My take is that any fan of Davis would enjoy the books by Szwed, Chambers AND Troupe. (If you haven't read any of them, I'd recommend reading them in that order.)
Plus the books Jim lists above.
Another one to consider:
More Seifert:
with John Scofield, Richie Beirach, Eddie Gomez, Jack DeJohnette & Nana Vasconcelos.
Recorded in November 1978, just three months before Seifert died at age 32 of cancer.
Well, it's been common knowledge that Troupe plagiarized Chamber's book extensively. But I'd always assumed that the facts and perspective presented were -- for the most part -- accurate. But it sounds like that may not have been the case.
As for "what Miles was looking for": He apparently didn't care about the contents or the accuracy of the book if he didn't even read it! So he must have been interested in something other than setting the historical record straight. Publicity? Money? Myth-making? Something else?
Who knows?
Richie Beirach - Sunday Songs (Blue Note, 1992)
To read a fascinating interview with Richie Beirach conducted by jazz pianist Pablo Held, click here. I just now discovered it. Lots of interesting background on Beirach's compositions and recordings -- plus Beirach's story of meeting Arthur Rubinstein as a child.
I have an earlier version of that CD that pictures Willis in a UNLV Runnin' Rebels hoodie -- instead of the illustration above. Either way, the music is great.
Hooray for Larry Willis!
Inspired by soulpope's post above, I'm now playing the MJQ's At Music Inn with Jimmy Giuffre.
I have the Atlantic Jazzlore series LP, as below:
This was the first MJQ record I ever bought.
Magnificent Duke.
Today's listening (so far):
Still strange (at times) and wonderful, pointing very much in the direction of an imaginary Weather Report without Joe Zawinul.
As funky as the "Second Great Quintet" got, no?
Anything with Herbie and Hutch together is special.
Marc Johnson's Right Brain Patrol - Magic Labyrinth (JMT/Verve, 1995)
with Wolfgang Muthspiel & Arto Tuncboyaciyan
Really enjoying this new-to-me discovery.