Released 30 years ago
Miles Davis & Gil Evans: The Complete Columbia Studio Recordings
Miles Davis · 1996
448 min · 127 tracks · jazz
Lush orchestral arrangements intertwine with Davis's innovative trumpet lines, creating a rich tapestry of jazz and classical influences.
Top tracks — play these first
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Springsville (master) Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
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Concierto de Aranjuez (adagio) — This track exemplifies the seamless fusion of jazz and classical music, showcasing Davis's lyrical trumpet playing against a backdrop of lush orchestration that defines their collaboration.
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Bess, You Is My Woman Now — The emotional depth of this piece highlights the intricate interplay between Davis's improvisation and Evans's rich arrangements, making it a standout representation of their synergy.
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My Ship — This track features an exquisite blend of melody and harmony, demonstrating how Davis's innovative approach to phrasing can transform a standard into something profoundly moving.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
InstrumentalThis compilation highlights significant collaborations with strong orchestration and showcases the development of jazz composition.
What we noticed
- The album features a wide range of orchestral arrangements, with lush strings and brass sections that create a rich soundscape.
- The sequencing alternates between fully realized pieces and raw takes, providing insight into the creative process behind the recordings.
- Composition 25% of the score
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8/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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9/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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7/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- lush orchestral soundscapes unfold
- extended tracks for deep immersion
- expressive melodies for introspective moments
- rich textures for focused listening
Maybe skip if you
- prefer short, catchy songs
- seek high-energy party music
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Critical Peak — This compilation showcases pivotal collaborations that defined jazz orchestration.
- Themes
- orchestral jazz fusion· 1950s cool jazz· emotional brass storytelling
- Career context
- By the time this compilation was released in 1996, Miles Davis had already established himself as a pioneering figure in jazz, known for his collaborations with arranger Gil Evans. This collection showcases their groundbreaking work from the late 1950s and early 1960s, including iconic projects like 'Miles Ahead' and 'Sketches of Spain', solidifying Davis's legacy during a period of artistic experimentation.
- Stylistic neighbors
- John Coltrane· Herbie Hancock· Wayne Shorter
Tracklist
Disc 1
- 1 Springsville (master) Start here 3:27
- 2 The Maids of Cadiz (master) 3:59
- 3 The Duke (master) 3:28
- 4 My Ship (master) 4:28
- 5 Miles Ahead (master) 3:29
- 6 Blues for Pablo (master) 5:19
- 7 New Rhumba (master) 4:35
- 8 The Meaning of the Blues (master) 2:50
- 9 Lament (master) 2:16
- 10 I Don’t Wanna Be Kissed (by Anyone but You) (master) 3:07
- 11 Springsville (remake take 7) 3:16
- 12 The Maids of Cadiz (take 1) 3:57
- 13 The Duke (take 11) 3:32
- 14 My Ship (take 1) 4:23
- 15 Miles Ahead (take 4) 3:32
- 16 Blues for Pablo (take 1) 5:27
- 17 New Rhumba (take 5) 4:45
- 18 The Meaning of the Blues (rehearsal take) 2:49
- 19 Lament (rehearsal take) 2:20
- 20 I Don’t Wanna Be Kissed (by Anyone but You) (take 8) 3:11
- 21 [pause track] 0:06
Disc 2
- 1 Buzzard Song (master) 4:09
- 2 Bess, You Is My Woman Now (master) 5:12
- 3 Gone (master) 3:38
- 4 Gone, Gone, Gone (master) 2:05
- 5 Summertime (master) 3:21
- 6 Oh Bess, Oh Where’s My Bess (master) 4:31
- 7 Prayer (Oh Doctor Jesus) (master) 4:42
- 8 Fishermen, Strawberry and Devil Crab (master) 4:07
- 9 My Man’s Gone Now (master) 6:16
- 10 It Ain’t Necessarily So (master) 4:25
- 11 Here Come de Honey Man (master) 1:20
- 12 I Loves You, Porgy (master) 3:42
- 13 There’s a Boat That’s Leaving Soon for New York (master) 3:28
- 14 Gone (take 3) 3:40
- 15 Summertime (take 2) 3:19
- 16 Prayer (Oh Doctor Jesus) (take 2) 4:16
- 17 I Loves You, Porgy (take 1, second version) 4:17
- 18 There’s a Boat That’s Leaving Soon for New York (take 2) 3:41
- 19 Oh Bess, Oh Where’s My Bess (take 5) 4:22
- 20 Gone (take 4) 3:40
- 21 [pause track] 0:06
Disc 3
- 1 Concierto de Aranjuez (adagio) (master) 16:23
- 2 Will o’ the Wisp (master) 3:49
- 3 The Pan Piper (master) 3:54
- 4 Saeta (master) 5:08
- 5 Solea (master) 12:19
- 6 Song of Our Country (issued take) 3:26
- 7 Saeta (full version of master) 6:03
- 8 The Pan Piper (take 1) 3:13
- 9 Concierto de Aranjuez (adagio) (part one, alternate take) 12:05
- 10 Concierto de Aranjuez (adagio) (part two, alternate take) 3:35
- 11 Song of Our Country (take 14) 3:09
- 12 [silence] 0:06
Disc 4
- 1 Song No. 2 1:40
- 2 Once Upon a Summertime 3:27
- 3 Aos Pes da Cruz 4:19
- 4 Song No. 1 4:37
- 5 Wait Till You See Her 4:06
- 6 Corcovado 2:45
- 7 Blue Xmas 2:43
- 8 Nothing Like You 2:00
- 9 Devil May Care 3:29
- 10 The Time of the Barracudas 12:48
- 11 Falling Water (take 4) 3:45
- 12 Falling Water (take 6) 4:25
- 13 Falling Water (take 8) 4:17
- 14 Falling Water (take 9) 4:23
- 15 Springsville (take 5) 3:34
- 16 The Maids of Cadiz (take 11) 4:06
- 17 The Maids of Cadiz (take 11, insert 1) 2:38
- 18 Lament (medley: take 2) 2:37
- 19 The Duke (take 1) 3:30
- 20 I Don’t Wanna Be Kissed (by Anyone but You) (53225 issued version) 3:07
Disc 5
- 1 Springsville (rehearsal sequence) 7:01
- 2 Springsville (rehearsal with piano) 2:32
- 3 The Maids of Cadiz (take 9) 0:34
- 4 The Maids of Cadiz (take 10) 4:12
- 5 The Maids of Cadiz (rehearsal sequence) 1:27
- 6 Count Off for the Duke (take 3) 0:37
- 7 The Duke (take 8) 3:33
- 8 The Duke (piano take 3) 1:54
- 9 My Ship (take 6) 4:38
- 10 Miles Ahead (rehearsal sequence) 1:48
- 11 Miles Ahead (take 12) 3:34
- 12 Miles Ahead (take 15) 3:31
- 13 [studio discussion] 0:30
- 14 My Ship (take 7) 4:41
- 15 Miles Ahead (piano insert—mono) 3:09
- 16 Blues for Pablo (rehearsal sequence) 5:54
- 17 New Rhumba (take 2) 4:40
- 18 Lament (take 1) 2:24
- 19 I Don’t Wanna Be Kissed (by Anyone but You) (rehearsal) 2:13
- 20 I Don’t Wanna Be Kissed (by Anyone but You) (take 5) 2:58
- 21 [studio discussion] 0:35
- 22 I Don’t Wanna Be Kissed (by Anyone but You) (piano take 4) 2:58
- 23 [pause track] 0:06
Disc 6
- 1 [studio discussion] 0:21
- 2 Springsville (take 8 without overdubs) 3:36
- 3 [studio discussion] 0:08
- 4 Miles Ahead (take 11 without overdubs) 3:34
- 5 I Don’t Wanna Be Kissed (by Anyone but You) (take 3 without overdubs) 3:03
- 6 Springsville (overdub take 1) 2:10
- 7 Springsville (overdubbed solos 4–5) 2:22
- 8 Springsville (overdubbed solos 6–9) 2:34
- 9 Springsville (issued overdubbed solo) 0:29
- 10 Miles Ahead (issued overdubbed solo) 1:55
- 11 Miles Ahead (overdubbed solo) 1:36
- 12 I Don’t Wanna Be Kissed (by Anyone but You) (overdubbed solo 1) 1:05
- 13 I Don’t Wanna Be Kissed (by Anyone but You) (overdubbed solo 2) 1:27
- 14 I Don’t Wanna Be Kissed (by Anyone but You) (overdubbed solo 4) 2:06
- 15 I Don’t Wanna Be Kissed (by Anyone but You) (overdubbed solo 8) 3:06
- 16 I Don’t Wanna Be Kissed (by Anyone but You) (overdubbed solo 19 & 19C) 3:00
- 17 Miles Ahead (mono master) 3:33
- 18 Gone (rehearsal sequence) 2:55
- 19 Gone, Gone, Gone (rehearsal sequence) 2:59
- 20 [studio discussion] 0:56
- 21 Bess, You Is My Woman Now (rehearsal take) 5:00
- 22 It Ain’t Necessarily So (take 1) 3:24
- 23 Oh Bess, Oh Where’s My Bess (take 3) 3:57
- 24 I Loves You, Porgy (rehearsal sequence) 2:21
- 25 There’s a Boat That’s Leaving Soon for New York (remake) 2:25
- 26 My Man’s Gone Now (remake take) 6:16
- 27 Song of Our Country (take 9) 3:01
- 28 Concierto de Aranjuez (adagio) (rehearsal) 7:24
- 29 Concierto de Aranjuez (adagio) (alternate ending) 1:22
- 30 [pause track] 0:07
If this landed
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Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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