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New recordings map Miles Davis' development in 'Seven Steps'
"In a way," he says of the seventh of the label's Davis collections, "you could look at the others as novels and this one as a documentary film."
He is speaking of "Seven Steps: The Complete Columbia Recordings of Miles Davis 1963-1964." The seven-CD box set with a $60 suggested retail is due out Sept. 28. He put together the hefty liner notes for it.
There is a little irony there, says the writer who has won two Grammy awards for liner notes and has been writing about jazz for 30 years. While the previous collections looked at the production of works such as fusion-birthplace "Bitches Brew" and "Sketches of Spain" or "Porgy and Bess," this set goes a different way.
"Miles here wasn't working toward a great project," he says, "but in some ways, he ended up with one -- the Second Great Quintet."
The recordings of this set map the development of the group that emerged in the late '60s with pianist Herbie Hancock, bassist Ron Carter, drummer Tony Williams and sax player Wayne Shorter.
It was the successor of the First Great Quintet with saxophonist John Coltrane, drummers Roy Haynes or Jimmy Cobb, pianists Bill Evans or Wynton Kelly, and bassist Paul Chambers.
In between, Davis didn't know where the band was going. He was working with Hancock, Carter and Williams and ultimately with Shorter, but sax players Sam Rivers and George Coleman also stood in for a time, along with drummers Victor Feldman and Frank Butler.
The collection, Blumenthal says, clearly shows how Davis didn't really know what was going to happen with this band and was letting it develop. There are individual tracks that represent that, he points out.
"My Funny Valentine," for instance, had been a Davis staple with a muted horn, but in some of these recordings, he plays with an open horn for a completely different approach. He takes a similar look at "Someday My Prince Will Come." The collection also maps the growth of the tune "Joshua," a Davis standard that in early recordings here shows some confusion and lack of understanding from the band.
The jazz researcher admits this collection does not have the clear-cut raison d'etre of some of the others.
"But I have a big appreciation for what it is," he says.
Looking at history
Music Video Distributors continues to be the Stephen Ambrose of jazz videos.
The vendor has added to the canon of visual jazz history the release of five performance DVDs from the '40s.
"Golden Age of Jazz" (Quantum Leap) features 22 tracks ranging from Louis Armstrong to Buddy Rich. Idem Home Video offers four discs for its "Swing Era" series: "Count Basie," "Benny Goodman," "Duke Ellington in Hollywood" and "George Shearing."
Each of those four includes other performers, such as a boyish Mel Torme on the Shearing DVD and Artie Shaw on the Goodman offering.
The sound and the visuals are not the greatest, to be sure. And the Ellington disc is terribly forced in its attempt to be artsy. But the discs get some life from the work of legends such as Jo Jones, Hoagy Carmichael and Harry James.
Album reviews
"The Out-of-Towners" (ECM) Keith Jarrett Trio. Once again, this trio demonstrates just what jazz is all about. Jarrett's playing is excellent as usual, and the six numbers are topped by his original title cut, a 19-minute exploration. He, drummer Jack DeJohnette and bassist Gary Peacock never disappoint. Four stars
"R.S.V.P. Rare Songs, Very Personal" (MCG Jazz) Nancy Wilson. Wilson is a wonderful singer in a pure jazz setting. Surrounding her with classic songs and soloists such as harmonica master Toots Thielemans and saxophonist Phil Woods creates a wonderful album. Three stars
"The Original Jam Sessions 1969" and "The New Mixes, Vol. 1" (Concord) Quincy Jones and Bill Cosby. The original album is the jazz that was guided by Jones to fit into Cosby's TV show in 1969. It features classic performers such as Pittsburgher Ray Brown, vibes star Milt Jackson and sax player Ernie Watts. The new mixes give a touch of modern funk to the pieces. Two and 1/2 stars each
"The Life of a Song" (Telarc Jazz) Geri Allen. This splendid pianist who studied with Nathan Davis at the University of Pittsburgh is joined by drummer Jack DeJohnette and bassist Dave Holland. Except for two great versions of standards, the tunes are as original as the playing is excellent. Three stars
"The Count Basie Story" and "Count Basie and Friends: 100th Birthday Bash" (Blue Note). Celebrate what would have been the 100th birthday of the Count (1904-84) with two collections that are classics of his work and famous collaborations. The "Bash" CD features Joe Williams, Sarah Vaughan and Billy Eckstine, among others. Of course, no Frank Sinatra, but that's a licensing issue. Three stars
"Promises Kept" (ECM) Steve Kuhn. It's hard to dislike an album this pretty, but it does have its flaws. Pianist/composer Kuhn has put together a gorgeous collection of tunes, orchestrated by Carlos Franzetti. But the overall tone of the album has such sameness, it gets a little dull. Two and 1/2 stars
"Taking a Chance on Love" (Sony Classical) Jane Monheit. A jazz album? No, it's on the Sony Classical label and is probably is more of a classical look at American song than a jazz take on those tunes. But Monheit's singing is wonderful, as are the arrangements. Take your choice: As a jazz album, it gets Two stars; as music, it gets three stars
DVD reviews
"The Hang" (Sovereign Artists) Don Grusin. As a CD, this show, recorded with a live audience in a studio, is quite routine. But watching the interplay of the band that features stars such as Lee Ritenour and Ernie Watts makes the DVD far superior. The musicians' comments preceding each cut also give the video version a nifty touch, as does great camera work. Three stars for the DVD, but only two and 1/2 stars for the album.
"The Journey Within" (GRP) Bernie Williams. New York Yankees centerfielder Bernie Williams also is a decent blues-jazz guitarist, as he shows on this concert video. He is joined by pianist David Benoit and singer Ruben Blades in this program that is frustratingly interrupted by an interview with former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Ah, well, such is the benefit of the "skip" button. Two stars
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