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Miles Ahead session details

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November 6, 1974 (9 items; TT = 54:06)
Columbia Studio E, New York NY
Commercial for Columbia
Show chatter

Miles Davis (tpt, org); Sonny Fortune (ss, ts, fl); Pete Cosey (g, d, perc); Reggie Lucas (g); Dominique Gaumont (g); Michael Henderson (el-b); Al Foster (d); James Mtume Forman (cga, perc)

1 Sound (take 1) (M. Davis) 2:30
2 Sound (take 2) (M. Davis) 2:00
3 Hip Skip (take 1) (M. Davis) 9:29
4 Hip Skip (take 2) (M. Davis) 19:44
5 What They Do (take 1 inc) (M. Davis) 0:59
6 What They Do (take 2 fs) (M. Davis) 0:05
7 What They Do (take 13 fs) (M. Davis) 0:46

False start (0:17) followed by noodling and undecipherable chatter
8 What They Do (take 13) (M. Davis) 6:14

Long run-through (5:22) followed by noodling and undecipherable chatter
9 What They Do (take 14) (M. Davis) 12:19

Chatter and false start not included on Columbia and Sony


4 Hip Skip (take 2)
CD: Columbia Legacy C6K 06239, Sony SICP 1581/6

9 What They Do (take 14)
CD: Columbia Legacy C6K 06239, Sony SICP 1581/6, Kind of Blue KOB 002


The two takes of "Sound" are Lucas solos enhanced with Teo Macero's studio effects. "Hip Skip" was first performed in August at Paul's Mall. An excerpt of take 14 of "What They Do" was used in a remix for the TDK session dated December 27, 1976, part of which is included (three times) on KOB 002. Pete Cosey plays drums on "Hip Skip" because Al Foster was ill and arrived late at the session. Apparently Cosey also played drums when the group performed this tune live.

The Octet was quite busy during this period: Indianapolis Convention Center (October 13); Allen Theatre, Cleveland (November 1); Bottom Line Club, New York (November 3-4); Club Etcetera, Washington (November 11-14); Bottom Line Club, New York (November 18); The Stables, East Lansing (December 11); Smiling Dog Saloon, Cleveland (December 12-15). Davis fired Gaumont in late December.

Thanks to Pat Buzby, Spencer Baars, and Len Pogost for help with this session.

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