Customer Reviews

At Newport 1958

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There's certainly nothing inferior, nothing missed or bungled on this set, which Columbia inexplicably held for 6 years before its initial release, then waited another 20 for a subsequent release, finally producing this bright and bracing remastered version.

Miles is definitely out to prove that the loss of two key members of his previous sextet--pianist Red Garland and percussionist Philly Joe Jones--was in no way injurious to its level of creativity or intensity. The tempos are way up (as Miles was inclined to call them when not in the studio), and Coltrane tears through changes like a man possessed--a harbinger of what was to come, but at an earlier stage than many listeners might have previously assumed.

Anyone who has read Peter Pettinger's biography of Bill Evans is aware of the tensions--racial as well as musical--that Bill felt during his relatively brief stint with Miles. Caught between the onslaught of Coltrane and Cannonball, it's a wonder that he gets heard at all. But he chooses his moments carefully, and makes the most of each, making the album an especially valuable record of the band during Bill's occupation of the piano chair. And Paul Chambers is a bedrock through the entire session.

Miles was the "enabler," placing Coltrane and Evans together on the same stage from which each would depart to become, arguably, the two most influential voices in jazz post-1960. Coltrane was the "winner" on this date, but the Evans' influence would prevail when Miles summoned Bill to rejoin the band for its recording a year later on what would become the most successful, popular, seminal jazz album of all time, "Kind of Blue."

"Miles at Newport 1958" represents a key chapter in the story of jazz after bebop, and this reissued, expertly remastered recording helps make up for the exclusion of Miles' group in "Jazz on a Summer's Day," the highly regarded filming of the 1958 festival.

The music on this CD was captured live, July 3, 1958 at the Newport Jazz Festival in Newport, Rhode Island. The sextet was: Miles Davis (trumpet), Cannonball Adderley (alto saxophone), John Coltrane (tenor saxophone), Bill Evans (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), Jimmy Cobb (drums).

It originally appeared on the box set Miles Davis & John Coltrane: The Complete Columbia Recordings 1955-1961, but have since been lifted, remixed and remastered in the form you see here today. The majority of tracks have already appeared on two previous studio albums, Round about Midnight and Milestones. In a live setting the music soars and the interaction between the artists shine. This CD also captures an important time in jazz history. It gives you a snapshot of where Miles Davis is eight months before he records the phenomenal album, Kind of Blue.

If you don't own Kind of Blue, I must recomend that you buy it first. They are completely different on a jazz level. Kind of Blue is cool modality, chill. It is, arguably, one of the greatest albums ever recorded. It might change your life. At Newport 1958, is a great album, but it's more of a cooking dinner with friends on Saturday night kind of album.

Someone who buys this might expect another "Kind of Blue," being that this was recorded with the same group, only eight months beforehand. However, this is MUCH different. "Kind of Blue" is laid back, cool. This is very agressive. "Ah-leu-cha" gets your feet tapping, in particular, and the whole set is enjoyable. I liked "The Theme" and "Fran-Dance." There are a few problems: Chambers' bass is not quite loud enough, so some of the songs have a weird, unaccompanied feel. Miles sometimes goes out of his range, and I didn't always get what Coltrane was going for. And Evans seems to get lost a few times. But still, good music and worth a listen. But I wouldn't necessarily call it essential Miles. More for the Miles fan.

At the 1958 Newport Festival, Miles Davis was leading one of his most celebrated groups: a sextet consisting of John Coltrane (tenor sax), Cannonball Adderley (alto sax), Bill Evans (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), and Jimmy Cobb (drums). This same lineup would record Kind of Blue within a year. The results here aren't quite as magical. Coltrane, at the peak of his sheets-of-sound period, is incredible -- he tears through the songs with ferocity. Just listen to "Two Bass Hit". Bill Evans, on the other hand, sounds a little out of place on the bop tunes that compose the bulk of this set; his reflective, abstract playing doesn't fit in as well in this context. Adderley and Davis play well though I wouldn't call this performance a milestone for either one. The sextet also tackle a few of the tunes a bit faster than they can handle, and they bungle the theme to "Ah Leu Cha". But this is still a very good recording of a great group, and worth buying for the hardcore Davis aficionado.

I sure as heck don't understand the criticism of a couple of the other reviewers, writing that there is no bass. I can hear it perfectly. Chambers' even takes a solo. I'm listening right now as I type this and Chambers is right there in the mix.

Ok, the beginning of Ah Leu Cha is a little bit of a mess, I agree. However, how does ANYONE get off rating these guys 1 or 2 stars? The performances are smokin' hot, this is great stuff and don't let those reviewers put you off!

Is this the worst recording in my collection? Absolutely not. Is it the best? No. The listener has to keep in mind that:

1. Recording technology in 1958 isn't what it would be even just a few short years later.

2. Recording live performances, ESPECIALLY OUT OF DOORS, was in its infancy when this performance was recorded.

Good lord, we get Miles, Trane, Cannonball in a tour-de-force performance and some reviewers want to whine about the recording quality?

Trust me, if you are a Miles Davis fan, especially of this sextet or the 1st quintet, you are going to forget that it doesn't sound as sparkling as some of today's recordings and just sit back and dig what's happening! Just try and sit still.

'nuff said!

While most of this music on Miles Davis at Newport 1958 has appeared on either the Miles and Monk At Newport compilation or the Newport Jazz Festival Live album, this is the first time that the material has been presented in its entirety. The personnel in the sextet had changed slightly by this time. Red Garland and Philly Joe Jones were replaced by revolutionary pianist Bill Evans and newcomer Jimmy Cobb on drums. Especially notable in this performance was the way Coltrane's abilities had progressed. But even though the group was bursting with musical inspiration and fresh ideas, Miles was still the undisputed heart and soul of the band. Several of the tracks performed here came from 'Round About Midnight and Milestones; but in the live setting, the music soars and the interaction between the artists is remarkable. Unlike Jazz at The Plaza, recorded just two months later, this album was intended for commercial release and the sound quality is much better as well.

Nothing to say but PURE RAW ENERGY! Again, not the greatest sound recording, but the music makes that a null point.

I cant stop playing this album. Thats why its 5 stars. I hardly even play the flip side and I love Monk...I want to just big up Paul Chambers, Bill Evans and Jimmy Cobb here because this is fantastic work by them, especially Straight No Chaser and Two Bass Hit. When Coltrane comes in...phew. Trane on Two Bass Hit is a precursor of Chasing the Trane from the Vanguard session. These cats are all at the top here, who cares of there are some gremlins?
I like to think of 50's-60's Miles' output as a bit like jumping in a car and going for it, fast or slow, good mood or otherwise.. in my case a wee drive down to Largs or up round Loch Lomond...Cannot get it off the record player!!!
I must also recommend My Funny Valentine 1964? Blowing my mind now

For fans like me who have everything from this group, it's a must-have. But the Evans influence was not in full effect on most live recordings, where Miles called mostly very "up" tempos. Much better in the studio (Kind of Blue, '58 Miles). Everybody else is still burning though, and on a medium "Blackbird" nice Evans.

yes this set is basically what was on "Miles&Monk at Newport" but the Feeling still is strong.Miles,Coltrane&crew really throw down.the arrangements are top notch as is the playing.when you hear Miles here&then go to the 60's&70's it's hard to believe that One Man could have so many concepts but Miles Davis wasn't like most Artists just when you got comfortable with His take He changed up on you&gave you something different that's His Depth&Vibe.He always allows His Bands to Shine but you know Miles was leadign the direction.Coltrane sounds Good here but Oh Buddy in the years to come He took it to a whole different level I wonder what this may have sounded like a few years later When Coltrane was in Peak form???