Concord Music Group has released: The Very Best Of The Miles Davis Quintet - New Release Review

It's curious to listen to this recording of the incredible Miles Davis with John Coltrane and Red Garland and just let the music sink in. To think of how fresh most of it sounds and clean and uncommercial it really is. This quintet really set the bar for what was to come of one of the branches of the original blues. Containing 10 tracks, this recording touches on a number of different approaches that Miles and company were exploring. The opening track, Ellington's Just Squeeze Me, is one cool groove where Davis explores different melodic phases on a basic theme... keeping it simple and in my mind thereby really leading the pack. This song hits on the essence of what made Miles so great and he Garland and Coltrane play it beautifully. Another extremely strong track is Thelonious Monks 'Round Midnight. Miles had such a deep understanding and feeling of just exactly when to play and when to leave air. My Funny Valentine is another such track with Miles leading the way but give plenty of room for Garland and Coltrane to express. Unlike later Davis performances where bass players had a predominant role and even lead lines, Chambers plays beautifully articulated bass lines under the melody. Another track, You're My Everything again emphasizes the Quintet's control of of a basic melodic line and the multiple themes on a basic concept.

This is a nice early slice of Miles from the 50's and his ability to attract the absolute best talent throughout his career.
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Funky Tonk - Miles Davis

Michael Henderson (born in Yazoo City, Mississippi, 7 July 1951) is an American bass guitarist and vocalist best known for his bass playing with Miles Davis in the early 1970s, on early fusion albums such as A Tribute to Jack Johnson, Pangaea, and Live-Evil.
He was one of the first notable bass guitarists of the fusion era as well as being one of the most influential jazz and soul musicians of the past 40 years. In addition to Davis, he has played and recorded with Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, the Dramatics, Doctor John and many other famous artists. He is considered to be one of the three greatest Motown bass guitarists, along with Bob Babbitt and his primary influence, James Jamerson.

Before working with Davis, Henderson had been touring with Stevie Wonder, whom he met at the Regal Theater in Chicago while warming up for a gig. Davis saw the young Henderson performing at the Copacabana in New York City in early 1970 and reportedly said to Wonder simply "I'm takin' your bass player."
After almost seven years with Davis, Henderson focused on songwriting and singing in a solo career that produced many hit songs and albums for Arista Records until his retirement in 1986. Although known primarily for ballads, he was an influential funk player whose riffs and songs have been widely covered. His solo recordings have sold well over one million albums.[citation needed] A track titled "Wide Receiver" on an album of the same name is highly favored by breakdancers.[1] The album was reissued by Superbird (UK) in November 2010 and a compilation titled The Best of Michael Henderson features the "Wide Receiver" song.
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Worried Life Blues - Robben Ford

Robben Ford (born December 16, 1951 is an American blues, jazz and rock guitarist.
Ford was born in Woodlake, California, United States, but raised in Ukiah, California, and began playing the saxophone at age 10, picking up the guitar at age 13. Robben and his brothers Mark (harmonica) and Patrick Ford (drums) had a band they named the Charles Ford Blues Band in honor of their father.

Ford began playing professionally at age 18 when the Charles Ford Blues Band got a gig backing Charlie Musselwhite. The band also recorded two albums The Charles Ford Band and Discovering the Blues. Next Ford put together a band with Bay Area musicians that became Jimmy Witherspoon's backup band. Ford recorded two albums with Witherspoon, Live and Spoonful'. The Ford Blues Band reunites periodically, and released live albums in the 1980s and 1990s.

In the 1970s, Ford began
to branch out into jazz fusion, and joined L.A. Express, led by saxophonist Tom Scott in 1974. That same year they backed George Harrison on his American tour. In addition to recording fusion albums, they served as Joni Mitchell's backup band on Hissing of Summer Lawns and her live album, Miles of Aisles.

After leaving L.A. Express in 1976, Ford recorded his solo album, The Inside Story with a band that was to become the Yellowjackets. He went on to play a starring role on the first two Yellowjackets albums, although he was listed as a guest artist due to recording contract arrangements. In 1982, Robben was just one of many guitarists who played and recorded for KISS's album Creatures of the Night, playing the lead guitar on two songs "Rock And Roll Hell" and "I Still Love You". Gene Simmons had asked Robben to join KISS, however Robben declined stating he was more than happy to play and record for KISS but "couldn't see himself in a band situation performing all over America and the world accordingly". KISS went on to hire Vinnie Vincent and as their new lead guitarist and tour in support of Creatures of the Night.

Ford worked briefly with Miles Davis in 1986; he can be heard on Davis' Montreux box set. Ford released his next album, called Talk to Your Daughter in 1988, a return to his blues roots. In 1989 he joined Philippe Saisse, Marcus Miller and J.T. Lewis in the cast of The Sunday Night Band for the second and final season of the acclaimed late-night NBC television musical performance program, Sunday Night. His best work in the 1990s includes Robben Ford and the Blue Line, and Tiger Walk. In addition to recording and touring with his own blues band, Ford continued to tour and play with other bands/artists such as Jing Chi (his fusion band), Gregg Allman and Phil Lesh. He has received nominations for four Grammy Awards.
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Hannibal - Miles Davis

Is it blues? It's damn fine music!

Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926 – September 28, 1991) was an American trumpeter, bandleader, and composer.

Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz, hard bop, modal jazz, and jazz fusion. Many well-known musicians rose to prominence as members of Davis' ensembles, including saxophonists Gerry Mulligan, John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, George Coleman, Wayne Shorter, Dave Liebman, Branford Marsalis and Kenny Garrett; trombonist J. J. Johnson; pianists Horace Silver, Red Garland, Wynton Kelly, Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock, Joe Zawinul, Chick Corea, Keith Jarrett and Kei Akagi; guitarists John McLaughlin, Pete Cosey, John Scofield and Mike Stern; bassists Paul Chambers, Ron Carter, Dave Holland, Marcus Miller and Darryl Jones; and drummers Elvin Jones, Philly Joe Jones, Jimmy Cobb, Tony Williams, Billy Cobham, Jack DeJohnette, and Al Foster.

On October 7, 2008, his album Kind of Blue, released in 1959, received its fourth platinum certification from the RIAA, signifying sales of 4 million copies. Miles Davis was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. Davis was noted as "one of the key figures in the history of jazz".

On November 5, 2009, Rep. John Conyers of Michigan sponsored a measure in the US House of Representatives to recognize and commemorate the album Kind of Blue on its 50th anniversary. The measure also affirms jazz as a national treasure and "encourages the United States government to preserve and advance the art form of jazz music." It passed, unanimously, with a vote of 409–0 on December 15, 2009.