Jazz for aficionados

I disagree with the opinion that Miles was trying to "cash in" on the trend to go electric; or, that he was envious of their success of artists such as Sly or Hendrix. First of all, by the time that he released "Bitches Brew" he was a wealthy man and he also knew that his place in music history was well established. He admired and respected Sly and Hendrix and saw "going electric" as a new and different outlet for his creativity and not simply a commercial opportunity. I think that, in spite of his star status, the depth of Miles's genius is still underestimated. IMO, as music lovers, we would do well to always give an artist of the stature of Miles (there aren't that many) the benefit of the doubt; it can only serve to help us grow as music lovers and we should judge with a sense of humility. IOW, when the artist moves in a direction that may not be to our liking, we should ask ourselves "what am I not hearing?", instead of being quick to dismiss it as a move in the interest of financial success without real artistic merit.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dc7qiosq4m4

Rok, with all of the other jazz musicians I've followed, all of them changed, but in ways I could relate to. Miles was an "enigma", although staying relevant/ popular with the current generation was important to him. While I didn't know Miles personally, I knew his brother, and we both thought the same things about Miles new music; of course this had nothing to do with how much he loved Miles, or how much Miles loved him.

I've got Miles CD's that get played when I can't remember what they sounded like, and they come out of the player as fast as they went in. The last time I saw a live performance of Miles, he looked like Sinbad out of "Arabian Nights". There was an unknown sax player I don't remember but he really sounded good. I was deep into the sax man's solo when Miles blurted in sounding like an ardvark fart. It's for sure he never lost his ability to select the best new talent, but his ego got in the way of the music. He never would have done that when him and Trane were together, although he said Trane played too long.

In regard to his changes, while he lost old audiences, he always gained even bigger new one's, which certainly helped his bottom line; that's what I call "upwards failure". I call em like I see em.

By the way, nobody has mentioned "Quincy Jones"; he's a musician that was always changing, but each change brought about a new and interesting sound, I'm going to get into Quincy next.

Enjoy the music.

Chazro, while we agree that members of his band were the best of the best, Miles and I did not hear music in the same fashion. "All" music is subjective, and Miles new audiences heard what Miles heard with his "new music", but I didn't.

No one would ever attribute Miles career and legendary success to his sidemen, only that his talent for selecting the best sidemen helped his success.

In reality, this debate is more about the subjectivity of music than it is about "Miles Davis"; apparently he realized that and went were those "subjective" dollars were flowing.

Enjoy the music.

O-10:

*****The last time I saw a live performance of Miles, he looked like Sinbad out of "Arabian Nights". *******

EXACTLY!! Great description. I have seen pictures of him appearing the same way.

**** although he said Trane played too long ******

I'm sure you have heard the sory about when Miles, Coltrane and Coleman Hawkins were just standing around talking music, and Coltrane was going on about his solos, and how once he got started he just didn't know how to stop playing.
Miles takes a drag off his cigarette, and in the raspy voice said "take the horn out your mouth" ahahahhahha
Priceless!

Guess I will have to put 'Bitches Brew' in ther player today.

Cheers

Quincy Jones:

Cannot be limited to any one genre. Great composer and arranger. Always stayed 'young'. Great personality. I became aware of him when he played with Ray Charles and later, during his 'Killer Joe' days.

The 'Wynton' of his day??

Cheers