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Miles Ahead session details

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February 16, 1968 (5 items; TT = 32:23)
Columbia Studio B, New York NY
Commercial for Columbia

Miles Davis (tpt); Julius Watkins (frh); Ray Alonge (frh); Howard Johnson (tuba); Wayne Shorter (ts); Hubert Laws (fl); Danny Bank (fl, alto fl); Romeo Penque (engl horn); Karl Porter (bssn); Gloria Agostini (harp); Betty Glamann (harp); Herb Bushler (Hawaiian g); Joe Beck (g); Lawrence Lucie (mandolin); Herbie Hancock (el-p); Ron Carter (b); Tony Williams (d); Warren Smith (mba, tymp); Gil Evans (arr, cond)

1 Falling Water (take 4) (G. Evans-M. Davis) 3:42
2 Falling Water (take 6) (G. Evans-M. Davis) 4:22
3 Falling Water (take 8) (G. Evans-M. Davis) 4:14
4 Falling Water (take 9) (G. Evans-M. Davis) 4:17
5 Falling Water (composite version) (G. Evans-M. Davis) 15:48


1 Falling Water (take 4)
12" LP: Mosaic MQ11-164
CD: Columbia CXK 67397, Columbia CXK 90923, Sony SRCS 7945/50, Sony SICP 657/62

2 Falling Water (take 6)
12" LP: Mosaic MQ11-164
CD: Columbia CXK 67397, Columbia CXK 90923, Sony SRCS 7945/50, Sony SICP 657/62

3 Falling Water (take 8)
12" LP: Mosaic MQ11-164
CD: Columbia CXK 67397, Columbia CXK 90923, Sony SRCS 7945/50, Sony SICP 657/62

4 Falling Water (take 9)
12" LP: Mosaic MQ11-164
CD: Columbia CXK 67397, Columbia CXK 90923, Sony SRCS 7945/50, Sony SICP 657/62


The composite take was probably assembled by Teo Macero. Pieces of the four issued takes can be heard:

0:00-3:28 Take 6, 0:00-3:28
3:28-6:59 Unknown take
6:59-8:08 Unknown take
8:08-11:28 Take 8, 0:13-4:14
11:28-15:45 Take 9, 0:00-4:17

This is the last recorded Columbia studio collaboration between Davis and Evans. It comes near the end of an extended stay in New York (five studio dates in just over a month).

After this the Quintet resumed touring: Village Gate, New York (February 16-17); Bohemian Caverns, Washington (February 28-March 2: a review suggests that "Paul Chambers has rejoined the quintet"); Village Gate (March 8-9). The Quintet (with Marshall Hawkins subbing for Carter) headed west for two weeks at Shelly's Manne-Hole, Los Angeles (March 19-31), and an engagement at the Both/And Club, San Francisco (early April).

During this time they also performed at the second University of California Jazz Festival at the Greek Theatre, Berkeley (April 19). They were joined on several numbers by a variation on this version of the Evans Orchestra. The concert may have been recorded by Columbia, but so far it has not surfaced. According to a report in Down Beat the Davis performance included "Agitation," "Footprints," "Nefertiti," "'Round Midnight" (Davis/Hancock duet); the Evans Orchestra joined for an untitled raga and "You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman"; the Quintet returned for "Gingerbread Boy"; and the Evans Orchestra concluded with "Antigua." The Down Beat reporter was not impressed with Davis' technique -- "unsteady as a drunk on the fast runs" -- but approved of the Davis/Evans collaboration -- "Davis' lines were long manicured fingers that reached and expertly flexed inside the silken glove of Evans' orchestrations." (Sammy Mitchell, "Caught in the Act" Down Beat June 13, 1968)

After a return to New York, the Quintet played at the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis (May 26).

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