I'm a huge Miles Davis aficionado. At last count, in my library, I have 118 albums on compact disc, three biographies, and one autobiography (a fascinating read).
Miles was a once-in-a-generation musical genius. His personal life was not always as stellar - just ask any of his ex-wives. He had his good side and his not-so-good side. But as far as his musical life, there are few who are better.
If you aren't familiar with his music, and you have any interest in taking a dip, this list is a great starter.
1. "Blue in Green" (Kind of Blue, 1959).
Breathtaking. And it's possibly not the best solo on the tune, as John Coltrane follows Miles with perhaps his shortest yet most beautiful solo ever.
2. "So What" (My Funny Valentine: Miles Davis in Concert, 1964).
A remarkably high-energy live concert featuring an early version of Miles' famed 'second quintet.'
Purportedly, a fight took place backstage before the concert when members of the group disagreed about the proceeds of the concert going toward black voter registration in the South. No question the anger came out in the music.
3. "My Funny Valentine" (My Funny Valentine: Miles Davis in Concert, 1964).
Same concert, same high energy, this time applied to one of the great all-time jazz ballads.
4. "Concierto de Aranjuez" (Sketches of Spain, 1960).
One of the great third-stream albums, if not the greatest, of all time. The movement, largely led by Miles and his long-time arranger and collaborator Gil Evans, is a merging of modern jazz and classical music elements.
Miles' performance on this rendition of the great Spanish guitar concerto is so haunting it will live in your head for days.
5. "Gone" (Porgy and Bess, 1959).
Fire! An earlier collaboration between Miles and Gil Evans. Listen to Miles and the rhythm section play off each other so well that the tempo of the tune increases to a blistering pace by the end.
6. “Someday My Prince Will Come” (Someday My Prince Will Come, 1961).
The last studio album made with John Coltrane, as Miles started a slow transition from his 'first great quintet' of the 1950s to his 'second great quintet' of the 1960s.
7. "Bye Bye Blackbird" (Round About Midnight, 1957).
A classic Miles recording with the 'first great quintet' on his first album for Columbia Records, which kicked off a 30-year relationship with the company.
8. "Will You Be Mine? (The Musings of Miles, 1955).
An early recording with his first great quintet. Classic Miles light and airy bebop approach to a great jazz standard.
9. Seven Steps to Heaven (Seven Steps to Heaven, 1963).
A great bridge album from the style Miles became famous for in the 1950s to his more experimental phase in the 60s. This was also the first studio recording with his famed rhythm section featuring Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and a sick, talented 17-year-old Tony Carter on drums.
10. "My Funny Valentine" (Cookin, 1955).
This is the sort of delicate yet mesmerizing playing that made Miles famous, and for what he is most well known. This is his original recorded version of the tune that helped make him well known in the 50s.
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