Miles Davis

This was a great and underrated Davis ensemble. The fact that they were playing some of the innovative pieces of the Gil Evans/Davis era with full orchestral accompaniment and in a live setting (and with acoustics of Carnegie Hall no less) should have made for a mounumental recording. As a historic document, it's a must-have: the playing is without reservation, first rate. But then, the sound. Even with remastering, you can't fix mike overload, and it is there often, and most specifically on Miles' principal mike of all places. At best the high dyanmics make for a rough sound, almost frayed and thready in its texture. Anyone used to listening to overmiked recordings, especially live ones from the 30's and 40's can deal with this, and enjoy it, if you like a rough, electric timbre to your trumpet sound. But at worst it's just full-blown distortion, distracting and disappointing and would have been so if any other instrument or player was playing in any other venue, whether Carnegie Hall or your cousin's wedding reception at the Elks Club. And this after all, IS Miles Davis, and this IS Carnegie Hall. Me, I can live with the sonic shortcomings; the performace, the occasion, and the lineup are all too important not to. But it's really a shame; this could have been, all around, one of the finest recordings, live or in studio, of Miles' career. As it is-- well, I have it playing now. So there you go.

Track Listings:

CD 01:

1. So What 12:02
2. Spring Is Here 4:03
3. Teo 9:11
4. Walkin' 9:32
5. The Meaning of the Blues/Lament 4:34
6. New Rhumba 4:07

CD 02:

1. Someday My Prince Will Come 2:55
2. Oleo 7:19
3. No Blues 10:38
4. I Thought About You 5:00
5. En Aranjuez Con Tu Amor 17:05

Download:

http://rapidshare.com/files/128007422/1961-md-mdach01-320.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/128009598/1961-md-mdacho2-320.rar

Enjoy!!