New Heretical Statement re: Coltrane / Stitt

[erwbol]

To my mind, Miles was all about good musicians marketing an idea of sophistication to audiences who had a few spare dollars - the 1969-1975 groups played palatable jams that could fit in as support for high-earning rock groups. No cutting edge. No one got cut. A few folks took a cut.

For further reading on this, read Whitney Balliet's essay, "On The Corner- Miles Davis Sells Out"- it's merciless!

Is it available on the internet?

[marcello]

Whitney Balliet's essay, "On The Corner- Miles Davis Sells Out"

Isn't this by Crouch?

[Leeway]

Whitney Balliet's essay, "On The Corner- Miles Davis Sells Out"

Isn't this by Crouch?

Yes. Self disqualifying.

[Clunky]

Pulled out the Paris concert with Coltrane . It really an unrivalled window on group dynamics as history is being made. Coltrane's vision and perseverance particularly in light of the crowd's hostility is astonishing.

[Guy Berger]

Amazing that someone can cite the Crouch piece without irony in 2014. Amazing.

[BillF]

I finally located the two concerts on Spotify. The atmosphere at the Davis/Coltrane concert is electric and those cheering, whistling French fans that I've heard on other concert dates are well in evidence. But where have they gone on the Davis/Stitt concert from the same venue? It's altogether a quieter, politer affair. This may well have to do with the different saxophonists. Coltrane's contribution is startling, blistering and the fans sound like they love it. A chorus of approving whistles greets a passage of repeated harmonics on "So What" and the tour de force that is Trane's solo on "Green Dolphin Street" brings a torrent of applause. As others have commented, he's looking to future developments here - his solo on "All of You" has strong hints of what was to come in c.1965 and admittedly doesn't gel with the general tenor (no pun intended) of this group. He's in a different world from Wynton Kelly. What is surprising is that the noisy fans greet Coltrane's "out" sounds as if they were Illinois Jacquet squeals from a JATP concert. Compared with this, Stitt is 100% competent and businesslike, but the fire just isn't there.

Edited December 13, 2014 by BillF

[AllenLowe]

see my previous. I think everyone has me blocked.

[sgcim]

Whitney Balliet's essay, "On The Corner- Miles Davis Sells Out"

Isn't this by Crouch?

Yes. Self disqualifying.

That's funny. I was at the library when I stumbled on that article in a collection of what I could have sworn was a huge book of the collected writings of Balliet.