History in the making
Samuel Chell | Kenosha,, WI United States | 08/05/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Sonny Stitt had a brief tenure (6 months) with Miles, and the questions were: 1. How could a "classic" bebop artist possibly follow Coltrane?; 2. What did he sound like in the context of Miles' group? Thanks to this album and two other recent European releases ("Olympia 11 October 1960 Parts 1 and 2"), both questions can be answered.This is a ferocious, colossal struggle between two gladiators. Sonny exhausts but does not surpass the melodic/rhythmic bebop language of Charlie Parker on alto, and on tenor he summons up the best musical soul food of the school of Chicago Southside tenors. Always the quintessentially "vertical" player, Sonny locks into the time and repeatedly returns to the tonic note before each new foray. Compared to his other recordings, Miles overplays, demonstrating a fiery virtuosity and fervor uncharacteristic of him. As he mentions in his autobiography, he frequently complained about Sonny's playing during this period, and on these recordings it's apparent he's trying to take Sonny to the cleaners, purging him of his bebop attachments. But Sonny will have none of it. He fights back with his total harmonic/melodic/rhythmic arsenal, always bringing the listener back to a recognition of the original tune that Miles' atonality had momentarily erased from memory.The recordings with Coltrane are not as essential because this period has been so amply documented elsewhere. But for listeners not in possession of the recordings by Miles and Coltrane on Prestige and Columbia, the Coltrane/Stitt contrast is brought into a sharp focus by this album, which is a stunning display of opposing styles, concepts, traditions as well as a demonstration of why a questing Miles would eventually find the Shorter-Hancock quintet a new grail of sorts."
Masterpiece
MDC | 12/10/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a 4 disc compilation of recordings of the Miles Davis tour on two nights, months apart in 1960. The first is March 22nd; the second October 13. I tell you the dates because there are other records of this tour, such as the "Live in den Haag". This would not be duplicative of such albumes. The only difference in personel as to the shows is the tenor sax which on the first night includes John Coltrane; the second is Sonny Stitt. There is also some additional material; a short but insightful recording of an interview of John Coltrane.
If you are reading this review you are not the average Jazz fan. I can honestly say the music is sublime. Across the board Coltrane, Davis and yes the keyboardist Wynton Kelley are fantastic.
On the discs that Stitt plays, you can hear Davis being more assertive. One can conjecture that it occured to fill the void created by Coltrane's absence.
It is an expensive recording to get. However, I am assuming that if you are even looking you are a big fan. It is well worth it.
If you are a little concerned about price, then the Live in den Haag single disc album offers you a fairly good alternative. I would recomend that you ideally get both. Yes, it's that good."
Track Listings (6) - Disc #1
