I heard Mile's band with Trane, Philly Joe and Paul Chambers at Jazz City, in Hollywood around 1959. Red Garland wouldn't fly. always drove and got hung up in Texas visiting his relatives. At one point, Philly was nodding on the stand, still playing, Miles looked over and yelled, "Wake up MutherFu****." Philly sprang back to life and didn't miss a beat. There were only 4 people in the club; my friend Dave, I and others across the room. During a break, Miles sat down at our table, wearing shaded, and stared at us for 15 minutes, he never said a word and at the end of the break, went back on stage to play. Maynard Ferguson's big band was across the street at Peacock Alley and the room was full.
“Jones had a special rim shot that he liked to hit immediately after a Miles solo: it became known around jazz as a Philly lick. Soon, other musicians began asking their drummers for it, too.” - is this actually a thing?
Grabbing this book! As a huge jazz head and jazz singer I was turned on to these guys as a child. Miles was my first concert. Great post. I never knew they had this sort of oil and water situation in the beginning. Thank you for this!
I still have the album 'Used to be Duke' by the Johnny Hodges band featuring John Coltrane on Tenor Sax. My understanding is that Coltrane loved Hodges style and Hodges took him under his wing.
I think Hodges broke up the band to go back with Ellington (most of the band were ex Ellington)
Clearly Coltrane had a pretty straight ahead style at this stage, certainly not the style we have come to expect.
Coltrane's ballad album was my path to appreciating Coltrane. He was such a good ballad player, a very tender approach to the songs, unhurried, very much in the moment, and sensitively backed by Tyner, Garrison and Jones.
I was too. I was 7 at the time. Could have been at either movie house, The Grand or the Landis on either end of Landis Ave. I agree, very improbable place for Trane to usher in the New Year.
Not much a jazz aficionado so feel a bit out of place here. My collection of jazz albums is limited but Kind of Blue is so good it is immediately seen as a premier disc of any genre. Appreciate this article.
I heard Mile's band with Trane, Philly Joe and Paul Chambers at Jazz City, in Hollywood around 1959. Red Garland wouldn't fly. always drove and got hung up in Texas visiting his relatives. At one point, Philly was nodding on the stand, still playing, Miles looked over and yelled, "Wake up MutherFu****." Philly sprang back to life and didn't miss a beat. There were only 4 people in the club; my friend Dave, I and others across the room. During a break, Miles sat down at our table, wearing shaded, and stared at us for 15 minutes, he never said a word and at the end of the break, went back on stage to play. Maynard Ferguson's big band was across the street at Peacock Alley and the room was full.
This was an instant purchase. Can’t wait to put it in my reading slot.
Forever after Philly Joe's tenure as drummer, Miles would never hire another without Joe's approval.
Even Tony Williams!
Historical jazz of biblical importance, the Kind of Blue backstory never gets old.
I was born in Vineland NJ some years later. I can hardly imagine a jazz venue in my hometown…
“Jones had a special rim shot that he liked to hit immediately after a Miles solo: it became known around jazz as a Philly lick. Soon, other musicians began asking their drummers for it, too.” - is this actually a thing?
Grabbing this book! As a huge jazz head and jazz singer I was turned on to these guys as a child. Miles was my first concert. Great post. I never knew they had this sort of oil and water situation in the beginning. Thank you for this!
Fire & ice indeed!
Very interesting article.
I still have the album 'Used to be Duke' by the Johnny Hodges band featuring John Coltrane on Tenor Sax. My understanding is that Coltrane loved Hodges style and Hodges took him under his wing.
I think Hodges broke up the band to go back with Ellington (most of the band were ex Ellington)
Clearly Coltrane had a pretty straight ahead style at this stage, certainly not the style we have come to expect.
Coltrane's ballad album was my path to appreciating Coltrane. He was such a good ballad player, a very tender approach to the songs, unhurried, very much in the moment, and sensitively backed by Tyner, Garrison and Jones.
What a beautiful taste of jazz esoterica! Thanks for the intro to Kaplan's new book.
OK, back to work....
I was too. I was 7 at the time. Could have been at either movie house, The Grand or the Landis on either end of Landis Ave. I agree, very improbable place for Trane to usher in the New Year.
I have to dust off my original 6 eye purchased newl
The drummer I liked best with Miles was Jimmy Cobb.
Just bought it
Not much a jazz aficionado so feel a bit out of place here. My collection of jazz albums is limited but Kind of Blue is so good it is immediately seen as a premier disc of any genre. Appreciate this article.
Man, what a great story.