Given Miles Davis’ long and chameleonic career, during which the prolific trumpeter-composer-bandleader reinvented himself several times over the course of four decades, it would be easy to pick five essential albums from each sub-genre that he explored. Nevertheless, below are five absolute must-haves from his entire oeuvre.

Essential Miles Davis Albums

5

A perennial best-seller, this excursion into modal jazz with Cannonball Adderley, John Coltrane, Bill Evans, Wynton Kelly, Jimmy Cobb and Paul Chambers sets a relaxed, mesmerizing mood that carries through

from the opener “So What” to the haunting “All Blues,” the luminous “Blue in Green” and

the gentle closer “Flamenco Sketches.”

Kind of Blue (Columbia, 1959)

1

The first of three classic orchestral collaborations with composer-arranger Gil Evans. Highlights include a jaunty take on Dave Brubeck’s “The Duke,” a gorgeous

reading of Kurt Weil’s “My Ship” and Evans’ moody “Blues for Pablo” (for Picasso).

Miles Ahead (Columbia, 1957)

2

The best example of Davis’ great hard-bop quintet — featuring John Coltrane,

Red Garland, Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones — has Davis playing a lovely muted trumpet on Monk’s melancholy title track and “Bye Bye Blackbird,” and the crew

swinging on ebullient romps through Charlie Parker’s “Ah-Leu-Cha” and Tadd Dameron’s

“Tadd’s Delight.”

’Round About Midnight(Columbia, 1957)

3

The fourth album by Davis’ second classic quintet (featuring Herbie Hancock, Wayne

Shorter, Ron Carter and Tony Williams) has them collectively pushing the envelope

on adventurous fare like Shorter’s “Fall,” “Pinocchio” and the title track, Williams’ “Hand Jive” and Hancock’s “Riot” and

“Madness.”

Nefertiti (Columbia, 1968)

3 4

In a Silent Way (Columbia, 1969)

Davis opened the door to a new world where rock meets jazz on this seminal offering

that features guitarist John McLaughlin and keyboardists Joe Zawinul, Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock, all of whom would go on to have a significant impact on the fusion

movement. More atmospheric, meditative and less jarring that its more hyped successor,

Bitches Brew, this is transitional Miles swimming in some new waters.

5

5 Michael League and his eclectic band, Snarky Puppy,

hit the big time.

Puppy Love

www.jazziz.comAUGUST 2016

One year for ONLY $59.95

I’ll get:

• 4 substantial & gorgeous print magazines,

• 12 digital issues with music tracks and videos,

• 8 jazz CDs and unlimited streaming with tracks

hand selected by editors, delivered to your door

Michael League and his eclectic band, Snarky Puppy,

hit the big time.

Puppy Love

www.jazziz.comAUGUST 2016

www.jazziz.comFEBRUARY 2017

Michael League and his eclectic band, Snarky Puppy,

hit the big time.

Puppy Love

www.jazziz.comAUGUST 2016

One year for ONLY $59.95

I’ll get:

• 4 substantial & gorgeous print magazines,

• 12 digital issues with music tracks and videos,

• 8 jazz CDs and unlimited streaming with tracks

hand selected by editors, delivered to your door

Michael League and his eclectic band, Snarky Puppy,

hit the big time.

Puppy Love

www.jazziz.comAUGUST 2016

www.jazziz.comFEBRUARY 2017