Modern Jazz Giants

Miles Davis | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 1, 1991)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Ojc
• ASIN: B000000YJC
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #319,643 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Despite not wanting Theolonius Monk to play, Miles Davis managed to record these brilliant sessions that included The Man I Love and Swing Spring . --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great, but should all be on 1 lp, September 25, 2000

By 

Sean M. Kelly (Portland, Oregon United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Modern Jazz Giants (Audio CD)

This lp consists of the rest of the tunes recorded during the "Bags Groove" sessions in 1954, with Milt Jackson on vibes,, Thelonious Monk, piano, Percy Heath, bass, and Kenny Clarke, drums.... the exception to this is track 3, "Round About Midnight," which is Miles with Red Garland, John Coltrane, Paul Chambers, and Philly Joe Jones, which was recorded on 26 October 1956 during the sessions for the "Cookin," and "Workin'" lps.

Despite what internal friction might have existed between Miles and Monk, the quality of play on these tracks are breathtaking, with Miles and Jackson coming to the fore. Monk's playing on his own "Bemsha Swing" is top rate, with his idiosyncratic style fitiing in perfectly with the ensemble.

My only hope is that one day, all of these tracks (minus "Round About Midnight," which is great but clearly out of place on this lp..it should be placed on any of Davis' 4 final Prestige offerings with his 1st great quintet) and those of "Bag's Groove" will be combined on 1 lp to showcase everything these groups did without having to jump from cd to cd to find it all. Despite the obvious money making strategy used here, the listener would be better off having it all in one place (of course, the 8 cd set of Miles' Prestige recordings does infact do all of this).

Great tunes and great groups help make this lp a very nice one indeed.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Rudy, put this on the record - all of it!", October 15, 2005

By 

Bomojaz (South Central PA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Modern Jazz Giants (Audio CD)

Fireworks. The session on which Miles and Monk almost came to blows - yet both produced some of their best work of the decade. Miles hated the way Monk comped behind his solos and they argued about it, until Miles told Monk he wanted him to stop playing when he (Miles) soloed. Monk, of course, didn't care for that idea too much. They bickered and some of those vocal exchanges appear right on the recording. But somehow it also inspired them because they play intense, brilliant music at the same time. Unfortunately, the CD doesn't include the whole session: besides the two takes of THE MAN I LOVE, there were two takes of BAGS' GROOVE recorded, neither of which make it on this CD. (You'll find those on the Prestige CD titled BAGS' GROOVE, OJC 245). And ROUND MIDNIGHT isn't from this date at all.

BEMSHA SWING might be the most amazing track here because on it Miles allowed Monk to play behind him. The transition from Miles's solo to Monk's is brilliant, with Miles laying down Monkian phrases which Monk then picks up on. SWING SPRING is one of Davis's earliest modal compositions, a terrific tune. The two takes of THE MAN I LOVE are quite different, with the second take's angry musical exchanges between Miles and Monk, with Miles's desire to be lyrical and Monks's to be experimental, causing a tension for the listener that is almost unbearable - and magnificent. It's amazing to hear these two headstrong, magisterial musicians "fighting" for dominance right before our ears - no holds barred. A fantastic recording date. A must-have CD.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An entertaining companion to "Bag's Groove", August 13, 2000

By 

"jazzfanmn" (St Cloud, MN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Modern Jazz Giants (Audio CD)

Overall this album is a collection of "bonus track" type material, but it is not without its highlights. Four of the five tracks feature Miles' cool toned trumpet, Thelonious Monk on piano, Percy Heath on bass, Kenny Clarke on drums, and Milt "Bags" Jackson on vibraphone. Miles' and Monk's solo work is typically interesting, but never really rises to the level of inspired. It is really Bags' vibework that shines through with his solo on Monk's "Bemsha Swing", and his sensitive intro and hard swinging solos on both takes of "The Man I Love". With all of the stories of Miles making Monk lay out, or not play, behind his solos, and general studio tension heard on chatter at the head of "The Man I Love take 1" aside, this album is still a solid swinging affair. Track three was recorded two years after the other four and features Miles great quintet of John Coltrane on tenor, Red Gardland on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums performing a prototype of their take on Monk's "'Round Midnight". This cut does not approach the classic featured on Miles' Columbuia album, but it is interesting for fans to hear this early, and somewhat muddled, take. Overall this album is a good one to pick up if you fan of the personnel or, already own "Bag's Groove" and want to hear more from that session.