I’m sure that my headline has already blown your mind! Well, in Part 1 of this series, I told you about a 1959 proposal for Coltrane to record an album of Monk tunes. Today let’s look at another project that never happened. Let’s start with this letter, from November 17, 1966:
I think Miles was at a crossroads musically around 66’-67’ in doubt of going in the ”free jazz” direction or not. Obviously he was following the advance of the genre by leading people like Trane and with the market oriented part of his mind he might have been afraid of loosing out or missing the train. At the same time the style wasn’t natural to him (as it wasn’t to Coltrane either) and the idea of a reunion of the two might have been tempting as a way to have a foot in both camps in anticipation of the future. And, had it been realized it could have had an impact on the future of jazz that is mindblowing indeed. However, as it turned out, it couldn’t reasonably have come true.
As it happens, I've been reading Will Friedwald's Sinatra bio, and last night came to his discussion of the wonderful recordings he had made with Bobby Hackett in 1945. Friedwald goes on to relate a casual conversation held years later in which Ruby Braff says to Sinatra, "Weren't you smart to make those great records with Bobby? I always wondered why you didn't do more of them." Friedwald, quoting Braff, says "at this point, Sinatra got a kind of faraway reflective look in his eye, and told Braff, 'You know, you always think there'll be time to all the things you want to do, but somehow there never is.' "
Wow. Impressive research! Art vs commerce commerce vs art. It’s a glimpse into the business aspect of music. Jazz music. Harold Lovett was I believe the lawyer in that terrible picture of Miles Davis bloodied in the police brutality. I have always been intrigued by Clive Davis a major figure in late twentieth century music. From Brooklyn and attended Harvard law. He lived in my hood Bayside for a few years puts a smile on my face.
This would have been quite something to hear trane recording with miles in 1967!
If indeed an Impulse! session would have featured the Coltrane quartet, it truly would have been fascinating to hear Miles navigate the density of that group
I recall—and would have to look it up—that Miles was none too appreciative of McCoy’s playing in Miles’ autobiography. Herbie Hancock may have been more adaptable to Trane’s music. As for Miles with Alice, Garrison, and Rashied—the mind boggles at the thought!
I think Miles was at a crossroads musically around 66’-67’ in doubt of going in the ”free jazz” direction or not. Obviously he was following the advance of the genre by leading people like Trane and with the market oriented part of his mind he might have been afraid of loosing out or missing the train. At the same time the style wasn’t natural to him (as it wasn’t to Coltrane either) and the idea of a reunion of the two might have been tempting as a way to have a foot in both camps in anticipation of the future. And, had it been realized it could have had an impact on the future of jazz that is mindblowing indeed. However, as it turned out, it couldn’t reasonably have come true.
The time in jazz history when giants walked the Earth- and the labels they recorded for didn't know it.
As it happens, I've been reading Will Friedwald's Sinatra bio, and last night came to his discussion of the wonderful recordings he had made with Bobby Hackett in 1945. Friedwald goes on to relate a casual conversation held years later in which Ruby Braff says to Sinatra, "Weren't you smart to make those great records with Bobby? I always wondered why you didn't do more of them." Friedwald, quoting Braff, says "at this point, Sinatra got a kind of faraway reflective look in his eye, and told Braff, 'You know, you always think there'll be time to all the things you want to do, but somehow there never is.' "
Wow. Impressive research! Art vs commerce commerce vs art. It’s a glimpse into the business aspect of music. Jazz music. Harold Lovett was I believe the lawyer in that terrible picture of Miles Davis bloodied in the police brutality. I have always been intrigued by Clive Davis a major figure in late twentieth century music. From Brooklyn and attended Harvard law. He lived in my hood Bayside for a few years puts a smile on my face.
This would have been quite something to hear trane recording with miles in 1967!
If indeed an Impulse! session would have featured the Coltrane quartet, it truly would have been fascinating to hear Miles navigate the density of that group
Of course between these two letters, Coltrane did have an impromptu reunion with Monk:
http://vancouverjazz.com/2016/02/jazz-notes-john-coltrane-thelonious-monk-cobo-hall-1967.html
I recall—and would have to look it up—that Miles was none too appreciative of McCoy’s playing in Miles’ autobiography. Herbie Hancock may have been more adaptable to Trane’s music. As for Miles with Alice, Garrison, and Rashied—the mind boggles at the thought!