Not sure why I waited so long to pick up volume 1 of this series. I very nearly settled for the highlights CD and I'm glad I didn't! This is an incredible collection of performances by THE QUINTET. I don't like using superlatives like "the greatest" but in this case I'm going to make an exception. I don't think there is really any question that this particular line up was the greatest small combo in jazz... ever! Five guys functioning independently as one organism is what this is. These guys are totally locked in to one another's playing at a level I just haven't heard anywhere else. Some will argue the Coltrane Quartet - and that ensemble was amazingly powerful, but I don't think it had the range this band has. Ok, enough superlatives:

The Packaging
Some have complained but I don't really see why. The chief complaint seems to be that there is no where to safely stow the very nice 30 page (counting both sides) booklet. This is no big deal, just slide it in between the two haves of the foldout cover, what more is needed. The booklet has a nice essay by Ashley Kahn who wrote the "Making of Kind of Blue" book - something EVERY Miles Davis aficionado should read by the way. There are lots of great classic shots - a couple which I have seen before in the remastered releases a few years back. As you can see, The package is designed like a couple of boxes of old reel-to-reel taps to mimic the old tape boxes where this music stayed hidden for so many years.. In short, I love the design. Very cool. Much better than the packaging for volume 2 of this series.

The Sound
I am not an audio-phile. I listen to music for the music and I honestly don't pay much attention to fidelity unless it is clearly getting in the way of the presentation. I don't hear any bothersome issues like that, this seems very high quality to me. To my ears these recordings are as clear as the Miles Davis official releases that preceded these recordings: Miles in Berlin, Miles in Europe, Miles in Tokyo, Four and More and My Funny Valentine... Or Both volumes of the Blackhawk recordings. The recording quality is absolutely better than Live at the Plugged Nickel and Carnegie Hall. Ok? If you own those releases and are happy with the sound you will positively gush with joy over this set.

The Music
What can I possibly say about this music that someone has not already said before? It's flippin' incredible, these guys can turn on a dime together from quiet and moody to explosive - they are simply UNREAL together. I mentioned a bunch of live releases above that all of us Miles aficionados own, right? I think these recordings are more enjoyable (I didn't say better) than ANY of those releases which is what led to the title of this review. This band is simultaneously free and tight, as a musician myself I can attest that this is something that can be pulled off by virtuoso players when the chemistry is exactly right. This ensemble is as close to perfection as a jazz band ever got and it really shows with these recordings!

The Vision
I've only watched one of the video concerts and I thought it was great! Someone elsewhere complained about the quality. Huh? What does one expect from a 1967 television broadcast? I suspect a spoiled American made that comment. I'm an American but I've spent many years living in Europe too and one has to remember that as America was enjoying episodes of Bewitched and Gilligan's Island in living color (both of these series started in B/W) European countries were STILL digging out from the devastation and rubble of WWII just 22 short years later. Most, if not all, television broadcasting was government owned. Those countries had far more important things to attend to than color television. So I said all of that to say this - The concert I watched (there are two) had a clear picture and great sound (to my ears). I fail to understand the complaint and really the black and white picture just adds to the ambiance!

If you are a Miles fan, especially of THE QUINTET, then you shouldn't even be reading this now, you should be finalizing your purchase!

Enjoy!

this is my new winner. First off, the DVD is just the proverbial icing, and it's from different shows than the CDs, somebody cared to do this right. I loved the Highlights disc from The Plugged Nickel, even though Miles was not playing his best, the band still sounded inspired. Two years down the road, the inspiration is still flowing and Miles' technical facilities are back in full force. New material, at this point is like a fresh breathe and the "live" factor ups the ante considerably. These tunes, Agitation, Footprints, Riot, Masqualero, Gingerbread Boy are OK in their studio versions but "live" they're juggernauts, jumping off points for a band finding inspiration in the elasticity of the material. The tunes often flow one into another until you're completely lost in their quest for something original. IMHO This new release is the best example of Miles' great 2nd quintet at their apex, at a reasonable price and a great way to kick off this series. Now, if they could only find a place to store the booklet, we'll be all set. I marvel at how many jazz bands try to emulate the sound of this band, today. This is the source of that wellspring.

Simply delighted with this official issue. The contents of this set is not new for Miles fans except two tunes from paris, #6 & #7 of CD2. Very pleased with the fact from now on we can enjoy these tunes officially. Miles performed nine concerts in this European tour. Only the London concert of Oct. 29 has not been excavated yet. Expect Columbia's further efforts to unearth this performance. Couldn't find any room to complain about these music. Full of groove and speed. Miles controlled the band majestically and extracted superlative music from the members. At the Plugged Nickel Miles was confronted with various challenges from the band members. He seemed to be very busy composing the disturbance two years ago. Somethings which changed the relation between Miles and band members must be happened during two years. On DVD we see Miles places his mute on the Herbie's piano at the beginning of the every concert, as if he sticks the holly sword into the earth. It is like the ritual to show his reigning to the band members. High expectation for the vol.2 and on of this bootleg series. Next set is '69 tour? Or '73 including Japan tour?

CD + DVD of early 60's European tour with the best Quintet ever. This is another must have piece for any jazz collection. DVD is dynamite. Like many recordings from this era of both Coltrane + Davis, it's not unusual for some of the playing to sound rough or a little off key. In a way this is the beauty of these recordings because playing music is not a perfect thing. This is not smooth jazz or Kenny G wallpaper sound. A piece of history. Buy it.

I'm a Miles fan from way back and it would be almost impossible for me to award less than five stars. The sound quality wasn't what one would hope for, but it is good enough to not distract from the music.

If you're a fan of this second great quintet that Miles Davis had, then by buy this disc. But if you're the type who likes so-called "cool jazz" or the music of Kenny G, Kirk Whalum and other "smooth jazz" artists then this challenging music isn't for you. One reviewer ignorantly ranted that there's no variation in the tunes on this disc must be unaware that the performance of "Agitation" varies in mood and tempo from the Paris to the Belgium concert. The sound is mono but it's so well recorded that any true devotee of Miles will not mind--this disc is a monster!!