Endless Miles: A Tribute To Miles Davis

Performer: Various Artists
Engineer: David Hewitt
Distributor: RED Distribution

Notes: Personnel: George Coleman, Antoine Roney, Dave Liebman, Bob Berg (tenor saxophone); Wallace Roney, Randy Brecker (trumpet); Robert Irving III (piano, synthesizers); Harold Mabern, Geri Allen (piano); Adam Holzman (Wurlitzer, synthesizers); Gary Peacock, Buster Williams (acoustic bass); Foley (electric bass); Jimmy Cobb, Lenny White (drums); Mino Cinelu (jimbe, wave drume, percussion); Don Alias (conga). Producers: Michael Cuscuna, Phil Ramone, Bob Belden. Recorded live at Birdland, New York, New York on May 26, 1998. Includes liner notes by Bret Primack. Personnel: David Liebman, George Coleman, Antoine Roney, Bob Berg (tenor saxophone); Randy Brecker, Wallace Roney (trumpet); Geri Allen, Harold Mabern (piano); Adam Holzman (electric piano, synthesizer); Robert Irving III (synthesizer); Foley (electric bass); Mino Cinelu (drums, djembe, percussion); Jimmy Cobb , Al Foster, Lenny White (drums); Don Alias (congas). Audio Mixer: Jim Anderson . Liner Note Author: Bret Primack. Recording information: Birdland, New York, NY (05/26/1998). Photographers: Chuck Pulin; Joseph A. Rosen. Unknown Contributor Role: David Weiss . Arranger: Adam Holzman. A number of big names in '90s jazz gather to pay tribute to Miles Davis on Endless Miles, with most of the prominently featured musicians owing their primary allegiances to hard bop (although not exclusively). The lineups generally vary from track to track, although pianist Geri Allen, ex-Davis Quintet tenor saxophonist George Coleman, drummer Jimmy Cobb, and trumpeter Randy Brecker seem to be the ringleaders. Only two of the selections are actual Davis compositions ("So What" and "No Blues"), but the other selections -- including "In a Silent Way," "Nefertiti," "Walkin'," and "The Sorcerer" -- are so identified with him that it doesn't really matter. Naturally, nobody plays Davis like Davis himself, but these are credible interpretations, even if they tend to be more on the reverent and conservative side. ~ Steve Huey There have many tributes to Miles Davis since his death in 1991. ENDLESS MILES documents a special performance on what would have been Davis' seventy-second birthday. The event was held at New York's Birdland and served as the kick-off celebration for the official Miles Davis website, www.milesdavis.com. Hordes of Miles Davis alumni assembled to perform classic tunes from all eras of Davis' career, as family, friends and fans listened with excitement. The event and this subsequent disc have also been used to create a scholarship for young musicians, through the International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE). Things get going with a brisk reading of the classic "So What," led by trumpeter Wallace Roney. Next, Wayne Shorter's "Nefertiti" touches on the free spirit of Davis' great '60s quintet. A blistering "Walkin'" is then followed by a synthesizer-driven, and greatly shortened, version of the seminal "In A Silent Way." Dave Leibman and Al Foster join in for a swinging "No Blues" followed by the rarely performed "The Sorcerer." Finally, after a touch of Miles' '80s pop style on "Tutu," George Coleman and Harold Mabern perform a beautiful duet of "My Funny Valentine" in a fitting tribute.

Click Here for Shipping Options and Policies

Shipping or Dimension weight in pounds: 0.25