From their first work together on the Birth of the Cool sessions in 1949, Miles Davis and Gil Evans forged a unique relationship as great soloist and brilliant arranger. The real opportunity to explore their shared vision didn't come until 1957, however, when Davis had forged a relationship with a major record label able to support it. Though a product of the big-band tradition, Evans was never limited by sectional voicings and riffs. He had an interest in unusual instrumentation and a talent for creating subtle mixes of distinct voices, adding French horns, oboe, bassoon, and harp to the conventional big band and thinning its saxophone, trumpet, and trombone sections. His arrangements for Davis are like settings for the finest jewels, whether he's creating rich, brass chords or adding only light percussion to the trumpeter's solitary lament. Together Davis and Evans produced three orchestral masterpieces: Miles Ahead (1957), Porgy and Bess (1958), and Sketches of Spain (1960). They're all here, along with less-inspired, later projects like the Quiet Nights bossa nova album. What most distinguishes the box set is the archival work of Phil Schaap, who has compiled a wealth of alternate takes. They reveal much about the processes that went into these works, including extensive editing and even some overdubbing. As early as 1957, Evans and Davis were already beginning to use the studio itself as an integral part of their music.
Disc 1:
01. Springsville (master)
02. The Maids Of Cadiz (master)
03. The Duke (master)
04. My Ship
05. Miles Ahead (master)
06. Blues For Pablo (master)
07. New Rhumba (master)
08. The Meaning Of The Blues (master)
09. Lament (master)
10. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (master)
11. Springsville (remake take 7)
12. The Maids Of Cadiz (take 1)
13. The Duke (take 11)
14. My Ship (take 1)
15. Miles Ahead (take 4)
16. Blues For Pablo (take 1)
17. New Rhumba (take 5)
18. The Meaning Of The Blues (rehearsal take)
19. Lament (rehearsal take)
20. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (take 8)
21. Pause Track*
Disc 2:
01. Buzzard Song (from 'Porgy & Bess") (master)
02. Bess, You Is My Woman Now (from 'Porgy & Bess') (master)
03. Gone (master) Miles Davis & Gil Evans 3:39 $0.99
04. Gone, Gone, Gone (from 'Porgy & Bess') (master)
05. Summertime (From 'Porgy & Bess') (master)
06. Oh Bess, Oh Where's My Bess (from 'Porgy & Bess') (master)
07. Prayer (Oh Doctor Jesus) (from 'Porgy & Bess') (master)
08. Fishermen, Strawberry And Devil Crab (master)
09. My Man's Gone Now (from 'Porgy & Bess') (master)
10. It Ain't Necessarily So (from 'Porgy & Bess') (master)
11. Here Come De Honey Man (from 'Porgy & Bess') (master)
12. I Loves You, Porgy (from 'Porgy & Bess')
13. There's A Boat That's Leaving Soon For New York (from 'Porgy & Bess') (master)
14. Gone (take 3)
15. Summertime (from 'Porgy & Bess') (take 2)
16. Prayer (Oh Doctor Jesus) (from 'Porgy & Bess') (take 2)
17. I Loves You, Porgy (from 'Porgy & Bess') (take 1, second version)
18. There's A Boat That's Leaving Soon For New York (from 'Porgy & Bess') (take 2)
19. Oh Bess, Oh Where's My Bess (from 'Porgy & Bess') (take 5)
20. Gone (take 4)
21. Pause Track*
Disc 3:
01. Concierto De Aranjuez (Adagio) (master)
02. Will O' The Wisp (master)
03. The Pan Piper (master)
04. Saeta (master)
05. Solea (master)
06. Song Of Our Country (issued take)
07. Saeta (full version of master)
08. The Pan Piper (take 1)
09. Concierto De Aranjuez (Adagio) (part one, alternate take)
10. Concierto De Aranjuez (part two, alternate take)
11. Song Of Our Country (take 14)
12. Pause Track*
Disc 4:
01. Song No. 2 (master)
02. Once Upon A Summertime (master)
03. Aos Pes Da Cruz (master)
04. Song No. 1 (master)
05. Wait Till You See Her (master)
06. Corcovado (Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars) (master)
07. Blue Xmas (master)
08. Nothing Like You (master)
09. Devil May Care (master)
10. The Time Of The Barracudas
11. Falling Water (take 4)
12. Falling Water (take 6)
13. Falling Water (take 8)
14. Falling Water (take 9)
15. Springsville (take 5)
16. The Maids Of Cadiz (take 11)
17. The Maids Of Cadiz (take 11, insert 1)
18. Lament (Medley: take 2)
19. The Duke (take 1)
20. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (53225 issued version)
Disc 5:
01. Springsville (rehearsal sequence)
02. Springsville (rehearsal with piano)
03. The Maids Of Cadiz (take 9)
04. The Maids Of Cadiz (take 10)
05. The Maids Of Cadiz (rehearsal sequence)
06. Count Off For The Duke (take 3)
07. The Duke (take 8)
08. The Duke (piano take 3)
09. My Ship (take 6)
10. Miles Ahead (rehearsal sequence)
11. Miles Ahead (take 12)
12. Miles Ahead (take 15)
13. Studio Discussion
14. My Ship (take 7)
15. Miles Ahead (piano insert - mono)
16. Blues For Pablo (rehearsal sequence)
17. New Rhumba (take 2)
18. Lament (take 1)
19. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (rehearsal)
20. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (take 5)
21. Studio Discussion
22. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (piano take 4)
23. Pause Track*
Disc 6:
01. Studio Discussion
02. Springsville (take 8 without overdubs)
03. Studio Discussion
04. Miles Ahead (take 11 without overdubs)
05. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (take 3 without overdubs)
06. Springsville (overdub take 1)
07. Springsville (overdubbed solos 4 - 5)
08. Springsville (overdubbed solos 6-9)
09. Springsville (issued overdubbed solo)
10. Miles Ahead (issued overdubbed solo)
11. Miles Ahead (overdubbed solo)
12. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (overdubbed solo 1)
13. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (overdubbed solo 2)
14. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (overdubbed solo 4)
15. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (overdubbed solo 8)
16. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (overdubbed solo 19 & 19c)
17. Miles Ahead (mono master)
18. Gone (rehearsal sequence)
19. Gone, Gone, Gone (from 'Porgy & Bess') (rehearsal sequence)
20. Studio Discussion
21. Bess, You Is My Woman Now (from 'Porgy & Bess') (rehearsal take)
22. It Ain't Necessarily So (from 'Porgy & Bess') (take 1)
23. Oh Bess, Oh Where's My Bess (from 'Porgy & Bess') (take 3)
24. I Loves You, Porgy (from 'Porgy & Bess') (rehearsal sequence)
25. There's A Boat That's Leaving Soon For New York (from 'Porgy & Bess') (remake)
26. My Man's Gone Now (from 'Porgy & Bess') (remake take)
27. Song Of Our Country (take 9)
28. Concierto De Aranjuez (Adagio) (rehearsal)
29. Concierto De Aranjuez (Adagio) (alternate ending)
30. Pause Track*
01. Springsville (master)
02. The Maids Of Cadiz (master)
03. The Duke (master)
04. My Ship
05. Miles Ahead (master)
06. Blues For Pablo (master)
07. New Rhumba (master)
08. The Meaning Of The Blues (master)
09. Lament (master)
10. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (master)
11. Springsville (remake take 7)
12. The Maids Of Cadiz (take 1)
13. The Duke (take 11)
14. My Ship (take 1)
15. Miles Ahead (take 4)
16. Blues For Pablo (take 1)
17. New Rhumba (take 5)
18. The Meaning Of The Blues (rehearsal take)
19. Lament (rehearsal take)
20. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (take 8)
21. Pause Track*
Disc 2:
01. Buzzard Song (from 'Porgy & Bess") (master)
02. Bess, You Is My Woman Now (from 'Porgy & Bess') (master)
03. Gone (master) Miles Davis & Gil Evans 3:39 $0.99
04. Gone, Gone, Gone (from 'Porgy & Bess') (master)
05. Summertime (From 'Porgy & Bess') (master)
06. Oh Bess, Oh Where's My Bess (from 'Porgy & Bess') (master)
07. Prayer (Oh Doctor Jesus) (from 'Porgy & Bess') (master)
08. Fishermen, Strawberry And Devil Crab (master)
09. My Man's Gone Now (from 'Porgy & Bess') (master)
10. It Ain't Necessarily So (from 'Porgy & Bess') (master)
11. Here Come De Honey Man (from 'Porgy & Bess') (master)
12. I Loves You, Porgy (from 'Porgy & Bess')
13. There's A Boat That's Leaving Soon For New York (from 'Porgy & Bess') (master)
14. Gone (take 3)
15. Summertime (from 'Porgy & Bess') (take 2)
16. Prayer (Oh Doctor Jesus) (from 'Porgy & Bess') (take 2)
17. I Loves You, Porgy (from 'Porgy & Bess') (take 1, second version)
18. There's A Boat That's Leaving Soon For New York (from 'Porgy & Bess') (take 2)
19. Oh Bess, Oh Where's My Bess (from 'Porgy & Bess') (take 5)
20. Gone (take 4)
21. Pause Track*
Disc 3:
01. Concierto De Aranjuez (Adagio) (master)
02. Will O' The Wisp (master)
03. The Pan Piper (master)
04. Saeta (master)
05. Solea (master)
06. Song Of Our Country (issued take)
07. Saeta (full version of master)
08. The Pan Piper (take 1)
09. Concierto De Aranjuez (Adagio) (part one, alternate take)
10. Concierto De Aranjuez (part two, alternate take)
11. Song Of Our Country (take 14)
12. Pause Track*
Disc 4:
01. Song No. 2 (master)
02. Once Upon A Summertime (master)
03. Aos Pes Da Cruz (master)
04. Song No. 1 (master)
05. Wait Till You See Her (master)
06. Corcovado (Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars) (master)
07. Blue Xmas (master)
08. Nothing Like You (master)
09. Devil May Care (master)
10. The Time Of The Barracudas
11. Falling Water (take 4)
12. Falling Water (take 6)
13. Falling Water (take 8)
14. Falling Water (take 9)
15. Springsville (take 5)
16. The Maids Of Cadiz (take 11)
17. The Maids Of Cadiz (take 11, insert 1)
18. Lament (Medley: take 2)
19. The Duke (take 1)
20. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (53225 issued version)
Disc 5:
01. Springsville (rehearsal sequence)
02. Springsville (rehearsal with piano)
03. The Maids Of Cadiz (take 9)
04. The Maids Of Cadiz (take 10)
05. The Maids Of Cadiz (rehearsal sequence)
06. Count Off For The Duke (take 3)
07. The Duke (take 8)
08. The Duke (piano take 3)
09. My Ship (take 6)
10. Miles Ahead (rehearsal sequence)
11. Miles Ahead (take 12)
12. Miles Ahead (take 15)
13. Studio Discussion
14. My Ship (take 7)
15. Miles Ahead (piano insert - mono)
16. Blues For Pablo (rehearsal sequence)
17. New Rhumba (take 2)
18. Lament (take 1)
19. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (rehearsal)
20. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (take 5)
21. Studio Discussion
22. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (piano take 4)
23. Pause Track*
Disc 6:
01. Studio Discussion
02. Springsville (take 8 without overdubs)
03. Studio Discussion
04. Miles Ahead (take 11 without overdubs)
05. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (take 3 without overdubs)
06. Springsville (overdub take 1)
07. Springsville (overdubbed solos 4 - 5)
08. Springsville (overdubbed solos 6-9)
09. Springsville (issued overdubbed solo)
10. Miles Ahead (issued overdubbed solo)
11. Miles Ahead (overdubbed solo)
12. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (overdubbed solo 1)
13. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (overdubbed solo 2)
14. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (overdubbed solo 4)
15. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (overdubbed solo 8)
16. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (overdubbed solo 19 & 19c)
17. Miles Ahead (mono master)
18. Gone (rehearsal sequence)
19. Gone, Gone, Gone (from 'Porgy & Bess') (rehearsal sequence)
20. Studio Discussion
21. Bess, You Is My Woman Now (from 'Porgy & Bess') (rehearsal take)
22. It Ain't Necessarily So (from 'Porgy & Bess') (take 1)
23. Oh Bess, Oh Where's My Bess (from 'Porgy & Bess') (take 3)
24. I Loves You, Porgy (from 'Porgy & Bess') (rehearsal sequence)
25. There's A Boat That's Leaving Soon For New York (from 'Porgy & Bess') (remake)
26. My Man's Gone Now (from 'Porgy & Bess') (remake take)
27. Song Of Our Country (take 9)
28. Concierto De Aranjuez (Adagio) (rehearsal)
29. Concierto De Aranjuez (Adagio) (alternate ending)
30. Pause Track*
