About The Song
Miles Davis was a jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and composer who is one of the most influential figures in the history of music. He was a pioneer in the development of bebop, cool jazz, hard bop, modal jazz, and jazz fusion. Miles Davis’s “Milestones” is a landmark album in the history of jazz. It was recorded on May 2 and 4, 1958, and released by Columbia Records on September 2, 1958. The album features Davis’s “first great quintet”, with John Coltrane on tenor saxophone, Cannonball Adderley on alto saxophone, Red Garland on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums.
The album is considered to be a turning point in Davis’s career, and it marked the beginning of a new era in jazz. It is a modal jazz album, which means that the music is based on modes, or scales, rather than on chord changes. This gives the music a more open and improvisational feel.
The album opens with the title track, which is a modal composition by Davis. It is a fast-paced and exciting piece of music that features some great solos by Davis and Coltrane. The next track is “Dr. Jackle”, which is a blues-based composition by Jackie McLean. It is a slower and more relaxed piece of music that features a great solo by Coltrane.
The third track is “Sid’s Ahead”, which is a composition by Davis. It is a modal piece of music that features some great interplay between Davis and Coltrane. The fourth track is “Two Bass Hit”, which is a composition by John Lewis and Dizzy Gillespie. It is a fast-paced and exciting piece of music that features some great solos by Davis and Coltrane.
The fifth track is “Billy Boy”, which is a traditional folk song that was arranged by Ahmad Jamal. It is a slow and relaxed piece of music that features a great solo by Davis.
“Milestones” is a classic album that is considered to be one of the most important albums in the history of jazz. It is a must-have for any fan of jazz music.
Here are some additional details about the album:
- The album was recorded at Columbia Records’ 30th Street Studio in New York City.
- The album was produced by Teo Macero.
- The album was engineered by Frank Laico.
- The album cover was designed by Irving Penn.
- The album was released on monaural and stereo LP.
- The album was reissued on CD in 1987.
- The album was reissued on SACD in 2008.
“Milestones” was a critical and commercial success. It reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart and won the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Performance, Group. The album has been praised by critics for its innovative sound and its influence on the development of jazz.
In conclusion, Miles Davis’s “Milestones” is a landmark album in the history of jazz. It is a must-have for any fan of jazz music.