REVIEW: Shirley Horn, 'Live at the 4 Queens,' Resonance Records >>
Shirley Horn was in her prime at 54 when she played the 4 Queens in '88 Vegas. Reveling in the success of her 'I Thought About You' comeback album, she was back on top after a 19-year hiatus to raise her daughter. 'Live at the 4 Queens' (Resonance) is the entire 52-minute set with longtime trio of bassist Charles Ables and drummer Steve Williams. It has never, until now, been released.
REVIEW: Jim Snidero, 'MD66,' Savant Records >>
It's one thing to be in tribute to an artist, a band or a classic album. It's another thing, and one rarely done if done at all, to be in tribute to a band's fluid changes and personal interplay or chemistry. This is what alto sax man Jim Snidero accomplishes beautifully on 'MD66' (Savant). His muse is the second great Miles Davis Quintet (Hancock, Shorter, Carrter, Wlliams). Yet 'MD66' is almost all-original.
REVIEW: Larry Young, 'In Paris: The ORTF Recordings,' Resonance Records >>
This one is a real find. Hammond B3 organist Larry Young, like many of his jazz contemporaries, found himself living and working in Paris in 1964. The music on the two-disc 'In Paris: The ORTF Recordings' (Resonance Records) has been heard exactly once: live on French radio. These tapes have been meticulously maintained by the French National Audiovisual Institute for the last half-century and released now, for the first time.
The Essential Miles Davis Albums to Prepare You for Don Cheadle's Biopic >>
With a new Miles Davis biopic in our midst, Don Cheadle's own Miles Ahead examines one part of Davis' illustrious and controversial career, which inspired a long-measure of genres from bebop to hip-hop.
Watch Don Cheadle Talk High School Drama & 'Miles Ahead' on Jimmy Fallon >>
Tuesday on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon saw Don Cheadle in rare form--that is, as a high school drama nerd. The Golden Globe-winning actor stopped by the show to promote his upcoming film as Miles Davis in the biopic Miles Ahead and premiered a special clip from the movie.
The Evolution of Miles Davis >>
July 30, 1969 was a pivitol year in the history of Jazz. Until that point, unlike rock ' n' roll, jazz was slowly, if not begrudgingly submitting to the revolution of new sound. A younger generational was coming into their own and they had a different, brasher, more funky sound in their minds. Trumpet legend Miles Davis was of the previous generation, the hard boppers. Born in 1926, Davis was getting older but he was still Miles Davis and the sounds that funk/rocker Sly Stone, among others, was creating with his band Sly and the Family Stone signaled the future for Davis. The "King of Cool" was about to go electric.
Miles Davis and Chet Baker Come to Life on Film >>
Two of jazz's greatest trumpet players, Miles Davis and Chet Baker, will both be coming back to life in new films due out this spring. Both are set to be played by noted Hollywood actors. In Born to be Blue, due out in theaters March 25, Ethan Hawke portrays the troubled trumpeter of the 50s and 60s Chet Baker. In Miles Ahead, House of Lies star Don Cheadle co-wrote, directed and stars as jazz god Miles Davis.
Book Explores Miles Davis' 'Bitches Brew' Period >>
In 1970, jazz legend Miles Davis was at his creative peak. He was about to enter the studio to record one of the greatest jazz albums ever recorded, the provactively titled double album Bitches Brew. Although it would sharply divide the jazz world, due largely to the fact Davis would use scalding electrics to his scintillating style, it became a defining moment for him. Strangely enough, there has never been a book documenting the album that would change jazz, until now. Author Victor Svorinch presents Listen to This: Miles Davis and Bitches Brew.
BRIEF: Rudresh Mahanthappa Explores Himself, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Stalls, Miles Davis >>
Here at Classicalite -- be it classical music, jazz, theater or dance -- arts news gets made fresh every single day.
Don Cheadle Channels Late-Miles Davis in Upcoming Sony Biopic - 'Miles Ahead' >>
It was announced last year that Don Cheadle would direct, star and co-write the upcoming Miles Davis biopic, "Miles Ahead," a tumultuous undertaking of the late-trumpeter's comeback story. Now, Sony Pictures Classics has released the first trailer from the upcoming film and the production seems to take on a reckless point-of-view of the iconic jazz musician.
Cicely Tyson Reflects, Cherishes Her Marriage to Miles Davis >>
Miles Davis' reputation -- musical legacy aside -- is checkered, to say the least. But ex-wife Cicely Tyson the period of her life she spent with Davis is one that she cherishes no matter what rumors -- or truths -- may be circulating.
WATCH: First Clip from Don Cheadle's 'Miles Ahead' Biopic >>
Earlier this year it was reported that Don Cheadle would be writing, directing, producing and acting in a biopic about Miles Davis entitled 'Miles Ahead.' Now, the first clips from the movie have surfaced and it has many anticipating its premiere in 2016.
REVIEW: Jack DeJohnette Revived on 'Made In Chicago' >>
Jack DeJohnette, one of the most influential drummers of the 20th Century, dips back to his 1960s radical roots in a one-off gig back home to resurrect the flag of the avant-garde on 'Made In Chicago.' Then, surprisingly enough, he talks to us!
Miles Davis Unreleased Performances Premiere in 'Newport 1955-1975' Box Set >>
Miles Davis fans have grown over the years to include everyone from seasoned jazzgoers to dabblers in the genre. During his stint at the Newport Jazz Festival, his performances there brought together an audience of all stripes and trades. Now, those special performances will be available for purchase.
'Miles Davis at Newport 1955-75' Four-Disc Box Set to Release July 17 via Columbia/Legacy Records >>
On Thursday, Columbia/Legacy Recordings announced that it is to release a most iconic four-disc box set, 'Miles Davis at Newport 1955-75: The Bootleg Series Vol. 4,' on July 17. And no, this is not another Dylan reissue, for once.
