When it comes to Jazz, and probably in other parts of life as well, I am a conservative (let me add that originally that word did refer to perfectly sane people). The jazz that brings me most joy is early to mid-bebop, the music of the 1950s and 60s: Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Charlie Mingus,…, and yes, Miles Davis. I tend to stick with what I like, trying only occasionally to listen to earlier music (scratchy old Louis Armstrong albums, or mono recordings of Art Tatum), and even less occasionally to more recent music, with its blend of traditional Jazz, rock, folk, electronic music etc. etc.
On the other hand, I always admired Miles Davis’ ability to renew his music, getting inspiration from ever more diverse sources. How easy it is to coast: just keep doing what you’re doing so well, the craft that made you rich and famous, that brings happiness to millions of people, the thing you do better than anybody else. Making the effort to get out of your comfort zone requires amazing determination, doing it successfully requires unique talent. That’s an inspiring story for anyone whose work requires certain component of creativity, mixed with long periods of learning and improving your craft, not unlike a scientist or a writer.
(To appreciate the risks in this total transformation, just follow Miles into the 1980s…).
In comparison to this amazing feat, it is fairly easy for me to make the effort to occasionally listen to something new. Miles Davis second quintet is one of the best discoveries I’ve had when getting out of my own comfort zone. I Started with the wonderful “In a Silent Way” (which incidentally, was my first choice for this blog’s name), and then it was hard to stop. The language of this group is so different from Miles’ previous sounds, even his own sound transformed so much, it does take some getting used to. But, it’s worth it, give it a try!
As a sampler, here is one of my favorite pieces from that period (unfortunately this cannot be embedded in the post), “Masqualero” from the album “Sorcerer”, which is probably my favorite of the group. The visual aesthetics leaves something to be desired, but the music is what counts…
Hi Moshe, as someone from UBC and a reader of this blog, in light of this latest post I feel compelled to tell you that the UBC Jazz Band will be playing next Friday on October 24th at 12 noon, if you can make it.
The most impressive thing to me was Miles’ ability to discover new young talent, and then let them do their thing. Half of the major figures of post-1950 jazz played with Miles at some point or another.
I can’t decide whether ESP or In a Silent Way is my favorite.
Thanks Matt, I probably cannot make it, but thanks. You know, Vancouver is such a wonderful place, it is sometimes hard to find motivation to travel away from it. I am glad then to have live jazz to use as travel motivation, there’s probably much more of it in almost any comparable sized town in north America or Europe.
Sean, I definitely agree, for example Tony Williams was 16 when he became a member of the second quintet…
A hurrah for the lunatics, who manage to bring something beautiful out of the chaotic void!
[...] by a Nobel prize for his work on Bose-Einstein condensation. He then decided, in a move worthy of Miles Davis, to start something completely different, concentrating on applying the scientific method to [...]