I just don't get him. I want to, really, but all his music sounds alike to me. A bit like Zydeco, except that Zydeco makes me want to stick meat thermometers in my ears.
Miles Davis is a bit like Marcel Proust -- I want to like them. The idea of Proust or Miles is great. But. We could add stinky cheese to the list as well. All three are huge in France, seem cool in concept, but just don't click for me.
What am I missing?
Posted by Discoshaman at novembre 21, 2005 08:53 PM | TrackBack
You need a jazz musician to answer this one. I am just a dabbler. I like listening to Davis, sometimes, I have to be in the right mood: some of his music is quite energetic and can grate if I'm feeling like winding down. But this music is good to ride to - helps to keep a quick cadence. Yet, I find some of his music to be quite chilled.
Yet you say, "all his music sounds alike to me."
...so now you've got me doubting myself...I'm going to listen to Miles.
What songs in particular are you listening to? Early or late Miles?
I'm listening to "Miles in the Sky". Well, I was, anyway. I got rid of Miles and put on some Skankin' Pickle. :)
Posted by: Discoshaman at novembre 22, 2005 01:52 AMPerhaps you could try some of his earlier stuff (no pun intended) as it is a bit more chilled whereas the cd you have can really work one up. It is a bit same-same too. I like his improvisational tunes at the right time, but I also like the 40s tracks - they're quite different. Try 'Birth of the Cool,' or 'Kind of Blue,' and compare them to 'Miles in the Sky.'
Or, you could just give up Miles altogether - no one says you HAVE to like him.
Miss-
"no one says you HAVE to like him."
Actually, our National Public Radio does. It's even in their charter. :P
Thanks for the tips!
hehe. Miles Davis is a vague notion to me, and Proust--well, Proust is the sort of thing I can't bear to read because of the company I'd be keeping. It's like reading Henry James or . . .
(James Joyce.)
Thelonius Monk, OTOH, is a don't-miss in jazz. Alone--great. The sessions with Coltrane are pretty cool, too. But I'm definitely a dilettante.
But the real reason I'm posting is the mention of cheese. Ever tried Morbiere?
Tastes like the wrong end of a stale cigar, it does. . . .
Cheers,
PGE
Miles had many differing periods of musical output. I would agree with the commenter that his early stuff is the best. In his later years he was strung-out on hard drugs and was into a jazz-fusion thing which lacked coherence.
He's popular in France because he lived there in the 60's so as to escape the racial tension in the States. Also beebop jazz was fading in the States and picking up in Europe at the time.
I would recommend Art Farmer, Charles Mingus, or Sonny Rollins for some variety. If you really want to stir the pot, listen to Dave Bruebeck's "Time Out" album.
Cheers!
PSL
Maybe we need (dans le modèle du Monty Python) a "Summarize Miles Davis Competition?"
Posted by: Roy Jacobsen at novembre 22, 2005 12:18 PM