Is Miles Davis the greatest ever? (jazz, rock, cd, albums)

doliphante · 12-24-2004, 12:23 PM

He is one of the greats but not neccessarily the greatist...That would be a hard one to call with so many candidates around to choose from...

Peter B · 01-09-2005, 12:46 AM

Miles was, in my opinion, the best leader. He hired formidable musicians (often totally unknown pre-Miles) and let them play however they liked, with minimal direction on his part.
I have talked with some guys who worked with Miles (John McLaughlin, John Schofield, Dave Liebman) and they all said that although Miles instructions were minimal, they were always very pertinent. (Apparently during the Bitches Brew session all he ever told Chick Corea was "That's too much Chick" or "That's not enough Chick")

But was Miles the greatest jazz player ever ? Once you get to that standard of playing you can name a top hundred players OK, but putting them in any order of excellence would be tough. Miles was a much better trumpet player than a lot of pedants might have given him credit for, but he always took risks so sometimes you hear a fluffed note or two. So what ?

The Miles Davis discography is huge, and so many styles are explored that most people find something they like. (However my friend's uncle threw out all his Miles vinyl records when Bitches Brew came out and never listened to him again - some people take stuff far too seriously !)

jazzlover28 · 02-13-2005, 06:40 PM

I wouldn't go so far as to say Miles was the greatest, to quote an earlier post he was one of the greatest. He could probably be credited for bringing the smooth sound to jazz, comparing him to Coltrane and Bird, who were great themselves.

hookers with machineguns · 03-24-2005, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jazzlover28

I wouldn't go so far as to say Miles was the greatest, to quote an earlier post he was one of the greatest. He could probably be credited for bringing the smooth sound to jazz, comparing him to Coltrane and Bird, who were great themselves.

I like Miles Davis a bit better than Bird or Coltrane (not taking anything away from them). Gotta also mention Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong.

jazzlover28 · 03-26-2005, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hookers with machineguns

I like Miles Davis a bit better than Bird or Coltrane (not taking anything away from them). Gotta also mention Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong.

I'll go with on the Duke...one of the best. I just purchased Jazz Moods by Miles, have to admit it didn't make me want to hit the repeat button.

Ma Cherie · 03-24-2005, 02:15 PM

B.B King personally, but the choice it up to everybody not just me

Betty's Blonde · 04-20-2005, 03:05 AM

I don't see how you can say one musician can be greater than another when the styles and instruments played are different. Miles was great trumpet player and jazz man he schooled and influenced lots of great jazz musicians. If it wasn't for him Weather Report, Return to Forever, et al would not sound the same as they do (and they all didn't play trumpet); but they would still be great jazz musicians because they have the passsion. I love Miles' music to bits, but his he the greateast? I don't know. Maybe I'm yet to hear the greatest until someone else beomes greater.

Betty's Blonde · 04-20-2005, 03:19 AM

It wasn't so much a blues album but a track off an album: Red House by Jimi Hendrix off of Are You Experienced. back in the late 60s early 70s.

~~hiu~~ · 05-18-2005, 10:28 PM

Kind of Blue is an outstanding album, John Coltrane, Bill Evans, Paul Chambers, Jimmy Cobb, Julian Adderley and Miles himself one of the best combinations of great musicians ever put together. I can't say he is THE greatest ever in terms of musicial ability but in terms of influence and enjoyment he is top.

PhishFood · 08-03-2005, 08:58 PM

If theres already a thread here, then he deserves another. Davis is one of the greatest. Birth of cool is one of the best Jazz album I have listened to.

03-24-2005, 02:15 PM	#6 (permalink)
Ma Cherie The Forums Sadistic Ghost Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: beyond midnight, in the abyss of time, the syren in the night Posts: 457	B.B King personally, but the choice it up to everybody not just me __________________ I'm not a freak on a leash, I'm just the freak holding the leash. http://www.myspace.com/yukiko_mori

08-03-2005, 08:58 PM	#10 (permalink)
PhishFood Bottom-Feeder Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: The American Dreamscape Posts: 316	Miles Davis If theres already a thread here, then he deserves another. Davis is one of the greatest. Birth of cool is one of the best Jazz album I have listened to. __________________ Winos don't march

12-24-2004, 12:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
doliphante Groupie Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Denver Posts: 4	He is one of the greats but not neccessarily the greatist...That would be a hard one to call with so many candidates around to choose from...

01-09-2005, 12:46 AM	#2 (permalink)
Peter B Groupie Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 2	Miles was, in my opinion, the best leader. He hired formidable musicians (often totally unknown pre-Miles) and let them play however they liked, with minimal direction on his part. I have talked with some guys who worked with Miles (John McLaughlin, John Schofield, Dave Liebman) and they all said that although Miles instructions were minimal, they were always very pertinent. (Apparently during the Bitches Brew session all he ever told Chick Corea was "That's too much Chick" or "That's not enough Chick") But was Miles the greatest jazz player ever ? Once you get to that standard of playing you can name a top hundred players OK, but putting them in any order of excellence would be tough. Miles was a much better trumpet player than a lot of pedants might have given him credit for, but he always took risks so sometimes you hear a fluffed note or two. So what ? The Miles Davis discography is huge, and so many styles are explored that most people find something they like. (However my friend's uncle threw out all his Miles vinyl records when Bitches Brew came out and never listened to him again - some people take stuff far too seriously !)

02-13-2005, 06:40 PM	#3 (permalink)
jazzlover28 Groupie Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 10	I wouldn't go so far as to say Miles was the greatest, to quote an earlier post he was one of the greatest. He could probably be credited for bringing the smooth sound to jazz, comparing him to Coltrane and Bird, who were great themselves.

04-20-2005, 03:05 AM	#7 (permalink)
Betty's Blonde Groupie Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 11	I don't see how you can say one musician can be greater than another when the styles and instruments played are different. Miles was great trumpet player and jazz man he schooled and influenced lots of great jazz musicians. If it wasn't for him Weather Report, Return to Forever, et al would not sound the same as they do (and they all didn't play trumpet); but they would still be great jazz musicians because they have the passsion. I love Miles' music to bits, but his he the greateast? I don't know. Maybe I'm yet to hear the greatest until someone else beomes greater.

04-20-2005, 03:19 AM	#8 (permalink)
Betty's Blonde Groupie Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 11	It wasn't so much a blues album but a track off an album: Red House by Jimi Hendrix off of Are You Experienced. back in the late 60s early 70s.

05-18-2005, 10:28 PM	#9 (permalink)
~~hiu~~ Account Disabled Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 1,174	Kind of Blue is an outstanding album, John Coltrane, Bill Evans, Paul Chambers, Jimmy Cobb, Julian Adderley and Miles himself one of the best combinations of great musicians ever put together. I can't say he is THE greatest ever in terms of musicial ability but in terms of influence and enjoyment he is top.