The best of early Miles Davis, 1949-61

Jazz Library, the excellent new Friday night series on BBC Radio 3, managed to last about two months without featuring Miles, but eventually succumbed last week with a lovely programme analysing the recordings of Davis, 1949-61.

Presenter Alyn Shipton drew on the innumerable insights of fellow trumpeter Guy Barker for the discussion of the Gil Evans collaborations, and broadcaster Brian Morton for the later material. I’m already looking forward to the inevitable Jazz Library sequels covering later Miles recordings.

The Jazz Library series is a revelation - a fine intro for beginners exploring the best of the back catalogue.

You can hear this fine programme via the web until this Friday:

www.bbc.co.uk/radio3


Running order:
* All Blues
Album Complete Columbia Studio Recordings of Miles Davis and John Coltrane

* Boplicity
Album Birth of the Cool

* Blues for Pablo
Album Complete Columbia Studio Recordings of Miles Davis and Gil Evans

* Studio Discussion
Artist Miles Davis / Gil Evans
Album Complete Columbia Studio Recordings of Miles Davis and Gil Evans

* Springsville (overdub take 1)
Artist Miles Davis / Gil Davis
Album Complete Columbia Studio Recordings of Miles Davis and Gil Evans

* Bess You Is My Woman Now
Artist Miles Davis / Gil Evans
Album Complete Columbia Studio Recordings of Miles Davis and Gil Evans

* Solea
Artist Miles Davis / Gil Evans
Album Complete Columbia Studio Recordings of Miles Davis and Gil Evans

* Diner Au Motel
Album L'Ascenseur Pour L'Echafaud

* Straight No Chaser
Album Complete Columbia Studio Recordings of Miles Davis and John Coltrane

* Oleo
Artist Miles Davis
Album In Person: Friday and Saturday Nights at the Blackhawk Complete

* So What
Artist Miles Davis / Gil Evans Orchestra
Album Miles Davis at Carnegie Hall

* Some Day My Prince Will Come
Album Complete Columbia Studio Recordings of Miles Davis and John Coltrane



Gerry Smith