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Miles Ahead session details

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November 9, 1969 (7 items; TT = 62:17)
De Doelen, Rotterdam (Holland)
Omroepvereniging VARA radio broadcast (B+)

Miles Davis (tpt); Wayne Shorter (ss, ts); Chick Corea (el-p); Dave Holland (b); Jack De Johnette (d); Michiel De Ruyter (ann)

1 Introduction (Michiel de Ruyter) 0:51
2 Directions (J. Zawinul) 9:48

Theme stated at 0:48
3 Bitches Brew (M. Davis) 12:50

Incomplete (9:38) on So What CDR
4 I Fall in Love Too Easily (S. Cahn-J. Styne) 2:38
5 Sanctuary (W. Shorter-M. Davis) 3:56
6 It's About That Time (M. Davis) 17:15
7 Masqualero (with applause) (W. Shorter) 14:59


1 Introduction (Michiel de Ruyter)
CD: Premier no number

2 Directions
12" LP: Sleepy Night Records SNRV-001
CD: Mega Disc Premier no number, Sleepy Night Records SNRCD-013

3 Bitches Brew
12" LP: Sleepy Night Records SNRV-001
CD: Mega Disc Premier no number, Sleepy Night Records SNRCD-013

4 I Fall in Love Too Easily
12" LP: Sleepy Night Records SNRV-001
CD: Mega Disc Premier no number, Sleepy Night Records SNRCD-013

5 Sanctuary
12" LP: Sleepy Night Records SNRV-001
CD: Mega Disc Premier no number, Sleepy Night Records SNRCD-013

6 It's About That Time
12" LP: Sleepy Night Records SNRV-001
CD: Mega Disc Premier no number, Sleepy Night Records SNRCD-013

7 Masqualero (with applause)
12" LP: Sleepy Night Records SNRV-001
CD: Mega Disc Premier no number, Sleepy Night Records SNRCD-013


This set was originally recorded by VARA in 1969. BBC Radio re-broadcast it in 2006, and the timings listed above are taken from this newer version. There is both an analog FM broadcast and a digital XM version -- there are subtle differences in the audio quality, but both are significantly better than the versions formerly in circulation.

There are at least two older VARA broadcasts of this material. The longer one (A) begins with a short studio introduction (titles are announced as "Directions," "Listen to This," "About That Time," and "Masqualero"), and contains an incomplete version of "Bitches Brew" (a splice at 8:27 excises 8:29-11:19 of complete version). The shorter broadcast (B) is sonically better and includes a Michiel de Ruyter studio introduction (0:51 -- titles announced as "Listen to This" and "About That Time"); Bitches Brew (12:36); I Fall in Love Too Easily (2:33); Sanctuary (3:55); It's About That Time (3:59); closing announcement (0:16).

A So What CDR is mastered from the first broadcast (A), but the tracks are wrongly indexed: 1. Introduction (0:12); 2. Directions (9:51); 3. Bitches Brew (9:44); 4. I Fall in Love Too Easily (2:36); 5. Sanctuary (4:02); 6. It's About That Time (16:58); 7. Masqualero (14:49).

The Davis Quintet toured Europe in October-November 1969 as part of the Newport Jazz Festival in Europe produced by George Wein. The itinerary was as follows:

October 26: Teatro Lirico, Milan, Italy (two concerts)
October 27: Teatro Sistina, Rome
October 29 (?): Teatro Romano, Verona
October 31: Stadthalle, Vienna, Austria
November 1: Hammersmith Odeon, London, Great Britain (two concerts)
November 2: Ronnie Scott's Club, London
November 3: Salle Pleyel, Paris, France (two concerts)
November 4: Tivoli Konsertsal, Copenhagen, Denmark
November 5: Folkets Hus, Stockholm, Sweden (two concerts)
November 7: Philharmonie, Berlin, West Germany
November 8: Sart Tilman, Liège, Belgium
November 9: De Doelen, Rotterdam, Holland

Most of the performances from this tour were recorded, though some are not complete.

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