Warwick Valley Jazz Musicians: Talkin' Jazz

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Written by George L. Nitti

"Kind of Blue" and "Live Evil" - Miles Davis

Miles.  It had to be him........How do I pick one?  I won't. "Kind of Blue" and "Live Evil".        

The elegance of ensemble playing, the direction of Miles, the fire of Cannonball, the new sound of Trane and the blissful swing of Jimmy Cobb. Throw in some brilliant composition, 2 remarkable pianists and you have the quintessential jazz album for players and  fans.

Kind of Blue is always fresh, and returning to it is a workshop for jazz.  This is how to do it.  Reminds me of my  limitations and the remarkable gifts of  others.

Live Evil...hmmmm   the critics banned it, the jazz academia sneered at it's lack of "legitimate " jazz content and the purists accused him of selling out. Quite the contrary.  This record  is an extension of an artist always in transition.   Selling out might have been to play it safe. Jack DeJohnette, Keith Jarrett and Chick Corea on electric keyboards, a Motown bass player, Gary Bartz, Steve Grossman, Airto and John McLaughlin.  Does it swing?  Well not like Basie or Duke.  Does it bop like Bird?  No. It grooves.   It's group listening and improvisation on simple themes.   But the players!    It's live. ( mostly) and it's happening...............always.

Jazz for me is a metaphor for high consciousness living. What's good for the ensemble, collective, is good for the individual.  They live interdependent on that relationship. The music succeeds on the merit of that perspective.When Louie came up, and Diz was on 52nd st. someone was always unhappy. "It just isn't jazz."

Jazz lived and will survive by stretching the paradigm. We'll always gravitate to a preference.  But attachment to a singular definition and rejection of variations on familiar themes holds us back. Miles gave us "new directions."  And man are we the fortunate recipients.