Miles & Monk at Newport
Miles Davis · 1964
91 min · 13 tracks · jazz
A vibrant collision of bebop and hard bop, infused with improvisational brilliance and live energy from the Newport Jazz Festival.
Top tracks — play these first
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Ah-Leu-Cha Start here — accessible entry with immediate hook
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Straight, No Chaser — This track exemplifies the quintessential bebop sound, featuring intricate solos that reflect both Davis's and Monk's improvisational mastery. The vibrant energy captured during this performance creates a sense of spontaneity that is emblematic of live jazz.
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Bye Bye Blackbird — Davis's interpretation transforms this standard into a hauntingly beautiful exploration of melody and emotion, showcasing his ability to convey deep feeling through minimalist phrasing. The subtle interplay with the band elevates this rendition beyond a typical cover.
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Blue Monk — This track highlights Monk’s distinctive compositional style combined with Davis’s innovative approach, creating a lively atmosphere that captures the audience’s spirit. Its bluesy structure allows for extensive improvisation, illustrating the collaborative synergy between the two legends.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
InstrumentalThis album captures a vibrant live collaboration, showcasing strong improvisation and distinct jazz styles.
What we noticed
- Several tracks include extended solos that highlight the musicians' technical prowess, particularly in 'Straight, No Chaser' and 'Blue Monk'.
- The performance is punctuated by dynamic shifts in tempo and mood, creating a lively atmosphere characteristic of live jazz.
- The running order alternates between more structured pieces and free-form improvisations, maintaining listener engagement throughout.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- 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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6/10
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
- vibrant festival atmosphere captured
- extended improvisations that unfold
- dynamic interplay between musicians
- moments of reflective calmness
- upbeat tracks for social settings
Maybe skip if you
- prefer concise, standalone tracks
- seek instant gratification in music
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Critical Peak — Captures a pivotal moment in jazz history with significant artistic collaboration.
- Themes
- Newport jazz festival· bebop improvisation· cool jazz sophistication
- Career context
- Released in 1964, 'Miles & Monk at Newport' captures a pivotal moment in Miles Davis's career following his influential work on 'Kind of Blue'. This live album features collaborations with Thelonious Monk, showcasing Davis's continued evolution as a leading figure in jazz during a period marked by experimentation and genre-blending.
- Stylistic neighbors
- John Coltrane· Herbie Hancock· Wayne Shorter
Tracklist
Disc 1
- 1 Introduction 1:56
- 2 Ah-Leu-Cha Start here 5:56
- 3 Straight, No Chaser 8:50
- 4 Fran-Dance 7:11
- 5 Two Bass Hit 4:14
- 6 Bye Bye Blackbird 9:12
- 7 The Theme 2:52
Disc 2
- 1 Introduction 1:25
- 2 Criss-Cross 8:12
- 3 Light Blue 9:53
- 4 Nutty 13:51
- 5 Blue Monk 11:24
- 6 Epistrophy 6:33
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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