My Funny Valentine - the Miles Davis album

[Scott Dolan]

Mark, didn't Miles talk about Herbie, Ron, and Tony always harassing Coleman about his "too straight" playing in his "autobiography"? I thought that's where I read about them taking Coleman to a club after hours to play a gig with them. He duly ripped the paint off the walls which shocked them all. When they confronted him later they asked him why doesn't he play like that all the time, he responded with something like, "because I don't like to".

Does anyone else recall this story, or where I may have heard or read it?

Edited February 14, 2014 by Scott Dolan

[Mark Stryker]

Scott: I remember Miles writing that Tony didn't like how straight George played -- hence Sam Rivers coming into the band on Tony's recommendation -- but I can't remember whether Miles ascribed the same attitude toward Herbie and Ron. I'll check Miles's autobiography when I get home. That after hours story is new to me, so if anyone has a reference I'd be curious to know the source

Edited February 14, 2014 by Mark Stryker

[erwbol]

Mark, didn't Miles talk about Herbie, Ron, and Tony always harassing Coleman about his "too straight" playing in his "autobiography"? I thought that's where I read about them taking Coleman to a club after hours to play a gig with them. He duly ripped the paint off the walls which shocked them all. When they confronted him later they asked him why doesn't he play like that all the time, he responded with something like, "because I don't like to".

Does anyone else recall this story, or where I may have heard or read it?

I recall reading it before. Not where.

[Scott Dolan]

Scott: I remember Miles writing that Tony didn't like how straight George played -- hence Sam Rivers coming into the band on Tony's recommendation -- but I can't remember whether Miles ascribed the same attitude toward Herbie and Ron. I'll check Miles's autobiography when I get home. That after hours story is new to me, so if anyone has a reference I'd be curious to know the source

Please do.

I swear I read it in the Miles auto.

Then again, like you and everyone else, I've heard so many things from so many sources. Hard to keep them straight.

Mark, didn't Miles talk about Herbie, Ron, and Tony always harassing Coleman about his "too straight" playing in his "autobiography"? I thought that's where I read about them taking Coleman to a club after hours to play a gig with them. He duly ripped the paint off the walls which shocked them all. When they confronted him later they asked him why doesn't he play like that all the time, he responded with something like, "because I don't like to".

Does anyone else recall this story, or where I may have heard or read it?

I recall reading it before. Not where.

Good!

I'm glad I'm not alone in this.

And if we both recall it, there has to be something there.

[paul secor]

It's like everybody's forgotten about In Europe or something. I like that one a lot more than either of the Philharmonic Hall albums, individually or collectively. In fact Four & More tends to bore me, relatively speaking...too much of a good thing, perhaps (and definite overexposure due to years of innumerable Tony Wannabees insisting on rocking it on roadtrips...YIKES!).

But that In Europe set (and it's companion bootleg), that stuff is fresh there, and just as loose, maybe looser. And it's a longass LP too, over an hour on just two sides, not too much, just right, you get all you came for. Value for your jazz entertainment dollar, and guaranteed - GUARANTEED - high fidelity.

I realize I'm in the minority on this, but oh well, hey, too late to turn back now. Submitted for your consideration and all that...better cover, too, especially in mono.

Comments like this are what make hanging out here worthwhile. I'll have to listen to In Europe again. It's been quite a while.

[jazzbo]

I've always loved "Miles Davis in Europe" but I only ever had it on lp in fake stereo, which always annoyed me. And popping in the mono button didn't help. So glad to have it is such amazing sound on the Seven Steps box set!

[Guy Berger]

Miles in Europe is great... though the box version is superior because it has "Bye Bye Blackbird". I think of this recording (as well Cote Blues and the other live recordings from the summer of 1963) as bridging the 1961 band with Hank/Wynton/Paul/Jimmy with the more progressive sounds of the 1960s.

[BFrank]

That Seven Steps box is a real gem, actually. I don't think it got as much recognition as some of the others when it was released. One of my favorites from the 'metal spine' series.

[.:.impossible]

The shit hit the fan when George Coleman left. Tony Williams never liked the way George played, and the direction the band was moving in revolved around Tony. Tony didn't liked George because George played everything almost perfectly, and Tony didn't like saxophone players like that. He liked musicians who made mistakes, like being out of key. But George just played the chords. He was a hell of a musician. Tony wanted somebody who was reaching for different kinds of things, like Ornette Coleman

My first choice to replace George was Wayne Shorter, but Art Blakey had made him musical director of the Jazz Messengers and he couldn't leave then. So we hired Sam Rivers.

We travelled to Tokyo to play some concerts over there. It was my first trip to Japan. We played Tokyo and Osaka. 'Ill never forget my arrival in Japan. Flying to Japan is a long-ass flight. So I brought coke and sleeping pills with me and I took both. Then I couldnt go to sleep so I was drinking, too. When we landed there were all these people to meet us at the airport.

We're getting off the plane and they're saying, Welcome to Japan, Miles Davis, and I threw up all over everything. But they didn't miss a beat. They got me some medicine and got me straight and treated me like a king. Man, I had a ball, and I have respected and loved the Japanese people ever since. Beautiful people. They have always treated me great. The concerts were a big success.

Edited February 15, 2014 by .:.impossible

[.:.impossible]

I have a copy of the Osaka concert with Rivers, and the official Sony Tokyo release. I sure wish my copy of the Osaka concert sounded better! Tony is very distant. His cymbals sound mostly like white noise. Ron is clear, but quiet. The horns and the piano sound fine, but there is quite a thick blanket of hiss.

[king ubu]

Kyoto you mean? The one from the day after the officially released concert? That's an AUD, while the one from two days before (Tokyo as well) is an SBD (I assume so is the one on Columbia/Sony).

http://plosin.com/milesahead/Sessions.aspx?d=6

[.:.impossible]

Ah. I'm not home this morning, but I'm now wondering if I always mis-read the handwriting, or it is mis-labelled.

July 12, 1964 (7 items; TT = 39:00)

Hibaya Yagai Ongaku-do Hall, Tokyo (Japan)

Soundboard recording (B-)

Miles Davis Quintet

Ongaku may have been mistaken for Osaka.

[jazzbo]

Hibaya Yagai Ongaku-do Hall, Tokyo July 12

http://www.plosin.com/milesahead/Sessions.aspx?s=640712

Shinjuku Kohseinenkin Hal, Tokyo July 14

http://www.plosin.com/milesahead/Sessions.aspx?s=640714

Maruyama Ongaku-do Hall, Kyoto, July 15

http://www.plosin.com/milesahead/Sessions.aspx?s=640715

[.:.impossible]

Hey Lon. That's where I pulled the info above.

[jazzbo]

Figured as much. Just thought the thread could use the info for all three shows.

[Guy Berger]

My biggest regret about this period of Miles's career (really, 1961-70) is that we don't have more recorded gigs, particularly from clubs (rather than concert halls). I feel like a lot of our "received wisdom" about this music is not entirely accurate.

[JSngry]

Assuming that this is a generally known item, yes?

[.:.impossible]

Can't get your images to display Jim.

[Scott Dolan]

Me either.

[jazzbo]

Assuming that this is a generally known item, yes?

Use the quote function and the images should appear.

[J.A.W.]

No pictures here either.

[edit]

The quote function does work for me.

Edited February 16, 2014 by J.A.W.

[Late]

The cover makes Miles' left arm (and hand) appear to be in a Black Power gesture. Looks weirdly (and poorly) photo-shopped.

[jazzbo]

[JSngry]

The album is Miles In St. Louis, three cuts recorded at The Jazz Villa in 1963. Good stuff, mighty good.