Beatstreet
The Hindu : BeatstreetMiles Davis and the Modern Jazz GiantsOriginal Jazz Classics/Universal Music; Rs. 295 (CD)This album is taken from two sessions in 1956. On one (which contributes a single track, “’Round Midnight”), Miles Davis is joined by John Coltrane on tenor saxophone, Red Garland on piano, Paul Chambers on bass and Philly Joe Jones on drums. On the other four tracks the “modern jazz giants” of the title are Thelonious Monk on piano, Milt Jackson on vibraphone, Percy Heath on bass and Kenny Clarke on drums.“’Round Midnight” is the shortest track but quite exquisite. Davis takes an intro and the theme at the beginning. He reprises the theme at the end, this time on muted trumpet. In between there’s just enough time for one satisfying solo, which, coming from Coltrane’s intense tenor sax, contrasts neatly in tone with Davis’s trumpet.On the other tracks, the most prominent roles are played by Davis and Jackson, who take the bulk of the solos. Monk is much quieter by comparison and is very much in the background in the ensemble passages. Davis and Jackson both have beautiful tones. Davis, as is his wont, times the pauses between notes brilliantly, as well as uses a mute quite often to change his tone.Among other techniques used to introduce variety is the striking change of tempo on two different takes of “The Man I Love”. They start slow through an intro on vibraphone followed by the theme on trumpet. The pace picks up suddenly for a vibraphone solo, followed by the piano taking up the theme, and then a trumpet solo. The theme is played again at the end, at a slower pace, by trumpet, vibraphone and piano.The brisk-paced “Swing Spring”, the longest track, features extensive solos on vibraphone, piano and trumpet. On this track, Clarke, whose work on the drums is impeccable, comes into the foreground for short bursts, as he does on…More
