In A Soulful Mood - Miles Davis

Advantages: Very mellow - great Miles
Disadvantages: Makes old people fall asleep.

...This was my first intro to Miles, and I fell in love with it instantly. It's not that representative of his general style, but it is fantastic jazz, and a wonderful album. It's the ultimate seduction piece, sunday afternoon game of chess piece, and relaxing with a nice Irish and a novel piece. It's exciting, soulful, moving, sexy and schmoove. There's so much of his relaxed smoothness crystalised onto one disc here, that's it's amazing it fits into the Miles mid-price range. It's as good as The Birth. It's great. For anyone who complains that jazz is too abstract, disjointed and unmelodic, slap them firstly, then put this on. The melodies, harmonies, progressions, well known tunes and sheer loveability about this collection is stunning. My little ears perk up and then snuggle down everytime I put this on. It's probably the most... Read review

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Advantages: The epitome of its kind
Disadvantages: Too many notes and ideas for some?

...This is arguably the best album of its kind. If you have never tried anything that falls into the Jazz-rock/Fusion category from the 70's then this is where I suggest you start. Not only are there 10 tracks which average less than 5 minutes each, there is also no time for long meandering and irrelevant soloing or ego-led self indulgence. The whole album is riff driven and a supreme example of concise and meaningful guitar playing but not to the extent that the other two soloists are excluded. At times the interchange between guitar, violin and keyboards is exquisite, eg Terrestrial Celestial Commuters and throughout the drumming of Billy Cobham fairly propels the whole thing along. Generally speaking the playing is flawless but still has soul and life and not a few tunes or different moods. If you are still not convinced and fancy... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Good
Disadvantages: Bad

...Kind of Blue might have received most of the acclaim but Milestones, the recorded debut of the Miles Davis Sextet, is in the same league. This remarkable super group (featuring Davis's trumpet, tenor-saxophonist John Coltrane, altoist Cannonball Adderley, pianist Red Garland, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Philly Joe Jones) was arguably the greatest one Miles Davis ever led. "Two Bass Hit" features the two saxes trading off with fire and "Billy Boy" showcases the Red Garland trio (showing what they learned from Ahmad Jamal), but "Straight No Chaser" really demonstrates what a powerhouse band this was.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful