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Miles Ahead session details

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February 15, 1968 (3 items; TT = 17:18)
Columbia Studio B, New York NY
Commercial for Columbia
Show chatter

Miles Davis (tpt); Wayne Shorter (ts); George Benson (g); Herbie Hancock (p); Ron Carter (b); Tony Williams (d)

1 Sanctuary (take 7) (W. Shorter-M. Davis) 8:48
2 Side Car I (remake take 12) (M. Davis) 4:58
3 Side Car II (new take 5) (M. Davis) 3:32


1 Sanctuary (take 7)
12" LP: Columbia KC2 36278, CBS/Sony 36AP 1409/10, Mosaic MQ10-177
CD: Columbia Legacy C2K 46862, Columbia Legacy C6K 67398, Columbia Legacy C6K 90925, CBS/Sony CSCS 5340/1, Sony SRCS 9308/9, Sony SRCS 8575/80, Sony SICP 663/8, Sony SRCS 9759/60, Sony SICJ 30111/2, Columbia Legacy 86975 24922 [= Columbia (F) 86975 52492] (CD 3)

2 Side Car I (remake take 12)
12" LP: Columbia KC2 36278, CBS/Sony 36AP 1409/10, Mosaic MQ10-177
CD: Columbia Legacy C2K 46862, Columbia Legacy C6K 67398, Columbia Legacy C6K 90925, CBS/Sony CSCS 5340/1, Sony SRCS 9308/9, Sony SRCS 8575/80, Sony SICP 663/8, Sony SRCS 9759/60, Sony SICJ 30111/2, Columbia Legacy 86975 24922 [= Columbia (F) 86975 52492] (CD 3)

3 Side Car II (new take 5)
12" LP: Columbia KC2 36278, CBS/Sony 36AP 1409/10, Mosaic MQ10-177
CD: Columbia Legacy C2K 46862, Columbia Legacy C6K 67398, Columbia Legacy C6K 90925, CBS/Sony CSCS 5340/1, Sony SRCS 9308/9, Sony SRCS 8575/80, Sony SICP 663/8, Sony SRCS 9759/60, Sony SICJ 30111/2, Columbia Legacy 86975 24922 [= Columbia (F) 86975 52492] (CD 3)


The issued version of "Sanctuary" is sparer and less keening than the one recorded during the August 19 Bitches Brew session. Two other complete takes were recorded during this session.

Roman numerals were added to "Sidecar I" and Sidecar II" when they were issued on Circle in the Round in 1979. Like "Fun" recorded on January 12, "Sidecar" proved to be a difficult tune. On February 13 the group devoted more than 40 minutes to the tune, which yielded only one complete take, which was rejected. The issued remakes from this session are from another half hour of recording, most of which was spent in rehearsal.

The next day, Davis, Hancock, Carter, and Williams joined Gil Evans in Columbia's 30th Street Studio to record Evans' "Falling Water."

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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