READ TO THE VERY END for a SURPRISE!! I still don’t get all the negativity around Miles Davis. I don’t understand where the idea comes from that Miles was nasty, mean and rude. The movie Miles Ahead went even further, idiotically depicting him as hostile and violent (not to mention that Don Cheadle looks absolutely nothing like Miles). That is Not the way Miles is described by musicians who worked with him. Have you ever read or listened to an interview with a former band member that was anything but positive?
I love this, the information and perspective is keen. I think it also exhibits the egalitarian and socratic nature in jazz. To me these photos speak to the pianists, moreso than Miles (who is obviously all about the music, and caring). The best musicians I know dont care who they get the information from. I remember playing with Kevin Mahogany, who wanted to play a certain tune, which Kenny Drew jr (who was playing piano) said he did not know (extremely rare for him). I said I knew it, and Kenny said , great, show me. We shared the piano bench for a minute, and I played a few bars and as you might imagine, he said "oh yeah, I remember that". Kenny was a dear friend, but I was always in awe of his musicianship, and his person. It struck me how unassuming he always was when it came to receiving information. In the long run I learned more from Kenny's attitude that day than he ever would from me reminding him of a tune he actually did know. So, these insights and pictures make perfect sense, and exhibit pursuance of excellence. Thank you Dr Porter.
Thanks for all of your work, Dr. Porter. I've devoured what I've found of it, including your Prez bio. I grew up in WV, hearing Basie and other great jazz from Dick Martin, at WWL in New Orleans and Sid McCoy from Chicago on AM radio. When I moved to Chicago after college, Prez and Billie became my first loves, as Daddyo Daylie turned me on with his Friday morning "killer days" that featured their late '30s recordings, and Miles' and Trane's 50's recordings hit me like a ton of bricks. It took me a while to "get" their later work, and while I did better with Miles, Trane lost me after the great quartet.
I love this, the information and perspective is keen. I think it also exhibits the egalitarian and socratic nature in jazz. To me these photos speak to the pianists, moreso than Miles (who is obviously all about the music, and caring). The best musicians I know dont care who they get the information from. I remember playing with Kevin Mahogany, who wanted to play a certain tune, which Kenny Drew jr (who was playing piano) said he did not know (extremely rare for him). I said I knew it, and Kenny said , great, show me. We shared the piano bench for a minute, and I played a few bars and as you might imagine, he said "oh yeah, I remember that". Kenny was a dear friend, but I was always in awe of his musicianship, and his person. It struck me how unassuming he always was when it came to receiving information. In the long run I learned more from Kenny's attitude that day than he ever would from me reminding him of a tune he actually did know. So, these insights and pictures make perfect sense, and exhibit pursuance of excellence. Thank you Dr Porter.
Thanks for all of your work, Dr. Porter. I've devoured what I've found of it, including your Prez bio. I grew up in WV, hearing Basie and other great jazz from Dick Martin, at WWL in New Orleans and Sid McCoy from Chicago on AM radio. When I moved to Chicago after college, Prez and Billie became my first loves, as Daddyo Daylie turned me on with his Friday morning "killer days" that featured their late '30s recordings, and Miles' and Trane's 50's recordings hit me like a ton of bricks. It took me a while to "get" their later work, and while I did better with Miles, Trane lost me after the great quartet.