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Seventy-One Disc (!!!) Miles Davis Box Set Coming in Nov.
When it comes to boxed sets, there are the ambitious (Nada Surf's box of reissued vinyl), the self-indulgent (Neil Young's 10-disc, $300 collection of live sets) and then the downright incredible, WTF-were-they-thinking moments.... read more
Found in: Music, NewsFinally, An 8-Bit Tribute to Miles Davis
Andy Baio has everything he needs for a traditional marriage: something old, something new, something borrowed and something Blue. But his latest project, Kind of Bloop, an 8-bit tribute to the Miles Davis classic Kind of Blue, is hardly traditional. Baio hopes that the marriage of electronic sound and jazz will result in something truly unique to commemorate the album's 50th anniversary on Aug. 17. "What would the pioneers of jazz sound like on a Nintendo Entertainment System?" he wondered, calling upon chiptune musicians Chris J. Hampton, Rich Vreeland, Sergio de Prado, Samuel Ascher-Weiss and Jake Kaufman to help him... read more
Found in: Music, NewsNile Songs: My Middle East & North Africa Playlist, Had I Accompanied President Obama to Egypt
President Obama gave a speech at Cairo University yesterday in which he reached out to Muslims, decried extremism and the murder of innocents, and outlined his administration's policies regarding a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine. Regardless of your views on the successes or shortcomings of the president's hotly debated speech, I'd bet us diehard music fans can all agree that there are some pretty amazingly cool songs inspired the Arab and Muslim cultures of the Middle East and North Africa.Had I been able to accompany the president on this historic trip, here are a few songs I would've loaded into... read more
Found in: Blogs, List of the DayTake Two: Ten Perfectly Imperfect Musical Outtakes
Recording an album can be a tedious process, and musicians in the studio are well accustomed to hearing "take two” from a producer. But sometimes, when the tapes are left rolling, they pick up a little something extra from within the studio—a sneeze here, a bit of conversation there. Whether it’s the authenticity of the recording, the secret peek it offers into the artist’s process, or sheer amusement, the imperfections caught on tape during recording sessions are often what makes a song so great—and sometimes these bloopers are compelling enough to make it onto the actual album, not just a... read more
Found in: Blogs, List of the DayMiles Davis: Kind Of Blue: 50th Anniversary Collector’s Edition
The jazz record everyone should own becomes the box set everyone should own Miles Davis’s Kind of Blue is an essential disc for music lovers of all genres. Yet unlike most masterpieces, it doesn’t announce its greatness loudly. Instead, the music draws you in with seductively gentle restraint. It’s a recording with a pristine elegance that has never been matched, not even by Davis himself, who made several recordings that rank among jazz’s best. One listen to the distinctive sound of opening track “So What” and it should be clear why this is the best-selling jazz disc of all time.... read more
Found in: Music, ReviewsMos Def's Big Band to perform with Gil Scott-Heron
Looks like we'll need to add one more item to perennial Brooklyn hip-hop veteran Mos Def's resume: rapper, actor, poet, band geek. Turns out that the mighty Mos has been doing some stuff with Mos Def's Big Band on the side since last year, namely a tribute to J Dilla. And, unlike other acts who've tried their hands at this with mixed results, they actually sound really good. Their next performance is on June 28 (with special guest Gil Scott-Heron!) at the JVC Jazz Festival in New York City. The event is described as "an evening of music and spoken... read more
Found in: Music, NewsHear Music's New Compilations
Hear Music will release two new albums this spring—Miles Davis 1954-1959: Poetics of Sound and Playlist Volume 3. Both albums will be available exclusively in Starbucks corporate stores in North America. The Davis CD, which arrives in stores March 23, is the latest release in Hear Music’s Opus series, which has released albums featuring Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin and Joni Mitchell, among others. Among the tracks featured on Poetics of Sound is “Bag’s Groove,” displaying Davis’ collaborations with pianist/composer Thelonious Monk. The album also features legendary collaborations with John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Red Garland and Paul... read more
Found in: Music, NewsMiles Davis - Seven Steps
Deluxe box from legendary jazz trumpeter bridges gap between first and second great quintets... read more
Found in: Music, Reviews
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