Miles Ahead – Miles Davis
Not to be confused with the title track of the 1957 Miles Davis/Gil Evans album with this same name, this earlier Miles Ahead track is an "improvised contrafact" based on Miles' improvisation on the chord progression of Milestones—the earlier Milestones from 1947, not the Miles composition Milestones from 1958. Also available: Miles' trumpet solo and a quintet arrangement from the recording by jazzleadsheets.com's Don Sickler.
- Recording: Miles Davis - Blue Haze
- Recorded on: May 19, 1953
- Label: Prestige (PRLP 7054)
- Concert Key: B-flat
- Style: Swing (medium)
- Trumpet - Miles Davis
- Piano - John Lewis
- Bass - Percy Heath
- Drums - Max Roach
Our audio excerpt starts at the beginning of the track with John Lewis' eight measure solo piano intro which sets up Miles' entrance.
Like several other tracks from early Miles Davis recordings, this one originally had no written melody. Our lead sheet is a transcription of Miles' first solo chorus over the changes of Milestones. We call it an "improvised contrafact."
The lead sheets available here serve two purposes: as lead sheets for the way Miles recorded Miles Ahead as released on the "Blue Haze" album, and as 1st parts for Don Sickler's quintet arrangement (next album cover).
Like several other tracks from early Miles Davis recordings, this one originally had no written melody. Our lead sheet is a transcription of Miles' first solo chorus over the changes of Milestones. We call it an "improvised contrafact."
The lead sheets available here serve two purposes: as lead sheets for the way Miles recorded Miles Ahead as released on the "Blue Haze" album, and as 1st parts for Don Sickler's quintet arrangement (next album cover).
To clear up any possible confusion about this song, this version is the old Miles Ahead based on the old Milestones. It is entirely unrelated to the other songs with those two titles which are the title tracks of 1957 and 1958 Miles Davis albums. This 1953 session is Miles' last studio recording with John Lewis and Max Roach, who had each played on two of the three classic "Birth Of The Cool" nonet sessions in 1949 and 1950.
The album "Blue Haze" is a compilation album of tracks recorded in 1953 and 1954 by Miles Davis for Prestige Records.
Here are previous releases:
:
The album "Blue Haze" is a compilation album of tracks recorded in 1953 and 1954 by Miles Davis for Prestige Records.
Here are previous releases:
:
Here is the start of Miles' 2nd solo chorus clip, his 1st solo chorus being the melody.
Elijah Shiffer: This is another classic early Miles solo, with each eight-measure section beginning with a simpler phrase leading into some more convoluted lines. The two A sections and C section all end with a descending scale (F7 with E♮ added as a passing tone), beginning with two 16th notes followed by 8th notes—but each starting in different places in the sixth measure ("and" of beat 4 in the first A section, "and" of 3 in the second, and "and" of 2 in the C section). A similar phrase, again starting on the "and" of 4, is used by Miles in his last chorus to end the song. Miles begins his solo with an arpeggiated phrase based on John Lewis' piano intro, which uses a descending series of II-V7s.
Elijah Shiffer: This is another classic early Miles solo, with each eight-measure section beginning with a simpler phrase leading into some more convoluted lines. The two A sections and C section all end with a descending scale (F7 with E♮ added as a passing tone), beginning with two 16th notes followed by 8th notes—but each starting in different places in the sixth measure ("and" of beat 4 in the first A section, "and" of 3 in the second, and "and" of 2 in the C section). A similar phrase, again starting on the "and" of 4, is used by Miles in his last chorus to end the song. Miles begins his solo with an arpeggiated phrase based on John Lewis' piano intro, which uses a descending series of II-V7s.
- Recording: Don Sickler - Reflections
- Recorded on: March 27, 2000
- Label: HighNote (7062)
- Concert Key: B-flat
- Style: Swing (medium)
- Trumpet - Don Sickler
- Alto Sax - Bobby Porcelli
- Piano - Ronnie Mathews
- Bass - Peter Washington
- Drums - Ben Riley
Don Sickler: The original Miles recording's solo piano intro is here adapted into a duet of alto sax and bass. The Concert Condensed Score clearly shows the movement of my 2nd part as it reacts to Miles' melody; sometimes in direct harmony (usually a 3rd below) and sometimes in a more sustained harmony line. In the B and C sections it also often rhythmically sets up the 1st part melody line. My only change to Miles' original melody is the last note of the first measure of the 2nd ending. I wanted to end on a long note, so I went to a hold on the 9th of the chord.
The 1st parts here are the lead sheets for Miles' original version (the melody as played by Miles is A through C, 32 bars. The rhythm section parts and 2nd parts are as recorded on "Reflections." Although the lead sheets are named differently for the two recordings, the first parts and lead sheets are the same; selecting one for purchase will automatically select the other one, preventing you from purchasing the same thing twice.
The 1st parts here are the lead sheets for Miles' original version (the melody as played by Miles is A through C, 32 bars. The rhythm section parts and 2nd parts are as recorded on "Reflections." Although the lead sheets are named differently for the two recordings, the first parts and lead sheets are the same; selecting one for purchase will automatically select the other one, preventing you from purchasing the same thing twice.
Don Sickler's quintet arrangement was written for a March 2000 week-long tribute to trumpet players at the Jazz Standard club in NYC and recorded the following week at Rudy Van Gelder's studio, the album titled "Reflections."
Don Sickler: The first night of the engagement was called: Blue Haze: Miles Davis and Beyond, and we opened the first set with Miles Ahead and also played other Miles Davis classics throughout the evening performance: Blue Haze, I Didn't, Seven Steps To Heaven, Swing Spring, Denial and ended each set with The Theme.
Don Sickler: The first night of the engagement was called: Blue Haze: Miles Davis and Beyond, and we opened the first set with Miles Ahead and also played other Miles Davis classics throughout the evening performance: Blue Haze, I Didn't, Seven Steps To Heaven, Swing Spring, Denial and ended each set with The Theme.
Miles Davis
May 26, 1926 – September 28, 1991
Miles Davis was without question among the most influential musicians in all of jazz history. As both soloist and bandleader, he defined the vanguard of jazz throughout his career and set the standard for nearly every major new development in the music for over forty years. His trumpet, open or with a Harmon mute, is one of the most instantly recognizable jazz sounds; his eloquent, economical style was quite unlike any trumpeter before him. Read more...