pryan Posted October 16, 2004 Report Posted October 16, 2004 I felt we needed a separate thread to talk about the music contained on this set (the other thread has kind of meandered into a discussion about bargain-hunting). I picked this set up this past Tuesday (the official release date in Canada), and have been enjoying it immensely. I think the comments about Sam Rivers' playing - soloing in particular - in Miles' band are unfounded. I quite enjoy his contributions to the "Miles book". I find his solos to be somewhat akin to his work on his own standards album, A NEW CONCEPTION, on BN. That Berlin concert really cooks, but you can tell it's just the begining of what was to become one of the best "bands" (total collaborative/cooperative groups) in jazz. Man, I'd sure love to hear some of those grey market tapes circulating around with the 1966-67 concerts. But, I digress, let's discuss this wonderful box set. Quote
connoisseur series500 Posted October 16, 2004 Report Posted October 16, 2004 But, I digress, let's discuss this wonderful box set. Yeah, and where to get it cheap! Quote
connoisseur series500 Posted October 16, 2004 Report Posted October 16, 2004 I just ordered the set. Will give my opinions when I get it. Quote
ghost of miles Posted October 16, 2004 Report Posted October 16, 2004 I think the comments about Sam Rivers' playing - soloing in particular - in Miles' band are unfounded. I quite enjoy his contributions to the "Miles book". I find his solos to be somewhat akin to his work on his own standards album, A NEW CONCEPTION, on BN. What are the comments about Rivers' playing? Do they also offer any explanation as to why they left off the other two concerts with Rivers in Japan that were recorded by Columbia? Quote
pryan Posted October 16, 2004 Author Report Posted October 16, 2004 I think the comments about Sam Rivers' playing - soloing in particular - in Miles' band are unfounded. I quite enjoy his contributions to the "Miles book". I find his solos to be somewhat akin to his work on his own standards album, A NEW CONCEPTION, on BN. What are the comments about Rivers' playing? Do they also offer any explanation as to why they left off the other two concerts with Rivers in Japan that were recorded by Columbia? To quote Bob Blumenthal: "The Tokyo performance, which may not give a fair sampling of what Rivers brought to the band, was among the last of his tenure" (p.78). - italics are mine. also "Chambers [Miles' biographer, Jack] also suggests that the music was toned down for the Japanese" (76). -Perhaps Miles told Rivers to refrain from playing too "out". I'm not sure why they left the other two concerts off of the set; maybe because they were not "official" releases at the time. Quote
Chuck Nessa Posted October 16, 2004 Report Posted October 16, 2004 I think the comments about Sam Rivers' playing - soloing in particular - in Miles' band are unfounded. I quite enjoy his contributions to the "Miles book". I find his solos to be somewhat akin to his work on his own standards album, A NEW CONCEPTION, on BN. What are the comments about Rivers' playing? Do they also offer any explanation as to why they left off the other two concerts with Rivers in Japan that were recorded by Columbia? To quote Bob Blumenthal: "The Tokyo performance, which may not give a fair sampling of what Rivers brought to the band, was among the last of his tenure" (p.78). - italics are mine. also "Chambers [Miles' biographer, Jack] also suggests that the music was toned down for the Japanese" (76). -Perhaps Miles told Rivers to refrain from playing too "out". I'm not sure why they left the other two concerts off of the set; maybe because they were not "official" releases at the time. Did Columbia record these concerts, and do they "own" them? Quote
connoisseur series500 Posted October 16, 2004 Report Posted October 16, 2004 A pertinent question it would seem... Quote
GregK Posted October 17, 2004 Report Posted October 17, 2004 wouldn't 2 more concerts make this a 9-disc set? Maybe they didn't want to make it unmarketable. Besides, why shoot your whole load-save those concerts for future "previously unreleased" releases! Quote
jazzbo Posted October 18, 2004 Report Posted October 18, 2004 I think that they could have made two discs out of the three concerts. BUT I think Chuck has spelled out the truth. I don't believe these concerts were either recorded by Columbia or subsequently purchased by Columbia and cleared for release. At one point half a decade ago there was talk that Columbia would begin a series of releases of "bootleg" material cleared by the estate. This seems to have not materialized. There is always the chance that if it should materialize these concerts with Rivers would be released in that series. Quote
jazzbo Posted October 18, 2004 Report Posted October 18, 2004 I found the inclusion of the extra material from California of the Seven Steps to Heaven lp session to be quite interesting. Seemed to indicate to me how strongly Miles controlled the shaping of the material at that time with that short-lived quintet version. Also, to have the complete Antibes concert is a great thing for me as I have always been catalyzed by listening to that exciting performance. I didn't ever realize that three tracks were edited previously and found it interesting that the most recent Japanese DSD remastered cd did not include the unedited performances! Here too is an example where another hour or so of material from these Juan-les-Pin performances could have been included if Columbia had meant to, in really good sound from probably the same engineered tapes (released by JMY as "Cote Blues") and the extra material was not released. Quote
BFrank Posted October 19, 2004 Report Posted October 19, 2004 I agree, Lon, about the Antibes set. That one is really special and must have been a jaw-dropping performance to see live. Quote
connoisseur series500 Posted October 30, 2004 Report Posted October 30, 2004 Just got my set in today's mail. I'll be listening and hope to post a few comments soon. Quote
pryan Posted October 30, 2004 Author Report Posted October 30, 2004 Good to here, this discussion has kind of died. I'm going to revisit the Antibes concert in the next day or so. Quote
connoisseur series500 Posted October 31, 2004 Report Posted October 31, 2004 The music is well known from previous issues. I give a big thumbs up to the remastering. Sound is fantastic. Been listening all night... Quote
brownie Posted October 31, 2004 Report Posted October 31, 2004 Also, to have the complete Antibes concert is a great thing for me as I have always been catalyzed by listening to that exciting performance. I didn't ever realize that three tracks were edited previously and found it interesting that the most recent Japanese DSD remastered cd did not include the unedited performances! Here too is an example where another hour or so of material from these Juan-les-Pin performances could have been included if Columbia had meant to, in really good sound from probably the same engineered tapes (released by JMY as "Cote Blues") and the extra material was not released. I thought Sony would release all the material from the 1963 Juan les Pins concerts. Miles and his quintet played three nights in a row: July 26, 27 and 28. It's a real pity that only the July 27 is included in the box. But at least, this performance looks complete this time. But where are the day before and the day after concert tapes, all recorded by the national radio ORTF? I will keep and return to the JMY 'Cote Bleue' album for sections from those concerts! Hope we will not have to wait forty more years to listen to all these full concerts. They were magnificient! And the often maligned George Coleman proves he was a superb player who added his own dimension to the quintet. I could not afford to go the Riviera to attend the festival that summer but I remember being knocked by the concert given on July 25 at the Theatre des Champs-Elysees in Paris. That one was recorded by the private Europe 1 radio station. Too bad they have not released that performance as part of the series of concerts they issued several years ago. Quote
J.A.W. Posted October 31, 2004 Report Posted October 31, 2004 (edited) I thought Sony would release all the material from the 1963 Juan les Pins concerts. Miles and his quintet played three nights in a row: July 26, 27 and 28. It's a real pity that only the July 27 is included in the box. But at least, this performance looks complete this time. But where are the day before and the day after concert tapes, all recorded by the national radio ORTF? Maybe Sony didn't have the rights or they were unable to lease the recordings. Edited October 31, 2004 by J.A.W. Quote
skeith Posted November 10, 2004 Report Posted November 10, 2004 Hey Lon, I would be interested in your comments comparing the sound of the Japanese Sony DSD versions to the new box. (on your advice I picked up some of the DSD versions and found the sound to be great!) Is the new box an improvement? Quote
jazzbo Posted November 10, 2004 Report Posted November 10, 2004 (edited) In most ways yes, the box is an improvement. NOT hugely different, a little warmer and more dynamic would be my appraisal. I really didn't want that to be the case. . . I love my little minilp DSD releases! I was astonished to find the difference in the Antibes material as well (still edited in the DSD Sony releases, unedited in the box set). Edited November 10, 2004 by jazzbo Quote
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