Jazz collisions with orchestras are not always happy occasions as the loss of small group intimacy and interplay may not be compensated by the extra symphonic power and variety. I placed much of the recent venture by Avishai Cohen (bass) with the Gothenburg Symphony in this category (REVIEW HERE). I feared the worst for this expanded take on Miles as well, but it turned out the Berliners under Magnus Lindgren had it sorted, as they have experience at these collaborations, with a series of recordings, most recently with a Mingus Centenary (REVIEW HERE) with the same pianist and drummer. This album is a recording of a live concert in 2021 in honour of Miles, who played at the venue at the first Jazzfest Berlin in 1964, returning eight times.
The lead role is
taken by Theo Croker, familiar to me as a post-bop player dabbling in electronica
and hip-hop, and revered by my son for
his exciting and virtuosic modern style. Croker was born in Florida 1985, grandson
of legendary trumpeter Doc Cheatham, resident in Shanghai for seven years
before returning to the US. In his seventh
album, 2022's Love Quantum (MASTERWORKS MSWK988249.2), he makes the bold
proclamation: "Long live music, jazz is dead" so I was curious to
hear his genre-defying take on classic Miles!
I needn’t have worried, as Croker counts a sensitive, warm tone in his
armoury, allowing an authentic and respectful contribution to this Miles
retrospective, while still stretching the idiom with interesting technical and
artistic updates.
The first of two
CDs is a set of classics from Miles Davis‘ late fifties band while for the
second the Philharmonic join for three
suites from “orchestral albums” Miles Ahead, Porgy and Bess and Sketches
of Spain. The first set of small
ensemble tunes are a delight, casting fresh light on the classics. Croker’s superb
technique gives an extra dimension, with sensitive and inventive soloing from
all, jet propelled when needed by explosive drumming. Pinocchio runs
smoothly into Milestones, followed by a glorious 12 minute exposition of
Footprints, starting as a languid stroll, building to piano and drum solos which brought
the house down. I’ve chewed over
Footprints a lot recently, with a muscular live version by Knats and a sublime
run through from Herbie Hancock at Glasto
with Terence Blanchard, and I have to say the Berliners topped the lot. My
Funny Valentine luxuriates (perhaps too much!) over a relaxed 11 minutes, before
So What charges off at a satisfying lick, with Lindgren adding
rollicking tenor.
The second CD’s augmented
arrangements are a natural extension to the originals, more big band than
Philharmonic, with plenty of space and visibility for the quartet. Sketches
of Spain has some work to do to match the original, but manages new ideas
and spectacular breathy trumpet while retaining
the original cool. The album closes with
a sparky ten minute All Blues which holds the interest with powerful
solos and thoughtful addition of Lindgren on flute.
While Miles famously wouldn’t return to his classics, there are certainly some enjoyable and new angles in this top class live homage. Chris K
ACT 9948-2 release August, 26, double-cd, double-lp & digital.
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