Miles Davis on 60 Minutes

[skeith]

Anyone know? I think it was 89 or maybe 90 or 91? if anyone knows the exact date of the airing of that program, please let me know.

[wesbed]

After doing some research in the Google Groups, my best guess at the date is 11/12/89, Miles with Harry Reasoner. This is my opinion from the evidence at hand. Not a factual date.

Other opinions?

Edited May 4, 2004 by wesbed

[PHILLYQ]

I recall seeing the program, but I don't remember when. If you want to see it for any sort of insight on Miles, forget it. It was a pathetic interview by Harry Reasoner, where he even asked Miles how he felt about white people today! The interview would have been much better handled by Ed Bradley, who at least has some familiarity with Miles and his music. Instead, what we got was a taciturn Miles with a patronizing Reasoner for all the country to see. I remember walking away from the tube really pissed at the botched opportunity to present an important artist.

[JSngry]

Anybody remember the 60 Minutes profile of Basie & band? Forget whose piece it was, maybe Morley Safer's...

Anyway, the reporter sticks a mike all up in Freddie Green's face like he has a RIGHT to and says something stupid like, "Don't you ever think about retiring?" in a semi-hyper voice. Freddie looks terrified, like this, this... HOODLUM has invaded his sacred space, and quietly says something like, "No. Why would I?", and leaves it at that. The reporter tries a "hip" follow up or two, but Freddie just looks away.

It's times like that when you fully realize how truly clueless a large portion of America is. These fools can't even handle BASIE. How the hell they gonna handle Miles?

But people watch them and hang on their every word just because they provide news. Well, big fuckin' deal. I got some news for their ass - not everybody lives in their world. Not everybody WANTS to live in their world. Some of us might even prefer to never even HEAR about their world.

Bet that's news to them!

[Michael Fitzgerald]

November 12, 1989 is correct. New York Times TV listings confirm.

Mike

[skeith]

Thanks everyone for all your help on that one.

[MartyJazz]

I recall seeing the program, but I don't remember when. If you want to see it for any sort of insight on Miles, forget it. It was a pathetic interview by Harry Reasoner, where he even asked Miles how he felt about white people today! The interview would have been much better handled by Ed Bradley, who at least has some familiarity with Miles and his music. Instead, what we got was a taciturn Miles with a patronizing Reasoner for all the country to see. I remember walking away from the tube really pissed at the botched opportunity to present an important artist.

Glad I missed that program. But your note prompted a remembrance of a biology professor I had many years ago - we're talking circa 1961-62. This professor absolutely despised Harry Reasoner. He didn't miss an opportunity to lampoon him, cracking us up every time he did it. It's good to see that his opinion many years later remains fully justified.

In a similar vein, it's rare that I haven't cringed whenever I've seen a major jazz artist interviewed on TV. Unless the interviewer is familiar with jazz, it almost always comes off as either insufferably ignorant or worse, patronizing.

If you want to appreciate some great music along with wonderful interviews, I highly recommend the "Jazz Casual" video series, some (or perhaps all) of which are now available on DVD. I have 14 VHS tapes of this terrific early and mid '60s TV series that was hosted by Ralph Gleason, a noted jazz columnist and author at that time. Great stuff!

[PHILLYQ]

MartyJazz,

The Jazz Casual series is excellent- I got the Coltrane one, and you're right on the money- Gleason presents the music with respect & admiration.

Edited May 5, 2004 by PHILLYQ

[Christiern]

I thought Miles was rather funny when asked if we might see another Mrs. Miles Davis. He answered something like, "No, but I have my eyes on a couple of guys." I don't think Reasoner realized that Miles was not necessarily joking.