-Stephen Thomas Erlewine (All Music Guide)
Albums included:
-E.S.P. (CS 9150) 1965
-MILES SMILES (CS 9401) 1966
-SORCERER (CS 9532) 1967
-NEFERTITI (CS 9594) 1968
-MILES IN THE SKY (CS 9628) 1968
As well as portions of
-FILLES DE KILIMANJARO (CS 9750) 1969
-WATER BABIES (PC 34396) 1976
-CIRCLE IN THE ROUND (KC2 36278) 1979
-DIRECTIONS (KC2 36473) 1981
Complete tracklisting:
CD 1
01. E.S.P. 5:27
02. R.J. 3:56
03. Eighty-One 6:11
04. Little One 7:21
05. Iris 8:29
06. Agitation 7:46
07. Mood 8:50
08. Circle 5:52
09. Orbits 4:35
10. Dolores 6:20
11. Freedom Jazz Dance 7:11
CD 2
01. Gingerbread Boy 7:40
02. Footprints 9:44
03. Limbo (Alternate Take) 5:31
04. Limbo 7:13
05. Vonetta 5:36
06. Masqualero (Alternate Take) 7:30
07. Masqualero 8:53
08. The Sorcerer 5:10
09. Prince Of Darkness 6:27
10. Pee Wee 4:49
11. Water Babies 5:06
CD 3
01. Nefertiti 7:52
02. Capricorn 8:27
03. Madness (Rehearsal Take) 1:54
04. Hand Jive (First Alternate Take) 6:45
05. Hand Jive (Second Alternate Take) 8:00
06. Hand Jive 8:54
07. Madness (Alternate Take) 6:40
08. Madness 7:31
09. Sweet Pea 7:59
10. Fall 6:39
11. Pinocchio (Alternate Take) 5:05
CD 4
01. Pinocchio 5:08
02. Riot 3:04
03. Thisness 5:49
04. Circle In The Round 33:32
05. Water On The Pond 7:00
06. Fun 4:09
07. Teo's Bag (Alternate Take) 5:56
08. Teo's Bag 5:57
CD 5
01. Paraphernalia 12:36
02. I Have A Dream (Rehearsal Take) 6:43
03. Speak Like A Child (Rehearsal Take) 2:25
04. Sanctuary 8:50
05. Side Car I 5:00
06. Side Car II 3:34
07. Country Son 13:49
08. Country Son (Alternate Take) 14:38
09. Black Comedy (Alternate Take) 6:23
CD 6
01. Black Comedy 7:25
02. Stuff 16:58
03. Petits Machins 8:04
04. Tout De Suite (Alternate Take) 14:36
05. Tout De Suite 14:07
06. Filles De Kilimanjaro 12:01
Original sessions produced by Teo Macero
Engineers: Frank Laico, Stanley Tonkel
Mastering & remix: Mark Wilder
Reissue producers, annotation & liner notes: Michael Cuscuna & Bob Belden, Todd Coolman
Photos: Ray Avery, Francis Wolff, Don Hunstein, Art Maillet, Jan Persson, Valerie Wilmer, Lee Tanner
Art direction & design: Janet Boye
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