Heaven

Ron Miles | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 7, 2002)
• Original Release Date: May 7, 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sterling Circle
• ASIN: B000066E7J
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #124,759 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

If the word wasn't out about the bold, original talent of trumpeter-composer Ron Miles, this varied recital of superbly recorded duets with guitarist Bill Frisell should do the trick. Heaven reflects both the exceptional sensitivity and rapport Miles and Frisell have nurtured over the past decade, and points to their fascination in a multiplicity of forms drawn from the rich alluvial soil of American music. There is a timeless folkish quality to "Coward of the County," as Miles's richly inflected melodies soar above Frisell's tolling chords in an Appalachian manner. Not that Miles, like Frisell, isn't capable of playing against type, spiking his spacious, innately lyrical passages with quirky, vocalized, cubist turns of phrase and sudden explosions of sonic shrapnel, as he does on his original "Falsetto." Likewise, he sees connections between fellow-travelers on the byways of American music that more doctrinaire colleagues might overlook, as he demonstrates in utterly convincing, devoutly personal renditions of chestnuts by Hank Williams and Bob Dylan, as well as piquant, bluesy readings of Jelly Roll Morton's "King Porter Stomp" and Thelonious Monk's "We See," shaping and burnishing his malleable tone and fluid phrasing to fit the emotional and spiritual context of the music. For those wondering where the next generation of forward-looking, exploratory musicians are coming from, Heaven may prove to be manna for jazz fans. --Chip Stern

Product Description

Ron Miles, a powerful voice in contemporary jazz departs from his usual jazz-rock fusion to deliver a dozen simple, yet rich and beautiful pieces. Ron's compositions are the focal point of his newest album, complimented by his fresh arrangements of old favorites. Accompanied by long time partner and friend Bill Frisell, the duets on this album display the talent of both musicians in a return to a style of playing that highlights their unique mastery of their craft. These varied compositions play straight to the musical heart of the listener.

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