[Zappa-List] Frank Zappa Miles Davis jazz-rock
I really enjoy Zappa's jazz-rock music, especially HOT RATS (1969). I always used to read rave reviews about Miles Davis' jazz-rock album BITCHES BREW (1970), and once in a while IN A SILENT WAY (1969) was mentioned. I have never found much to like in either of these two albums, so I figured if these were the best Miles had to offer from the period when he switched to electric instruments, I decided to concentrate instead on his recordings with John Coltrane prior to 1956. Years later I still don't like BITCHES BREW and IN A SILENT WAY very much, but I recently discovered that Miles' music before and after BITCHES BREW blows that album out of the water (I don't know what the critics were thinking rating BITCHES BREW so highly). The MILES DAVIS QUINTET 1965-'68 (6CD box set) showcases some stunning jazz that is just beginning to show rock influences creeping in. Some of the original albums represented are E.S.P., MILES SMILES, SORCERER, NEFERTITI, MILES IN THE SKY, and FILLES DE KILIMANJARO. If you want to sample only one album from this period, I would recommend MILES IN THE SKY. After BITCHES BREW some great early fusion appears on THE COMPLETE JACK JOHNSON SESSIONS (5CD box set). The music was edited and spliced to create the albums of the day, something that Zappa had been doing for years, but it was entirely new for a jazz artist to be doing this at the time. Be forewarned; this box set has many alternate takes that are similar. The closest thing to HOT RATS from Miles Davis is maybe THE CELLAR DOOR SESSIONS (6CD box set). Each of the 6 discs is a different live set from across 4 days in December 1970. There is some overlap in the music, but if you listen to only one set at a time it is mind-blowing. There's a good interactive Davis discography at http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/miles_davis if anyone is interested. The fan reviews there are the reason I started checking out these box sets in the first place, after writing off BITCHES BREW years ago. -Bri For further Z-related fun, please visit http://www.thebignote.com or http://www.killuglyradio.com , thank you.Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zappa-List/ * Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional * To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zappa-List/join (Yahoo! ID required) * To change settings via email: zappa-list-dig...@yahoogroups.com zappa-list-fullfeatu...@yahoogroups.com * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: zappa-list-unsubscr...@yahoogroups.com * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [Zappa-List] Frank Zappa Miles Davis jazz-rock
Zav, These 6 albums were mainstays in my dad's rotation. Listening to Jazz at such an early age (I am 51), allowed me to open my mind to what music can be. It allowed me to be open to music, especially FRANK ZAPPA, while others my age were being raised on commercial radio... Thanks for the reminder... CS -- The MILES DAVIS QUINTET 1965-'68 (6CD box set) showcases some stunning jazz that is just beginning to show rock influences creeping in. Some of the original albums represented are E.S.P., MILES SMILES, SORCERER, NEFERTITI, MILES IN THE SKY, and FILLES DE KILIMANJARO. If you want to sample only one album from this period, I would recommend MILES IN THE SKY. On Sun, Aug 7, 2011 at 9:30 AM, zav_sto zav_...@yahoo.ca wrote: ** I really enjoy Zappa's jazz-rock music, especially HOT RATS (1969). I always used to read rave reviews about Miles Davis' jazz-rock album BITCHES BREW (1970), and once in a while IN A SILENT WAY (1969) was mentioned. I have never found much to like in either of these two albums, so I figured if these were the best Miles had to offer from the period when he switched to electric instruments, I decided to concentrate instead on his recordings with John Coltrane prior to 1956. Years later I still don't like BITCHES BREW and IN A SILENT WAY very much, but I recently discovered that Miles' music before and after BITCHES BREW blows that album out of the water (I don't know what the critics were thinking rating BITCHES BREW so highly). The MILES DAVIS QUINTET 1965-'68 (6CD box set) showcases some stunning jazz that is just beginning to show rock influences creeping in. Some of the original albums represented are E.S.P., MILES SMILES, SORCERER, NEFERTITI, MILES IN THE SKY, and FILLES DE KILIMANJARO. If you want to sample only one album from this period, I would recommend MILES IN THE SKY. After BITCHES BREW some great early fusion appears on THE COMPLETE JACK JOHNSON SESSIONS (5CD box set). The music was edited and spliced to create the albums of the day, something that Zappa had been doing for years, but it was entirely new for a jazz artist to be doing this at the time. Be forewarned; this box set has many alternate takes that are similar. The closest thing to HOT RATS from Miles Davis is maybe THE CELLAR DOOR SESSIONS (6CD box set). Each of the 6 discs is a different live set from across 4 days in December 1970. There is some overlap in the music, but if you listen to only one set at a time it is mind-blowing. There's a good interactive Davis discography at http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/miles_davis if anyone is interested. The fan reviews there are the reason I started checking out these box sets in the first place, after writing off BITCHES BREW years ago. -Bri
[Zappa-List] Re: Frank Zappa Miles Davis jazz-rock
Craig: These 6 albums were mainstays in my dad's rotation. Listening to Jazz at such an early age allowed me to open my mind to what music can be. Bri: Cool! I don't know where my eclectic music tastes came from, but the wildest my parents ever got with their music was Tequila and Wipe Out! Here's another trip down memory lane -- remember when you used to load a stack of 45's on the record player to drop down for continuous playing? For further Z-related fun, please visit http://www.thebignote.com or http://www.killuglyradio.com , thank you.Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zappa-List/ * Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional * To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zappa-List/join (Yahoo! ID required) * To change settings via email: zappa-list-dig...@yahoogroups.com zappa-list-fullfeatu...@yahoogroups.com * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: zappa-list-unsubscr...@yahoogroups.com * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
