Song:My Funny Valentine
Album:My Funny Valentine
Here's a classic Miles Davis album recorded live in 1964. This is a must for any jazz fan and it's available as a budget CD. As I've mentioned before, Davis struggled for a few years after he split with John Coltrane in 1960. He attempted to replace Coltrane with Jimmy Heath, Sonny Stitt and then Hank Mobley. Then in 1963, his long time rhythm section of Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers and Jimmy Cobb left and Davis had to form a new band. He hired up and coming pianist Herbie Hancock, bassist Ron Carter and teen drummer Tony Williams. Davis really wanted sax player Wayne Shorter after working with him on a Christmas song. But Shorter was musical director of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers and Davis couldn't convince him to leave. Ron Carter suggested George Coleman who had been a member of Max Roach's band in the late 50s. This is the band that recorded the 1963 album Seven Steps To Heaven. It's the only studio album Coleman appeared on. But he did appear on several live albums including My Funny Valentine. This was recorded at the Philharmonic Hall of Lincoln Center in New York City Feb. 12, 1964. It was divided up into two albums. My Funny Valentine had the slow and mid tempo songs and Four & More had the uptempo songs. Four & More was released in 1966. Herbie Hancock has said the band was disappointed with their performance. But he listened to the My Funny Valentine album and thought they sounded great. The album is now considered a classic and is available as a budget CD. My Funny Valentine was a regular part of Davis' repertoire since the 50s. Coleman soon left the Davis band for Chet Baker. Davis really liked Coleman and he was sorry he left. After Sam Rivers didn't work out, Davis finally convinced Shorter to join the band. After a tour, this new band recorded the 1965 album E.S.P. featuring songs written and arranged by Shorter. This new band was soon hailed as Miles Davis' second great band. Here's Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter and Tony Williams performing My Funny Valentine Oct. 11, 1964 in Milan, Italy. Shorter never recorded My Funny Valentine in the studio with Davis and this concert is not available on CD or DVD.
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