In Praise of Miles Davis...

[theclaud]

Try the Kind Of Blue album and the Somethin' Else album he did which appears under the name of Cannonball Adderley.

My own personal jury is still out on MD but those two albums are masterpieces (as much from the other musicians as from him).

Really? Before he died, he was still apparently still weighing up the significance of Andy in Sig's contribution to Western music as well. Was it Nancy Reagan to whom he once said something along the lines of "f**k you - I've reinvented American music five times. What the f**k have you ever done, except be white?" Or it might have been someone else...

 

[Cranky]

Have to say that this is a beautifully laid-back, late night chilling album, for the price it's a bargain! Very accesible. I'm working my way up to the Bitches Brew and his later fusion stuff... it may take some time.

Worth taking the time though. For me it is filed under "music from another planet".

 

[Andy in Sig]

Really? Before he died, he was still apparently still weighing up the significance of Andy in Sig's contribution to Western music as well. Was it Nancy Reagan to whom he once said something along the lines of "**** you - I've reinvented American music five times. What the **** have you ever done, except be white?" Or it might have been someone else...

There is a tendency within music to put some people on pedestals to the point where they can do no wrong. IMO that is to be avoided as it will inevitably lead you to feeling that you have to say that you like something when you don't see the point at all.

Until I read that quote I had no idea that he was such an arrogant and unpleasant man. Still, he managed to produce some beautiful music though.

 

[theclaud]

There is a tendency within music to put some people on pedestals to the point where they can do no wrong. IMO that is to be avoided as it will inevitably lead you to feeling that you have to say that you like something when you don't see the point at all.

Until I read that quote I had no idea that he was such an arrogant and unpleasant man. Still, he managed to produce some beautiful music though.

It's nothing to do with pedestals - there's plenty of his stuff I can't stand. It's to do with why anyone listening to Walkin or ESP would give a f**k if some geezer in Sigmaringen thinks "the jury's out". And no, he wasn't especially endearing, but he was often right on the money. And you might care to think a little about the racial climate in which he made his career before you get too shirty about his contempt for the white ruling classes.

 

[Crankarm]

Try the Kind Of Blue album and the Somethin' Else album he did which appears under the name of Cannonball Adderley.

My own personal jury is still out on MD but those two albums are masterpieces (as much from the other musicians as from him).

I got Kinda Blue and SoS. Went through a phase of being really into it. Not so much now but occasionally I listen to it perhaps once in a blue moon.

On the few occasions I listen to jazz prefer musicians such as Oscar Peterson, Chet Baker, Art Pepper and Bossa Nova Stan Getz.

 

[Andy in Sig]

It's nothing to do with pedestals - there's plenty of his stuff I can't stand. It's to do with why anyone listening to Walkin or ESP would give a f**k if some geezer in Sigmaringen thinks "the jury's out". And no, he wasn't especially endearing, but he was often right on the money. And you might care to think a little about the racial climate in which he made his career before you get too shirty about his contempt for the white ruling classes.

It's a forum: we exchange opinions. I'm sure people who love everything MD did would discount my opinion, albeit in a slightly more well-mannered way and I would be quite happy with that. In any event, I said "my personal jury".

 

[Twenty Inch]

I don't care about fashion, opinion, or pedestals in music. My criterium is simple - does it make the hair on the back of my neck stand up (Ginsberg's definition of good poetry) and does it make me stop what I'm doing and listen?

Nick if you want to move some of those CDs, I'll come up and have a look...

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Really? Before he died, he was still apparently still weighing up the significance of Andy in Sig's contribution to Western music as well. Was it Nancy Reagan to whom he once said something along the lines of "f**k you - I've reinvented American music five times. What the f**k have you ever done, except be white?" Or it might have been someone else...

Steady on, theclaud. You don't need a career in music to be able to say what you do and don't (or might not) enjoy listening to. Personally, I don't deny that Miles Davis was a great musician, nor that he made an enormous contribution to musical history, but I can't tolerate more than about thirty seconds of his music.

 

[theclaud]

It's a forum: we exchange opinions. I'm sure people who love everything MD did would discount my opinion, albeit in a slightly more well-mannered way and I would be quite happy with that. In any event, I said "my personal jury".

I know - it was precisely the self-importance that amused me. And you're hardly in a position to lecture me on manners lately. It comes down not to taste, certainly not to instrumental virtuosity, and not to judgements about this or that album, but to the sheer scale and scope of the musical contribution. Plus, of course, one or two riffs so hip that if he'd only ever played four notes he'd still have earnt his place in the history books ten times over.

 

[theclaud]

Steady on, theclaud. You don't need a career in music to be able to say what you do and don't (or might not) enjoy listening to. Personally, I don't deny that Miles Davis was a great musician, nor that he made an enormous contribution to musical history, but I can't tolerate more than about thirty seconds of his music.

I was only recounting an anecdote, RT .

It's the opinion thang. I've no objection to people holding opinions - only to the assumption that, in themselves, they count for anything. And I reckon Andy's are fair game, because of the uniquely amusing combination of pompousness and philistinism.

 

[NickM]

Nick if you want to move some of those CDs, I'll come up and have a look...

I'll bear that in mind, TI - a cull is well overdue! Any departures would be in exchange for a donation (you choose the amount) to this charity.

Most of the collection is "classical" music, mind - and I'm not giving up any of the 13 versions of Bruckner's 8th symphony

 

[Andy in Sig]

I know - it was precisely the self-importance that amused me. And you're hardly in a position to lecture me on manners lately. It comes down not to taste, certainly not to instrumental virtuosity, and not to judgements about this or that album, but to the sheer scale and scope of the musical contribution. Plus, of course, one or two riffs so hip that if he'd only ever played four notes he'd still have earnt his place in the history books ten times over.

"My personal jury" is simply meant to be an amusing metaphor. Saying in my opinion again and again can get a bit boring. For god's sake, lighten up.

And if you are getting narked at anything that is going on in P&L, do everybody in the cafe a favour by keeping it there and not letting it spill over. There is no justification for it.

 

[theclaud]

"My personal jury" is simply meant to be an amusing metaphor. Saying in my opinion again and again can get a bit boring. For god's sake, lighten up.

And if you are getting narked at anything that is going on in P&L, do everybody in the cafe a favour by not letting it spill over. There is no justification for it.

Narked? Not in the slightest. Is there something going on that I've missed? I'm in rather a jovial mood today - I just happen to find your opinions on Miles absurd. And there is nothing as pompous and absurd as the abbreviation "IMO" (except perhaps "IMHO") so I'm very glad you're resolved to give it up .

 

[Fab Foodie]

 

[Twenty Inch]

I'll bear that in mind, TI - a cull is well overdue! Any departures would be in exchange for a donation (you choose the amount) to this charity.

Most of the collection is "classical" music, mind - and I'm not giving up any of the 13 versions of Bruckner's 8th symphony

Gladly. Let me know a time. I don't have enough classical music. Completely understand the different versions though - I have several "Stabat Maters", which however are different composers' treatment of liturgical classics, as opposed to different conductors' versions of one composer's opus. But still, a different soloist or conductor can completely change a piece of work.