Miles Davis At Carnegie Hall CD

Personnel: Miles Davis (trumpet); Gil Evans (arranger, conductor); Hank Mobley (tenor saxophone); Ernie Royal, Bernie Glow, Johnny Coles, Louis Mucci (trumpet); Jimmy Knepper, Dick Hixon, Frank Rehak (trombone); Julius Watkins, Paul Ingrahan, Bob Swisshelm (French horn); Bill Barber (tuba); Romeo Penque, Jerome Richardson, Eddie Caine, Bob Tricarico, Danny Bank (reeds); Janet Putnam (harp); Wynton Kelly (piano); Paul Chambers (bass); Jimmy Cobb (drums); Bobby Rosengarden (percussion).
Producer: Teo Macero.
Reissue producer: Michael Cuscuna.
Recorded live at Carnegie Hall, New York, New York on May 19, 1961. Includes liner notes by Bob Blumenthal.
Digitally remastered by Mark Wilder (Sony Music Studios, New York, New York).
On May 19, 1961, Miles Davis was showcased at a Carnegie Hall concert, performing with his quintet of the time (tenor saxophonist Hank Mobley, pianist Wynton Kelly, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Jimmy Cobb) and, for the first time in public, the Gil Evans Orchestra. Although thought of by some later on as being in an off period since he was between innovations, Miles' trumpet chops were actually in prime form during 1961-63, as he shows throughout the date. All of the music on this 1998 two-CD set has been out before, either on the original LP of the same name or on the later album More Music From the Legendary Carnegie Hall Concert, but this is the first time that the two sets have been reproduced in their original order. While the first half of the show includes good versions of "So What" (which has the only interaction of the orchestra with Davis' small group) and "Walkin'," the second set (highlighted by "Oleo" and "No Blues") clearly found the trumpeter in better form. He concluded the performance with a lengthy rendition of "Adagio" from "Concierto De Aranjuez" with Evans' ensemble. While not quite essential (there are many other classic Miles Davis recordings currently available), this twofer will be wanted by the trumpeter's many fans. ~ Scott Yanow
In 1998, Columbia/Legacy reissued Miles Davis at Carnegie Hall as a double-disc set that contained all of the music performed at the concert from May 19, 1961. Davis is captured with his transitional small combo featuring Hank Mobley, Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers, and Jimmy Cobb, as well as with the Gil Evans Orchestra. It was one of only two concerts Davis and Evans performed together, and that alone makes the album necessary for collectors, but the music itself is terrific. Neither the small group nor large band performances offer any new revelations, but they both showcase a strong, powerful Davis, and the music is quite enjoyable. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
This two-CD set makes the entire Carnegie Hall concert of May 19, 1961 available again in its entirety. The Miles Quintet at the time--the post-Coltrane, pre-Shorter era band, with its sound balancing bop and cool schools--is joined by an orchestra arranged and conducted by Miles' longtime friend/frequent collaborator Gil Evans.
The recording has more than its share of assets. The sound is pristine. Miles' playing is heartbreaking, romantic, and searingly beautiful. The late Hank Mobley's performance proves he is one of jazz history's most under-appreciated soloists (with that firm yet creamy-soft-at-its-core tenor tone). The orchestration, which balances jazz with subtle classical influences, compliments Miles' band but does not compete with it. One of the best live Miles albums available.

2 Cds