Yea, once he released Kind of Blue, he basically was able to have total creative freedom going into the next two decades with CBS records. I mean, there were classics before it, like Milestones, Miles Ahead, Round Midnight. But after Kind of Blue, he couldn't miss. He became an artist so to speak.
Hi Kenny! Oh my friend, when I see your passion I realize that it is the same as mine, years spent playing the trumpet; good thing guys like you exist, keep going... always great, great things for you, bye Roby
Great ranking, here my top 10: 1) Pangaea (1975) 2) Agharta (1975) 3) On The Corner (1972) 4) Get Up With It (1974) 5) Bitches Brew (1970) 6) Live/Evil (1971) 7) Jack Johnson (1971) 8) Big Fun (1974) 9) Dark Magus (1977) 10) In A Silent Way (1969)
Mr. Kenny, Thanks for mentioning “The Sorcerer”! I asked for your opinion on a previous video and you let me know I wasn’t alone in loving that recording! Peace and love!
1 Kind of Blue 2 Sketches of Spain 3 Porgy & Bess 4 Bitches Brew 5 In a Silent Way 6 Miles Smiles ✌🏽 I love his entire catalog, but these 6 are my constants.
This is a great list. It is really hard to narrow it down to just ten. Here is mine 1. Kind of blue 2. Sketches of Spain 3. ESP 4. In A Silent Way 5. Bitches Brew 6. Birth Of The Cool 7. Nefertiti 8. Relaxin 9. Get Up With It 10. Pangea
Miles is one of my favorite artists in any genre. Such a wealth of diverse material. Bob Dylan is the only other artist like that for me, albeit in a different way. Ranking my 10 favorite Miles albums according to how often I spin them? 1. Kind Of Blue 2. Sketches Of Spain 3. Working With The Miles Davis Quintet 4. A Tribute To Jack Johnson 5. Big Fun 6. Bitches Brew 7. In A Silent Way 8. Walkin' 9. Milestones 10. On The Corner
Two comments: 1) As of today (takes always change), among my top 5 Miles albums are Relaxin’ (with Trane), Seven Steps to Heaven (with outstanding George Coleman), ESP, Nefertiti, and of course, the revolutionary modal Kind of Blue. 2) It’s important to note that in the catalogue of the second classic quintet, a majority of the tunes on those albums were written (and soon became jazz classics) by Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock.
So true, Wayne Shorter was a key factor in the success of The Jazz Messengers, Miles Davis, Weather Report not to mention as a leader on his own albums. Your top 5 is great 👍 👌
Kenny great stuff. I agree on Bitches Brew. It was the album that got me hooked on jazz. I knew it was special, i was driving and listening to it, i noticed i was concentrating so hard on the music it was distracing my driving. Love the intensity of it! Thanks for all you do, always enjoy your videos!
Kenny, you valiantly tried to do the impossible! Miles Davis is my “go to” playlist. Thank you for recommending the “In A Silent Way” album as a more tame example of fusion. I really liked the track “It’s About That Time.” Keep up the great work you do. Very enjoyable.
Great job K. I can't argue with your picks. On any given day I'd add the Evans collaborations. Mile's career is so amazing and he's had a profound effect on me, especially during difficult periods of my life. If I had to pick a top ten today, in no particular order - Miles Davis & The Modern Jazz Giants (The Complete Session) Kind Of Blue Filles De Kilimanjaro In A Silent Way Miles Smiles Milestones Bitches Brew Star People We Want Miles A Tribute To Jack Johnson. This could easily change tomorrow.
ESP is my favorite album of any artist of all time. Thing is, all of the songs were written by Carter and Shorter. When I discovered that, it set me on a path to loving their music as much or more than Miles.
Thanks for this insight. It will help me decide on the next Miles Davis titles to add to my growing collection. Based on what I don't have and what you like, my next albums should be: A Tribute to Jack Johnson; Sorcerer; Porgy and Bess; Cookin' With the Miles Davis Quintet; Steamin' With the Miles Davis Quintet. The rest of your top 10 is already in my collection, although I am planning on adding the UHQR of Kind of Blue to go along with my SACD copies (original release and the mofi one).
Great review: you nailed it. I agree, the cut Miles is my favorite Miles song of all time. The only thing we disagree on is Bitches Brew. I tried so hard to like it, but just never got into it. Keep up the great work on your channel.
awesome video kenny!! very helpful and insightful at a time when i'm getting more and more into the fusion miles especially. it's incredible and hardly aged in the slightest
What a great rundown of Miles Davis' albums. I have tried so hard, but I cannot seem to connect with Bitches Brew. It really bothers me I don't appreciate it more. The beauty about Miles is he had such distinct phases....he never sat still. He left us with a tremendous catalogue. Kenny, thank you for your channel.....I find your analysis and commentary to be first class.
Hi Kenny. When you mentioned Gil Evans, I remembered he was good, but not my favorite arranger. I just ran a Perplexity Pro search and realized that Miles never worked with my favorite, Claus Ogerman. My favorites by Ogerman are the Jobim instrumentals, Bill Evans and Symphony Orchestra, and the first cut from Bill Evans "Symbiosis". I can't help but to wonder what an Ogerman-orchestrated "Sketches of Spain" would have sounded like. Cheers buddy!
I think that Miles Davis work with Gil Evans was exceptional. My favorite Antonio Carlos Jobim album with Claus Ogerman is the excellent "urubu" album.
@@kennysaudiophilerecordreviews Ah, good catch. I forgot that one. I have the CD. As much as I love Ogerman, my favorite Jobim albums are "Elis and Tom" and "Passarim".
@@kennysaudiophilerecordreviews Hoo RAH! Passarim is gorgeous. I tried to learn a vocal and guitar cover of the title cut (one of Almir Chediak's Brazilian guitar by tabs books), but it has more chords than probably all of the other songs put together. My other favorite cut on the album is "Brasil Nativo" ... maybe because of how the arrangement had Danilo singing the high pitched vocal melody, while the female chorus was singing counter-point at a lower pitch. Regarding 'Elis and Tom' ... back in the mid to late 70's, I remember Leonard Feather once saying that he thought 'The Waters of March" was the most perfect 'pop song' in the world. UA-cam has a video of the version that made it to the album under "Elis Regina & Tom Jobim - "Aguas de Março" - 1974". About 20 years ago, I remember asking a Brazilian guitarist after his gig what was his favorite bossa album, and without hesitation, "Elis and Tom" came tumbling out of his lips. While Elis was a fantastic singer and Jobim was a great song-writer, he was not a great singer or particularly gifted technician on the keyboards ... but the purity, honesty, and integrity of his art puts mondern pitch corrected, auto-tuned drivel to shame. Gotta run teach an English class, and the kids want to learn to sing the English version of Yoasobi's "Idol". I wonder when they will catch on as to why this song is never performed live, even native speakers of English. Cheers from Japan Kenny!
great stuff as always, Kenny! i focus on a lot of the 2nd quintet (sorcerer is also my fave!) & electric period stuff, so i’m appreciating some of the earlier recs to check out as well
Great list! My list is different but that's okay that's the beauty of Miles IMO is his huge amount of recorded work. Here's my top ten 10) Star People 9) Steamin With The Miles Davis 8) Milestones 7) Miles Smiles 6) A Tribute To Jack Johnson 5) Bitches Brew 4) In A Silent Way 3) Nerfetiti 2) Sketches Of Spain 1) Get Up With It A bit different of a list but these are the records that touched the most. I didnt include live albums because that deserves a separate list IMO
Hi Kenny - I really enjoy your videos. Today is my birthday and this is a great gift to wake up to! And a focus on Miles is a nice birthday bonus! Peace.
Bitches Brew is #1. Jack Johnson is in my top 5 too. Agharta/Pangea would be in my top ten, a fitting end to what was started on Bitches Brew. Another favorite of mine not mentioned is Friday and Saturday Night at the Blackhawk.
What I find most interesting about one of the things that Miles mentioned in his autobiography, is that after his death they would open up the vaults. That's exactly what they have done. In getting quite a few of Miles' box sets of : In A Silent Way Box, Bitches Brew Box, Jack Johnson Box, and On the Corner Box, one realizes there was so much more that could have been on each of those records. I could see why Miles was upset at Teo sometimes. Those albums and more could have been better, had they not jumbled the songs up on multiple albums and put them in the proper contextual order. In A Silent Way: Should have included (Ascent, Splashdown, Ghetto Walk), and not duplicated a couple tracks. Jack Johnson: Should have included (Duran, The Mask, Honky Tonk) On the Corner: Should have included (Red China Blues, On the Corner (take 4), Ife, Billy Preston) Bitches Brew : They actually released other tracks from Bitches Brew (Double Image) which are taken from those sessions. To me the Bitches Brew Sessions is our "We are the world" moment, Miles bringing in all these musicians from around the world for that great musical project. I liked Pangea, Man with the Horn, We want Miles and Get Up with It.
Thank you for your excellent comments about Miles Davis and his content, particularly the sessions box sets and the greatness that they have to offer. It makes you wonder what they have to offer in terms of additional content with the rest of his great catalog.
@@kennysaudiophilerecordreviews Great review and I agree with your top ten albums by Miles. Yea, hopefully they don't stop with box sets from the Miles estate. It's like they release one every few years. "Miles is the gift that keeps on giving." J. DeJohnette
Of the studio albums I listen to Filles de Kilimanjaro most frequently. A transitional record (the second great quintet on some tunes with Chick Corea and Dave Holland replacing Hancock & Carter on some) it includes some absolutely marvelous soloing from Wayne Shorter.
Hi, I just discovered your channel. It's great! Thank you for your work and insights! My personal favourite from Miles is "In a Silent Way." I first listened to that album while visiting Tokyo in 2005. I was listening to "Ascent" while on the elevated rail going through the different neighbourhoods. It was an otherworldly experience.
It's a mark of the breadth and depth of the artist that you can give a top 10, mention about another dozen albums, and there can still be yet more masterpieces unmentioned, for instance Filles de Kilimanjaro (albeit not in my top 10 either). Sketches of Spain number 1 for me., with Jack Johnson a close second; though Spanish Key is perhaps my favourite single track.
The 3 I listen to most are 3) Dark Magus 2) Different Kind of Blue 1) We Want Miles. I know that We Want Miles is considered after his "great" bands, I just love that album :)
Like you, said, it's virtually impossible to select Miles' greats records in a Top 10, I already see you elected 'Sorcerer', from 1967, is a cornerstone album, and my favorite from his Second Quintet. So If I may I'm gonna give it a try, and write this before even watching your list: (mine is in no order/no rank): 1- Sorcerer 2- ESP 3- Miles Smiles 4 -Nefertiti 5- Kind of Blue 6 - On The Corner 7 - Workin' (but I could've easily picked 'Cookin', Steamin' or Relaxin'...) 8 - In A Silent Way 9 - Seven Steps to Heaven 10 - Milestones Having written that, there are many more that I'd like to give a shout out to one I discovered recently and which I gotta say is so far the greatest live jazz album I ever heard: 'In Person - the Complete Live At The Black Hawk'. I was stunned not only by the band chemistry, but also the recording quality, listening w/ phones you can hear every single note from P.C.'s bass lies and solos w/ perfect clarity, same thing w/ Wynton Kelly's piano (bass and piano usually suffer in clarity on 'vintage' jazz albums), plus I gotta say Hank Mobley was one greatly underrated player, I don't know why Miles wasn't excited w/ his sound, he was a phenomenal player, a perfect mix of chops, melody and swing, always playing for the song, w/ a beautiful rounded tone.
I must confess, I really like Miles In The Sky. I love how the band incorporates electric piano and bass in "Stuff", very much a foreshadowing of things to come. However, my favorite 2nd Quintet recording is Live at the Plugged Nickel Chicago. Both of those albums are somewhere in my top 10. My #1 Miles album? Hard to say. I'll take inspiration from your #1 and go with the fusion era, and Jack Johnson.
Having been born in 1960 as well, I learned about Miles a lot later in life than yourself. My first Miles experience was "Bitches Brew" and that was only b/c my cousin (Five years older than me) owned a copy and I found the cover fascinating (The music, not so much). My late brother-in-law, however, was a HUGE MD fan. He may have owned every release by MD... Maybe. Actually, it was his love for Miles that got me listening. Side note: I was more a Maynard Ferguson and Freddie Hubbard disciple ( Ya know, stratospheric players). That said here are my top ten. 1. Kind of Blue. 2. Miles Ahead Plus 19. 3. Someday My Prince will come. 4. Blue Haze. 5. Musings of Miles. 6. In a Silent Way. 7. Bitches Brew. 8. You're Under Arrest. 9. Milestones. 10. Live at Filmore. BTW, this may be the first time I disagree with you on a few of your top 10 selections. IMO!
I got into Miles thru Kind of Blue so it is number one on my list. I like them all but if I had to pick 10 it would probably be fusion heavy. thks Kenny
Good list! For me I would move On the Corner into the top 10, when I heard it I truly realized what a genius Miles was. You will have to let us know what you think of the Jack Johnson Sessions - very curious as Jack Johnson is one my top favourite albums.
@TheGOAT-j9u Nope. It was recorded during the 'Bitches Brew' sessions, as I said. I think it's better than 'Bitches Brew'. With Ron Carter, Tony Williams, Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter- a slamming quintet! (Dave Holland and Chick Correa play on a couple jams on side 2...
Given the quality of the albums left out here,a top 20 would have been more manageable,but hey,it's a top 10 pick,excellent!Also noting that 'Birth of the Cool' is technically a collection.
As usual Kenny another Home Run, at least I have 3 of your top ten, but "Bitches Brew" WOW!...I found out that all the Jazz Fusion guys I was listening to at that time in the early, and mid 70's played on this record...This album turned me upside down on my head!...It was mind boggling, and, ear opening!...This has nothing to do with Miles, but in a sense it does...Have you ever listened to Jerry Garcia's, and David Grisman's acoustic versions of "'Milestones" and "So What"...Good Stuff!...Also, Eddie Jefferson's vocal versions of "So What" and his off the wall trippy version of "Bitches Brew" not the easiest tune to put words to...Thanks again.
1 Bitches Brew 2 In a Silent Way 3 Tribute to Jack Johnson 4 Water Babies 5 BLACK Beauty 6 Big Fun 7 Live Evil 8 Kind of Blue 9 Sketches of Spain 10 Pangeae. The Greatest Artist of All Time!
Hi Kenny, excelente lista embora eu não compartilhe integralmente com suas escolhas; mas é apenas questão de opinião. Tenha uma ótima semana. Zenon (from Brasil)
Hi Kenny, I agree with most picks, but I will say that Gondwana on Pangea is the watermark of bringing everything from the past into one amazing 45 minute meditation. I equate it to what Coltrane did with my favorite thing on the olatunji concert in 67. It’s not for the faint of heart, but it’s a lifetime of musical exploration wrapped up in a tune.
😂I disagree on several of your top 10 choices! As you've stated...are 'Your Opinion'! In my very strong opinion, Seven Steps To Heaven, ESP, Miles Ahead, Relaxin, and if I may include his 'live' recordings, Friday and Saturday at The Blackhawk!❤
Hi, I'm really enjoying your videos, very enjoyable and informative. But I'd like to see a video where you go through your hi fi setup. I a big fan of hifi myself and would like to see and learn about the hifi system you are using to enjoy your records. Another question, are you a musician yourself? Best regards Antony (from UK)
It's hard for me to make a Miles top 10 albums. It may change every week! Right now, at this very moment, these would be my picks: 1. In a Silent Way 2. Sorcerer 3. Workin' 4. Miles in the Sky 5. Ascenseur pour l'échafaud 6. Jack Johnson 7. Porgy and Bess 8. Kind of Blue 9. Bags Groove 10. Miles (the first with Coltrane) As I said, this may change at anytime and I could surely include Bitches Brew, Nefertiti, On the Corner, Milestones. Birth of the Cool and so on. Thank you Kenny for this great video.
Thank you very much. Your top 10 is great 👍 👌 👏. I do agree with you that a top 10 on a great musician like Miles Davis could easily change if I were to make the list again several months from now.
Kenny, you just love to drag me into these discussions because you know I can't help myself, so here it is: Kind Of Blue Bitches Brew Live At The Fillmore East Jack Johnson In A Silent Way On The Corner Tutu Round About Midnight Amandla We Want Miles
Well, it's all Miles, so what can you say? And there are so many different phases: "Birth of the Cool"; the Prestige stuff of the '50s (mostly recorded in mono); the first great quintet with Red Garland, Paul Chambers, Philly Joe Jones and John Coltrane or Sonny Rollins or Cannonball Adderley; the large band collaborations with Gil Evans; the second great quintet with Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter and Tony Williams; the electric "In A Silent Way" and "Bitches Brew" period; and everything that came after -- with Chick Corea and John McLaughin and Keith Jarrett and Dave Holland and Jack DeJohnette and... So, yeah, how can you realistically pick ten? I'll just say this: There are the consensus pantheon masterpieces ("Kind of Blue," "Bitches Brew," maybe "Sketches of Spain" or "Porgy and Bess"), but the closest to my heart (for whatever reason) are in the transitional period from 1965 ("E.S.P.") to 1967 ("Miles Smiles," "Sorcerer") to 1968 ("Nefertiti," "Filles de Kilamanjaro"). That last one, "Filles," is probably the one I've felt drawn to the most in the last seven or eight years. Love your channel. Wish I could visit that room of yours!
Thank you 😊...I do not have any of the newer reissue versions of the album so my best version is the original Columbia stereo version. I have the mono but I prefer the stereo
Kenny, I just listened to both “Sketches Of Spain” and the soundtrack “ascenseur pour l’echafaud” that Sam records reissued and as a trumpet player the later was far superior to the much celebrated Sketches. Take a listen to both…hard to believe they are only one year apart in production. Miles was on his A boppin’ game and that’s why this reissue is on the TAS list! Still respect and love your channel!
When I decided to start checking jazz out as a teenager, "Sorcerer" was the first album I randomly bought. I couldn't believe music could be that great. It ruined jazz for me for a while, though...I thought it was all going to be at least sort of like that. Oops.
Bonjour Kenny. Je vous envoie ce commentaire de France. Je me pose une question : vous ne parlez quasiment jamais des années post 70. Est-ce un choix délibéré ? Avez vous des albums des années 80, 90, 2000 ... ?, j'imagine que oui. Pour revenir à Miles Davis, les albums du début des années 80 (The man with the horn, We Want Miles, Decoy) sont très intéressants et méritent d'être valorisés davantage.
Im surprised you didnt list live - evil by miles davis. Have you listened to this live recording? It is very reminiscent of miles davis' bitches brew era of music and i see it almost as a successor to that album. You should totally listen to it if you havn't already.
Excellent list! I think this is mine: 1. On the Corner 2. Kind of Blue 3. Bitches Brew 4. In a Silent Way 5. Nefertiti 6. Milestones 7. Sketches of Spain 8. Jack Johnson 9. Miles Smiles 10. Round About Midnight
An interesting story about why the cover of the Miles Ahead album cover was changed. Davis was reportedly unhappy about the album's original cover, which featured a photograph of a young white woman and a child aboard a sailing boat. He made his displeasure known to Columbia executive George Avakian, asking, "Why'd you put that white bitch on there?" Avakian later said that the question was made in jest. For later releases of the record, however, the original cover-photo has been replaced by a photo of Davis.
Hi Kenny, your top 2 are the worst of the lot, KOB well overrated, BB is a racket. I don’t have a favourite of Miles because I find him overrated too, his early music like Cookin, Relaxin, Steamin are the best of the lot, also Milestones I like, but nothing pushes my boat out really. I saw him once early in the 70s, it was awful, just a noise. Like I said he’s overrated. I know you like him which I respect, but definitely not my cup of tea.
Although your opinion about the music of Miles Davis is different from mine, I respect your opinion and perspective. Thank you very much for taking the time to watch my video and post your comments, it's much appreciated 😊 ✌️
Miles is definitely not overrated…….not the best trumpet player ever but he did wonders with what he had. Anybody with any knowledge of great music knows that Miles had many years when he had to make do because he lived such a self destructive lifestyle. His early years were his best and thank goodness we have all these great reissues of his early works.
I don’t think anyone reinvented their sound so many times, and had phenomenal success at every turn. Such an amazing career. Great video K
Well said...thank you very much for watching 😊
Yea, once he released Kind of Blue, he basically was able to have total creative freedom going into the next two decades with CBS records. I mean, there were classics before it, like Milestones, Miles Ahead, Round Midnight. But after Kind of Blue, he couldn't miss. He became an artist so to speak.
Hi Kenny! Oh my friend, when I see your passion I realize that it is the same as mine, years spent playing the trumpet; good thing guys like you exist, keep going... always great, great things for you, bye Roby
Thank you very much Roby for your kind comments, I sincerely appreciate that 🙏
Great ranking, here my top 10:
1) Pangaea (1975)
2) Agharta (1975)
3) On The Corner (1972)
4) Get Up With It (1974)
5) Bitches Brew (1970)
6) Live/Evil (1971)
7) Jack Johnson (1971)
8) Big Fun (1974)
9) Dark Magus (1977)
10) In A Silent Way (1969)
Mr. Kenny,
Thanks for mentioning “The Sorcerer”! I asked for your opinion on a previous video and you let me know I wasn’t alone in loving that recording!
Peace and love!
1. A Tribute to Jack Johnson
2. In a Silent Way
3. Bitches Brew
4. Live-Evil
5. Birth of the Cool
Hi, Kenny!! I have 74 albums on Miles Davis. This is your best video, ever. Best wishes from Brasil.
Thank you very much 😊 and thanks for watching from Brasil ✌️
One of the most beautiful pieces and performances I’ve ever heard Miles do is on the “Workin” album….It Never Entered My Mind…so perfect so beautiful!
1 Kind of Blue
2 Sketches of Spain
3 Porgy & Bess
4 Bitches Brew
5 In a Silent Way
6 Miles Smiles
✌🏽
I love his entire catalog, but these 6 are my constants.
This is a great list. It is really hard to narrow it down to just ten.
Here is mine
1. Kind of blue
2. Sketches of Spain
3. ESP
4. In A Silent Way
5. Bitches Brew
6. Birth Of The Cool
7. Nefertiti
8. Relaxin
9. Get Up With It
10. Pangea
Solid list 👌 💯 🎶...thank you very much for posting that great list 😊✌️
In a silent way behind ESP tut tut, love the appearance of birth of the cool though
Miles is one of my favorite artists in any genre. Such a wealth of diverse material. Bob Dylan is the only other artist like that for me, albeit in a different way. Ranking my 10 favorite Miles albums according to how often I spin them?
1. Kind Of Blue
2. Sketches Of Spain
3. Working With The Miles Davis Quintet
4. A Tribute To Jack Johnson
5. Big Fun
6. Bitches Brew
7. In A Silent Way
8. Walkin'
9. Milestones
10. On The Corner
I have all except The Sorcerer. This one I'll be searching for. Glad I watched your video otherwise I would not have known about Sorcerer album.
Thank you for watching ✌️
Two comments:
1) As of today (takes always change), among my top 5 Miles albums are Relaxin’ (with Trane), Seven Steps to Heaven (with outstanding George Coleman), ESP, Nefertiti, and of course, the revolutionary modal Kind of Blue.
2) It’s important to note that in the catalogue of the second classic quintet, a majority of the tunes on those albums were written (and soon became jazz classics) by Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock.
So true, Wayne Shorter was a key factor in the success of The Jazz Messengers, Miles Davis, Weather Report not to mention as a leader on his own albums. Your top 5 is great 👍 👌
Kenny great stuff. I agree on Bitches Brew. It was the album that got me hooked on jazz. I knew it was special, i was driving and listening to it, i noticed i was concentrating so hard on the music it was distracing my driving. Love the intensity of it! Thanks for all you do, always enjoy your videos!
Thank you for your comments 😊.
My top five are: In A Silent Way, Bitches Brew, Dark Magus, Jack Johnson OST and Agatha.
Excelente top
Kenny, you valiantly tried to do the impossible! Miles Davis is my “go to” playlist. Thank you for recommending the “In A Silent Way” album as a more tame example of fusion. I really liked the track “It’s About That Time.” Keep up the great work you do. Very enjoyable.
Great job K. I can't argue with your picks. On any given day I'd add the Evans collaborations. Mile's career is so amazing and he's had a profound effect on me, especially during difficult periods of my life.
If I had to pick a top ten today, in no particular order -
Miles Davis & The Modern Jazz Giants (The Complete Session)
Kind Of Blue
Filles De Kilimanjaro
In A Silent Way
Miles Smiles
Milestones
Bitches Brew
Star People
We Want Miles
A Tribute To Jack Johnson.
This could easily change tomorrow.
Love your list - here's my favorite one though: Ascenseur pour l'échafaud.
Good choice!
Good that 'Sorcerer' is brought up. Excellent album, I've always liked it.
Thank you, the Sorcerer is a work of art 😊
ESP is my favorite album of any artist of all time. Thing is, all of the songs were written by Carter and Shorter. When I discovered that, it set me on a path to loving their music as much or more than Miles.
Kenny, your choice for No1.... hands down. That album is craftsmanship work, purely artistic 👌
💯 agree 👍 👏 🎶
Thanks for this insight. It will help me decide on the next Miles Davis titles to add to my growing collection. Based on what I don't have and what you like, my next albums should be: A Tribute to Jack Johnson; Sorcerer; Porgy and Bess; Cookin' With the Miles Davis Quintet; Steamin' With the Miles Davis Quintet. The rest of your top 10 is already in my collection, although I am planning on adding the UHQR of Kind of Blue to go along with my SACD copies (original release and the mofi one).
Love the t shirt Kenny!
Thank you 😊 ✌️
miles at Fillmore ....shoot , they are all good !!! GO Mr.Miles Davis !!!
Great review: you nailed it.
I agree, the cut Miles is my favorite Miles song of all time.
The only thing we disagree on is Bitches Brew. I tried so hard to like it, but just never got into it.
Keep up the great work on your channel.
awesome video kenny!! very helpful and insightful at a time when i'm getting more and more into the fusion miles especially. it's incredible and hardly aged in the slightest
Thank you very much, I hope that you continue to enjoy rhe awsome creative music of Miles Davis ✌️
Thanks very much Kenny, I love hearing your opinions on these matters ✌️👋
Great video, sir! You made me discover Sorcerer with Miles and i just ordered it. Can’t wait to play it 😊
Cool 😎 ...thank you very much for watching my video and I hope that you enjoy the album 😊 ✌️
What a great rundown of Miles Davis' albums. I have tried so hard, but I cannot seem to connect with Bitches Brew. It really bothers me I don't appreciate it more. The beauty about Miles is he had such distinct phases....he never sat still. He left us with a tremendous catalogue. Kenny, thank you for your channel.....I find your analysis and commentary to be first class.
I guess Bitches Brew is not for everyone but I love it. I sincerely thank you for your kind comments, I appreciate it very much 😊 🙏
Hi Kenny.
When you mentioned Gil Evans, I remembered he was good, but not my favorite arranger. I just ran a Perplexity Pro search and realized that Miles never worked with my favorite, Claus Ogerman. My favorites by Ogerman are the Jobim instrumentals, Bill Evans and Symphony Orchestra, and the first cut from Bill Evans "Symbiosis". I can't help but to wonder what an Ogerman-orchestrated "Sketches of Spain" would have sounded like.
Cheers buddy!
I think that Miles Davis work with Gil Evans was exceptional. My favorite Antonio Carlos Jobim album with Claus Ogerman is the excellent "urubu" album.
@@kennysaudiophilerecordreviews Ah, good catch. I forgot that one. I have the CD. As much as I love Ogerman, my favorite Jobim albums are "Elis and Tom" and "Passarim".
I have "Passarim" on CD and it's one of my favorites also.
@@kennysaudiophilerecordreviews Hoo RAH! Passarim is gorgeous. I tried to learn a vocal and guitar cover of the title cut (one of Almir Chediak's Brazilian guitar by tabs books), but it has more chords than probably all of the other songs put together. My other favorite cut on the album is "Brasil Nativo" ... maybe because of how the arrangement had Danilo singing the high pitched vocal melody, while the female chorus was singing counter-point at a lower pitch.
Regarding 'Elis and Tom' ... back in the mid to late 70's, I remember Leonard Feather once saying that he thought 'The Waters of March" was the most perfect 'pop song' in the world. UA-cam has a video of the version that made it to the album under "Elis Regina & Tom Jobim - "Aguas de Março" - 1974". About 20 years ago, I remember asking a Brazilian guitarist after his gig what was his favorite bossa album, and without hesitation, "Elis and Tom" came tumbling out of his lips. While Elis was a fantastic singer and Jobim was a great song-writer, he was not a great singer or particularly gifted technician on the keyboards ... but the purity, honesty, and integrity of his art puts mondern pitch corrected, auto-tuned drivel to shame.
Gotta run teach an English class, and the kids want to learn to sing the English version of Yoasobi's "Idol". I wonder when they will catch on as to why this song is never performed live, even native speakers of English.
Cheers from Japan Kenny!
great stuff as always, Kenny! i focus on a lot of the 2nd quintet (sorcerer is also my fave!) & electric period stuff, so i’m appreciating some of the earlier recs to check out as well
Thank you 😊...Miles Davis definitely was creative throughout his career but I probably favorite the second half a bit more.
Great list! My list is different but that's okay that's the beauty of Miles IMO is his huge amount of recorded work.
Here's my top ten
10) Star People
9) Steamin With The Miles Davis
8) Milestones
7) Miles Smiles
6) A Tribute To Jack Johnson
5) Bitches Brew
4) In A Silent Way
3) Nerfetiti
2) Sketches Of Spain
1) Get Up With It
A bit different of a list but these are the records that touched the most. I didnt include live albums because that deserves a separate list IMO
Awsome list 👌 👍 👏 ..I agree, the live albums is a different list 😊. Thank you very much for taking the time to post your top 10
Great to see Star people in someone's list, one of my favorites
@@garyscarpulla100 I love close out DJ sets with U'n'I people get into it the groove
@@kennysaudiophilerecordreviews A top 5 or 10 live miles davis recording would be a great video!
Hi Kenny - I really enjoy your videos. Today is my birthday and this is a great gift to wake up to! And a focus on Miles
is a nice birthday bonus! Peace.
Thank you very much for that and I hope that you have a blessed birthday 🎂 🥳 😊
Bitches Brew is #1. Jack Johnson is in my top 5 too. Agharta/Pangea would be in my top ten, a fitting end to what was started on Bitches Brew. Another favorite of mine not mentioned is Friday and Saturday Night at the Blackhawk.
Great choices 👌 👍 👏...that live album at the Blackhawk is a nice live album 👌
Very difficult exercice,Kenny ! As always this is very interresting.I will listen immediatly some of your selection. Thanks !
Thank you very much, I hope that you enjoy the albums and music 🎶 ✌️
What I find most interesting about one of the things that Miles mentioned in his autobiography, is that after his death they would open up the vaults. That's exactly what they have done. In getting quite a few of Miles' box sets of : In A Silent Way Box, Bitches Brew Box, Jack Johnson Box, and On the Corner Box, one realizes there was so much more that could have been on each of those records. I could see why Miles was upset at Teo sometimes. Those albums and more could have been better, had they not jumbled the songs up on multiple albums and put them in the proper contextual order.
In A Silent Way: Should have included (Ascent, Splashdown, Ghetto Walk), and not duplicated a couple tracks.
Jack Johnson: Should have included (Duran, The Mask, Honky Tonk)
On the Corner: Should have included (Red China Blues, On the Corner (take 4), Ife, Billy Preston)
Bitches Brew : They actually released other tracks from Bitches Brew (Double Image) which are taken from those sessions.
To me the Bitches Brew Sessions is our "We are the world" moment, Miles bringing in all these musicians from around the world for that great musical project. I liked Pangea, Man with the Horn, We want Miles and Get Up with It.
Thank you for your excellent comments about Miles Davis and his content, particularly the sessions box sets and the greatness that they have to offer. It makes you wonder what they have to offer in terms of additional content with the rest of his great catalog.
@@kennysaudiophilerecordreviews Great review and I agree with your top ten albums by Miles. Yea, hopefully they don't stop with box sets from the Miles estate. It's like they release one every few years. "Miles is the gift that keeps on giving." J. DeJohnette
Thank you brotha good info you know what you are talking about
I appreciate that ✌️
BB and KOB are my 1 and 2 too. I’m literally obsessed with BB.
Of the studio albums I listen to Filles de Kilimanjaro most frequently. A transitional record (the second great quintet on some tunes with Chick Corea and Dave Holland replacing Hancock & Carter on some) it includes some absolutely marvelous soloing from Wayne Shorter.
Hi, I just discovered your channel. It's great! Thank you for your work and insights! My personal favourite from Miles is "In a Silent Way." I first listened to that album while visiting Tokyo in 2005. I was listening to "Ascent" while on the elevated rail going through the different neighbourhoods. It was an otherworldly experience.
Thank you very much for your comments about both of those great Miles Davis albums 😊 ✌️
The Yamanote Line. Great memories! Great views!
@@johnmckiernan2176 Indeed!
It's a mark of the breadth and depth of the artist that you can give a top 10, mention about another dozen albums, and there can still be yet more masterpieces unmentioned, for instance Filles de Kilimanjaro (albeit not in my top 10 either). Sketches of Spain number 1 for me., with Jack Johnson a close second; though Spanish Key is perhaps my favourite single track.
The 3 I listen to most are 3) Dark Magus 2) Different Kind of Blue 1) We Want Miles. I know that We Want Miles is considered after his "great" bands, I just love that album :)
We Want Miles is a nice live album.
A tie for my top two:
Get Up With It and BB
Top release with Miles as a side man:
The Hot Spot (a soundtrack to a movie)
Bitches Brew[1970] & Live At Filmore[1970]~Are My Favorites...
Live at the Fillmore is a nice live album 👌
Like you, said, it's virtually impossible to select Miles' greats records in a Top 10, I already see you elected 'Sorcerer', from 1967, is a cornerstone album, and my favorite from his Second Quintet. So If I may I'm gonna give it a try, and write this before even watching your list: (mine is in no order/no rank):
1- Sorcerer
2- ESP
3- Miles Smiles
4 -Nefertiti
5- Kind of Blue
6 - On The Corner
7 - Workin' (but I could've easily picked 'Cookin', Steamin' or Relaxin'...)
8 - In A Silent Way
9 - Seven Steps to Heaven
10 - Milestones
Having written that, there are many more that I'd like to give a shout out to one I discovered recently and which I gotta say is so far the greatest live jazz album I ever heard: 'In Person - the Complete Live At The Black Hawk'.
I was stunned not only by the band chemistry, but also the recording quality, listening w/ phones you can hear every single note from P.C.'s bass lies and solos w/ perfect clarity, same thing w/ Wynton Kelly's piano (bass and piano usually suffer in clarity on 'vintage' jazz albums), plus I gotta say Hank Mobley was one greatly underrated player, I don't know why Miles wasn't excited w/ his sound, he was a phenomenal player, a perfect mix of chops, melody and swing, always playing for the song, w/ a beautiful rounded tone.
I must confess, I really like Miles In The Sky. I love how the band incorporates electric piano and bass in "Stuff", very much a foreshadowing of things to come. However, my favorite 2nd Quintet recording is Live at the Plugged Nickel Chicago. Both of those albums are somewhere in my top 10. My #1 Miles album? Hard to say. I'll take inspiration from your #1 and go with the fusion era, and Jack Johnson.
Having been born in 1960 as well, I learned about Miles a lot later in life than yourself. My first Miles experience was "Bitches Brew" and that was only b/c my cousin (Five years older than me) owned a copy and I found the cover fascinating (The music, not so much). My late brother-in-law, however, was a HUGE MD fan. He may have owned every release by MD... Maybe. Actually, it was his love for Miles that got me listening. Side note: I was more a Maynard Ferguson and Freddie Hubbard disciple ( Ya know, stratospheric players). That said here are my top ten. 1. Kind of Blue. 2. Miles Ahead Plus 19. 3. Someday My Prince will come. 4. Blue Haze. 5. Musings of Miles. 6. In a Silent Way. 7. Bitches Brew. 8. You're Under Arrest. 9. Milestones. 10. Live at Filmore. BTW, this may be the first time I disagree with you on a few of your top 10 selections. IMO!
I got into Miles thru Kind of Blue so it is number one on my list. I like them all but if I had to pick 10 it would probably be fusion heavy. thks Kenny
Brother, two thumbs up for "Miles" on the Milestones. If one is ever a little down in the mouth, just listen to "Miles" and all troubles fade away.
Good list! For me I would move On the Corner into the top 10, when I heard it I truly realized what a genius Miles was. You will have to let us know what you think of the Jack Johnson Sessions - very curious as Jack Johnson is one my top favourite albums.
"On the Corner" is fantastic and a great choice 👍.
I'd have Silent Way at the top, followed by Bitches Brew, then Kind of Blue, Plugged Nickel, Jack Johnson etc.
No mention of 'Water Babies', recorded during the 'Bitches Brew' recording sessions. My fave MD album.
Wasn't water babies 1967 - 1969?
@TheGOAT-j9u Nope. It was recorded during the 'Bitches Brew' sessions, as I said. I think it's better than 'Bitches Brew'. With Ron Carter, Tony Williams, Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter- a slamming quintet! (Dave Holland and Chick Correa play on a couple jams on side 2...
great list.
Thank you 😊
Given the quality of the albums left out here,a top 20 would have been more manageable,but hey,it's a top 10 pick,excellent!Also noting that 'Birth of the Cool' is technically a collection.
As usual Kenny another Home Run, at least I have 3 of your top ten, but "Bitches Brew" WOW!...I found out that all the Jazz Fusion guys I was listening to at that time in the early, and mid 70's played on this record...This album turned me upside down on my head!...It was mind boggling, and, ear opening!...This has nothing to do with Miles, but in a sense it does...Have you ever listened to Jerry Garcia's, and David Grisman's acoustic versions of "'Milestones" and "So What"...Good Stuff!...Also, Eddie Jefferson's vocal versions of "So What" and his off the wall trippy version of "Bitches Brew" not the easiest tune to put words to...Thanks again.
I appreciate that, thank you very much. I have not heard your recommendations so I'll have to check them out.
1 Bitches Brew 2 In a Silent Way 3 Tribute to Jack Johnson 4 Water Babies 5 BLACK Beauty 6 Big Fun 7 Live Evil 8 Kind of Blue 9 Sketches of Spain 10 Pangeae. The Greatest Artist of All Time!
Good picks!
Hi Kenny, excelente lista embora eu não compartilhe integralmente com suas escolhas; mas é apenas questão de opinião. Tenha uma ótima semana. Zenon (from Brasil)
Thank you very much Zenon, I hope that you have a great week 😊
Hi Kenny, I agree with most picks, but I will say that Gondwana on Pangea is the watermark of bringing everything from the past into one amazing 45 minute meditation. I equate it to what Coltrane did with my favorite thing on the olatunji concert in 67. It’s not for the faint of heart, but it’s a lifetime of musical exploration wrapped up in a tune.
If only he evolved even more after that instead of just pandering for a decade
I tried Kind of Blue first, but what hooked me first was Bitches Brew.
😂I disagree on several of your top 10 choices! As you've stated...are 'Your Opinion'! In my very strong opinion, Seven
Steps To Heaven, ESP,
Miles Ahead, Relaxin, and if I may include his 'live' recordings, Friday and Saturday at The Blackhawk!❤
Should’ve done a top 20 for Miles
He does have that many great albums, good point 👏 👍
Hi, I'm really enjoying your videos, very enjoyable and informative. But I'd like to see a video where you go through your hi fi setup. I a big fan of hifi myself and would like to see and learn about the hifi system you are using to enjoy your records.
Another question, are you a musician yourself?
Best regards Antony (from UK)
Nice shirt and segment kenny
It's hard for me to make a Miles top 10 albums. It may change every week! Right now, at this very moment, these would be my picks:
1. In a Silent Way
2. Sorcerer
3. Workin'
4. Miles in the Sky
5. Ascenseur pour l'échafaud
6. Jack Johnson
7. Porgy and Bess
8. Kind of Blue
9. Bags Groove
10. Miles (the first with Coltrane)
As I said, this may change at anytime and I could surely include Bitches Brew, Nefertiti, On the Corner, Milestones. Birth of the Cool and so on. Thank you Kenny for this great video.
Thank you very much. Your top 10 is great 👍 👌 👏. I do agree with you that a top 10 on a great musician like Miles Davis could easily change if I were to make the list again several months from now.
For me it has to be Kind of Blue, Miles Ahead and last but not least Sketches of Spain.
Kenny, you just love to drag me into these discussions because you know I can't help myself, so here it is:
Kind Of Blue
Bitches Brew
Live At The Fillmore East
Jack Johnson
In A Silent Way
On The Corner
Tutu
Round About Midnight
Amandla
We Want Miles
Can you do a greatest Herbie Hancock albums. This is a great one. Thanks
Thank you very much for the recommendation ✌️
That’s about like picking the greatest 10 B-52 bomber raids!
😊😁
👏 👍
You got number 1 right.
Well, it's all Miles, so what can you say? And there are so many different phases: "Birth of the Cool"; the Prestige stuff of the '50s (mostly recorded in mono); the first great quintet with Red Garland, Paul Chambers, Philly Joe Jones and John Coltrane or Sonny Rollins or Cannonball Adderley; the large band collaborations with Gil Evans; the second great quintet with Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter and Tony Williams; the electric "In A Silent Way" and "Bitches Brew" period; and everything that came after -- with Chick Corea and John McLaughin and Keith Jarrett and Dave Holland and Jack DeJohnette and...
So, yeah, how can you realistically pick ten? I'll just say this: There are the consensus pantheon masterpieces ("Kind of Blue," "Bitches Brew," maybe "Sketches of Spain" or "Porgy and Bess"), but the closest to my heart (for whatever reason) are in the transitional period from 1965 ("E.S.P.") to 1967 ("Miles Smiles," "Sorcerer") to 1968 ("Nefertiti," "Filles de Kilamanjaro"). That last one, "Filles," is probably the one I've felt drawn to the most in the last seven or eight years.
Love your channel. Wish I could visit that room of yours!
Kenny, what is the best version of Sketches Of Spain that you have heard🤔Great videos as usual!
Thank you 😊...I do not have any of the newer reissue versions of the album so my best version is the original Columbia stereo version. I have the mono but I prefer the stereo
Kenny, I just listened to both “Sketches Of Spain” and the soundtrack “ascenseur pour l’echafaud” that Sam records reissued and as a trumpet player the later was far superior to the much celebrated Sketches. Take a listen to both…hard to believe they are only one year apart in production. Miles was on his A boppin’ game and that’s why this reissue is on the TAS list! Still respect and love your channel!
Spanish Key from Bitches Brew is easily in the top 10 songs of all time (for me).
That is one of my favorite Miles Davis songs 🎵
Kenny your wearing my shirt. LOL🍻
😊😁
When I decided to start checking jazz out as a teenager, "Sorcerer" was the first album I randomly bought. I couldn't believe music could be that great. It ruined jazz for me for a while, though...I thought it was all going to be at least sort of like that. Oops.
Bonjour Kenny. Je vous envoie ce commentaire de France. Je me pose une question : vous ne parlez quasiment jamais des années post 70. Est-ce un choix délibéré ? Avez vous des albums des années 80, 90, 2000 ... ?, j'imagine que oui.
Pour revenir à Miles Davis, les albums du début des années 80 (The man with the horn, We Want Miles, Decoy) sont très intéressants et méritent d'être valorisés davantage.
Im surprised you didnt list live - evil by miles davis. Have you listened to this live recording? It is very reminiscent of miles davis' bitches brew era of music and i see it almost as a successor to that album. You should totally listen to it if you havn't already.
To my surprise today is actually its 53rd birthday! Haha good timing I suppose.
Im buying tomorrow the Miles Davis "The Complete Recordings 1955-1985, 5 record set sealed for $25.00. What are your views on this set?
I do not have that set but looking at the songs on the set online it seems like it could be very good.
Mine are Milestones, Kind of Blue, Miles Smiles, Bitches Brew.
get up with it snubbed for me! other than that great list!
"Get Up with it" is cool 😎 👌
Excellent list!
I think this is mine:
1. On the Corner
2. Kind of Blue
3. Bitches Brew
4. In a Silent Way
5. Nefertiti
6. Milestones
7. Sketches of Spain
8. Jack Johnson
9. Miles Smiles
10. Round About Midnight
Your list is excellent too 👌 👍 🎶
@ 🙏
Live/Evil is so underrated.......
An interesting story about why the cover of the Miles Ahead album cover was changed. Davis was reportedly unhappy about the album's original cover, which featured a photograph of a young white woman and a child aboard a sailing boat. He made his displeasure known to Columbia executive George Avakian, asking, "Why'd you put that white bitch on there?" Avakian later said that the question was made in jest. For later releases of the record, however, the original cover-photo has been replaced by a photo of Davis.
Muito bom
How the heck did workin and relaxin not make it?!? Lol
Miles in the Sky and Ascenseur pour l'échafaud not in top ten???????
10 best Miles albums according to who exactly? You? Who are you? 🤣
Bottom LINE: it is SENSELESS to Have a Top 10- Miles Davis album. JUST have a TOP 50. Period. !!!
Hi Kenny, your top 2 are the worst of the lot, KOB well overrated, BB is a racket. I don’t have a favourite of Miles because I find him overrated too, his early music like Cookin, Relaxin, Steamin are the best of the lot, also Milestones I like, but nothing pushes my boat out really. I saw him once early in the 70s, it was awful, just a noise. Like I said he’s overrated. I know you like him which I respect, but definitely not my cup of tea.
Although your opinion about the music of Miles Davis is different from mine, I respect your opinion and perspective. Thank you very much for taking the time to watch my video and post your comments, it's much appreciated 😊 ✌️
Calling Miles Davis overrated while having a username referring steely Dan is something
@@Brady95lol right?
Overated? Funnnnny!
Miles is definitely not overrated…….not the best trumpet player ever but he did wonders with what he had. Anybody with any knowledge of great music knows that Miles had many years when he had to make do because he lived such a self destructive lifestyle. His early years were his best and thank goodness we have all these great reissues of his early works.