Domino Records 891209
Miles Davis (t), Wayne Shorter (ts), Herbie Hancock (p), Ron Carter (b) and Tony Williams (d). Rec. 1966 and 1967

It’s one thing hearing about “rare tapes circulating among private collectors” but it’s another thing getting to hear them. Now you can; this is a hugely valuable release, a window into the working life of one of the greatest bands in the history of jazz performing at probably the most famous platform of all during the Golden Era of Jazz (1950s to the late 1960s), the Newport Jazz Festival (plus two bonus tracks taken from a broadcast in Finland on 1 November 1967). The liner notes say “This release contains all of the surviving music from the Miles Davis Quintet’s Newport sets of 1966 and 1967,” and were taken from live broadcasts of the event, complete with Willis Connover announcements, which adds to the atmosphere of the occassion. With the exception of Miles In Berlin and the Plugged Nickel sets, live documentation of this band is thin on the ground, given its (relative) longevity.

While their most questing work was done in the studio, it is thoroughly absorbing to hear such abstract deconstructions of pieces such as ‘Gingerbread Boy’ (twice from Newport, from 1966 and from 1967) ‘Footprints’ (twice, from 1967 at Newport and Finland) and ‘All Blues’ with an incomplete performance (Finland) of ‘’Round Midnight’. The casual, insouciant manner in which this band created amazing music has to be heard to believed – this is truly a great band – and the sound quality is very good (which is not always the case when broadcast material surfaces on CD). I doubt whether fans are in the habit of dropping record companies a line to say thanks for putting out some great jazz, so I’ll save them the trouble – well done Domino and thanks!

Stuart Nicholson