"The controversial Miles Davis."
If controversial is used in the sense of ahead of the times, the radio announcer who makes that introduction in May 1958 — and which are the opening sounds on Broadcast Sessions 1958-1959 — clearly had no inkling what was on the horizon.
The Miles Davis All Stars appearing on this collection of music recorded live at clubs for radio and TV broadcasts between May 1958 and January 1959 is close to a who's who of the era's jazz legends. In addition to Davis, others making appearances include saxophonists John Coltrane (who also receives billing on the CD cover) and Cannonball Adderley, pianists Bill Evans and Red Garland, bassist Paul Chambers and drummers Philly Joe Jones and Jimmy Cobb.
These artists were on the cusp of greatness, both individually and collectively. In fact, Evans, Coltrane, Chambers, Cobb, Cannonball and pianist Wynton Kelly would join Miles in the studio to create the classic Kind of Blue, released in August 1959.
Although Broadcast Sessions reflects Davis combos between 1958's Milestones, his initial foray into modal jazz, and Kind of Blue, the epitome of modal jazz, the CD doesn't really give broad hints as to the landmark recording it precedes. While we get renditions of three tunes (but not the title cut) from Milestones, what is most exciting about the 10 songs on this release is that they show the artists live, without a studio to do another take. It brings a spontaneity and edge that studio recordings lack.
The innovative ability is seen in the two versions of the standard "Bye Bye Blackbird" that appear on the CD. The first was recorded at New York City's Café Bohemia on May 17, 1958, and broadcast on the Mutual Radio Network. Davis and the almost singular feel he achieves with a mute leads into a solo by Coltrane while the rhythm section tends toward mellow and subdued, a feel most reinforced by Evans both with his opening and his solo.
Article comments