Miles Davis & John Coltrane - The Complete Columbia Recordings (6 CD)

Published by Love2Share | Filed under Jazz

As the fourth (fifth, if you count the Complete Live at the Plugged Nickel) entry in Columbia’s celebrated series of Miles Davis box sets, The Complete Columbia Recordings: Miles Davis & John Coltrane was perhaps the most anticipated set, and it’s easy to see why. The push and pull between Miles and Coltrane resulted in dynamic recordings that set the standard for modern jazz — and this was for their Prestige recordings, before they even moved to Columbia. Once Miles relocated to Columbia, he began to push the boundaries of his music. The progression from the sublime, after-hours ‘Round About Midnight to the modal Milestones is remarkable — all the more so when Kind of Blue, the culmination of Davis’ modal direction, is taken into the equation. Over the course of six discs, The Complete Columbia Recordings traces this progression, including the entirety of ‘Round About Midnight, Milestones, and Kind of Blue, plus selections from Someday My Prince Will Come, live album cuts, and 18 unreleased tracks, all alternate takes. Even if you’re familiar with this music — and any jazz fan will be — the chronological, session-order sequencing keeps it fresh, and it’s possible to marvel at how quickly their talents deepened. For neophytes, this isn’t really an ideal way to dive into these remarkable recordings, since there’s not only too much, but it’s arranged in a way that doesn’t ease the listener into the music. It’s designed to be a library piece for collectors, fans, and historians that have already absorbed the music fully. After all, the original album covers are not reproduced anywhere in the notes, and the discs themselves are cryptically identified with dots that parallel the numbers on a clock. For anyone who knows and loves this music though, this is an essential addition to a comprehensive jazz library. // Stephen Thomas Erlewine, allmusic.com

Release: 1999, Recording Date: Oct 26, 1955 - Mar 21, 1961

Tracklist:

CD 1:

01 - Two Bass Hit (Alternate Take)
02 - Two Bass Hit
03 - Ah-Leu-Cha (Alternate Take)
04 - Ah-Leu-Cha
05 - Ah-Leu-Cha (Take 5)
06 - Little Melonae
07 - Budo (Alternate Take)
08 - Budo
09 - Dear Old Stockholm
10 - Bye Bye Blackbird (Alternate Take)
11 - Bye Bye Blackbird
12 - Tadd’s Delight
13 - Tadd’s Delight (Alternate Take)

CD 2:

01 - Dear Old Stockholm (Alternate Take)
02 - All Of You (Alternate Take)
03 - All Of You
04 - Sweet Sue, Just You (First Version)
05 - Sweet Sue, Just You
06 - Sweet Sue, Just You (Alternate Take)
07 - Sweet Sue, Just You
08 - MIles Davis Comments
09 - ‘Round Midnight
10 - Two Bass Hit (Alternate Take)
11 - Two Bass Hit
12 - Billy Boy
13 - Straight, No Chaser (Alternate Take)

CD 3:

01 - Straight, No Chaser
02 - Milestones (Alternate Take)
03 - Milestones
04 - Sid’s Ahead
05 - Little Melonae
06 - Dr. Jackle
07 - On Green Dolphin Street
08 - Fran-Dance (Alternate Take)
09 - Fran-Dance
10 - Stella By Starlight

CD 4:

01 - Love For Sale
02 - Freddie Freeloader (False Start)
03 - Freddie Freeloader
04 - So What
05 - Blue In Green
06 - Flamenco Sketches (Alternate Take)
07 - Miles Davis Comments
08 - Flamenco Sketches
09 - All Blues

CD 5:

01 - Someday My Prince Will Come
02 - Teo
03 - Introduction By Willis Conover
04 - Ah-Leu-Cha
05 - Straight, No Chaser
06 - Fran-Dance
07 - Two Bass Hit
08 - Bye Bye Blackbird
09 - The Theme

CD 6:

01 - If I Were A Bell
02 - Oleo
03 - My Funny Valentine
04 - Straight, No Chaser

Musicians:

Cannonball Adderley (Sax Alto), Paul Chambers (Bass), Jimmy Cobb (Drums), John Coltrane (Sax Tenor), Willis Conover (Performer), Miles Davis (Trumpet, Speech/Speaker/Speaking Part), Bill Evans (Piano), Gil Evans (Arranger), Red Garland (Piano), Philly Joe Jones (Drums), Wynton Kelly (Piano), Hank Mobley (Sax Tenor)