Is Miles Smiles a good place to start with Miles Davis?

Yes, Miles Smiles is recommended as a starting point for new Miles Davis listeners. An adventurous blend of modal jazz with intricate improvisations and rhythmic interplay, showcasing a search for new sonic landscapes. Miles Smiles is the sixth studio album released by Miles Davis, marking a pivotal moment in his career as he transitioned into more experimental jazz forms. Following the groundbreaking 'Kind of Blue,' this album featured his second great quintet, solidifying their collective identity just after their formation in the mid-1960s.

Who is Miles Smiles for?

Miles Smiles works well if you're into steady progression through improvisation, thoughtful exploration of soundscapes and ideal for focused listening sessions.

How many songs are on Miles Smiles?

Miles Smiles has 6 tracks, running approximately 41 minutes.

Miles Smiles

Miles Davis · 1967

41 min · 6 tracks · jazz

An adventurous blend of modal jazz with intricate improvisations and rhythmic interplay, showcasing a search for new sonic landscapes.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Footprints — This track stands out for its haunting melody and complex rhythm, highlighting the quintet's ability to weave intricate improvisations around a simple harmonic structure.
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Freedom Jazz Dance — Notable for its energetic groove and interplay, this track showcases the quintet’s skill at blending hard bop with freer forms of jazz.
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Orbits Start here — This opener sets the tone for the album with its dynamic shifts and layered textures, encapsulating the experimental spirit of the entire record.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental

79 /100

Summit

Higher than 99% of albums we've rated

Miles Smiles showcases complex improvisation and modal jazz, solidifying its place in the genre's evolution.

What we noticed

The album features extended improvisations, with each track often exceeding six minutes, allowing for deep exploration of themes.
Tracks frequently shift between collective ensemble playing and individual solos, creating a dynamic interplay among musicians.
Modal structures dominate the compositions, with less reliance on traditional chord progressions, encouraging spontaneous creativity.

Composition 25% of the score: 8/10
Craft 20% of the score: 9/10
Durability 25% of the score: 8/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 6/10

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

steady progression through improvisation
thoughtful exploration of soundscapes
ideal for focused listening sessions
intricate interplay of musicianship

Maybe skip if you

prefer straightforward, catchy tunes
seek fast-paced, energetic music

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Experimental — Represents a shift toward more avant-garde jazz, pushing boundaries of the genre.
Themes: avant-garde improvisation· modal exploration· 1960s jazz innovation
Moods: Focus· Intense
Career context: Miles Smiles is the sixth studio album released by Miles Davis, marking a pivotal moment in his career as he transitioned into more experimental jazz forms. Following the groundbreaking 'Kind of Blue,' this album featured his second great quintet, solidifying their collective identity just after their formation in the mid-1960s.
Stylistic neighbors: John Coltrane· Herbie Hancock· Wayne Shorter