Milestones: A Miles Davis Archive

Peter Losin's discography also lists two incomplete clips from the same performance of What's New?, both with voiceover. I've never tracked these down.

YouTube video by Milestones: A Miles Davis Archive Miles Davis- December 7, 1957 ORTF Studios, Paris (audio version)

When we posted this audio only performance of 𝗟𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗕𝗶𝗿𝗱 to Youtube nine years ago (!), we believed it came from the same session. This now seems in doubt, although the truncated performance suggests it might be from a broadcast (the applause may be dubbed in). It's certainly from the same period.

The personnel is Miles Davis- tp; Barney Wilen- ts; René Urtreger- p; Pierre Michelot- b; Kenny Clarke- d. This is the line up that had recorded the music for Louis Malle's movie 𝘈𝘴𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭'𝘌𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘧𝘢𝘶𝘥 earlier in the week.

YouTube video by Ina Best Of Jazz Inédit : Les premières images de Miles Davis à la télé | Archive INA

Recorded this day, 1957: Miles and the René Urtreger Quartet record a spot for French TV station RTF's show 𝘈𝘶 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘥𝘦 𝘭𝘢 𝘓𝘶𝘯𝘦, performing Jackie McLean's 𝗗𝗶𝗴 (aka 𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗮). Thanks to some bizarre set design, they're on the moon.
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YouTube video by Miles Davis - Topic Drad Dog

Sunday morning Miles: 𝗗𝗿𝗮𝗱-𝗗𝗼𝗴 from the LP 𝙎𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙈𝙮 𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙚 (Columbia). With Hank Mobley- ts; Wynton Kelly- p; Paul Chambers- b; Jimmy Cobb- d. Recorded March 21, 1961.
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Despite the audio quality this is notable for a few reasons- Wayne Shorter makes his live debut on soprano saxophone, having introduced it at a studio session the week before, the final known live recording with Tony Williams, and Wynton Kelly making a guest appearance on electric piano.

YouTube video by Milestones: A Miles Davis Archive Miles Davis- December 5-8, 1968 Jazz Workshop, Boston

Recorded December 5-8, 1968: Poor quality but interesting audience tape from Boston, with Wayne Shorter- ss, ts; Chick Corea- el-p; Dave Holland- b; Tony Williams- d; and Wynton Kelly- el-p sitting in.
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Miles Davis' Bitches Brew It was 1969, and Miles Davis, prince of cool, was on the edge of being left behind by a dynamic generation of young musicians, an important handful of whom had…

Exploration of "Circle in the Round" is one of the core features of my book, currently on sale at a great price from @3313books.bsky.social www.bloomsbury.com/us/miles-dav...

YouTube video by Miles Davis - Topic Circle In The Round

Despite its fresh textures and haunting melody, 𝗖𝗶𝗿𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝗜𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 struggles to retain interest across its 26 minute run time. However, 1998's boxed set 𝙈𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝘿𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙨 𝙌𝙪𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙩 𝟭𝟵𝟲𝟱-'𝟲𝟴 revealed that in 1967 Teo Macero had put together an even longer 33½ minute edit.

The personnel is Miles Davis- tp, chimes, tubular bells; Wayne Shorter- ts; Herbie Hancock- celeste; Joe Beck- g; Ron Carter- b; Tony Williams- d. The unusual instrumentation and use of extensive editing as a compositional tool is pointing the way forward to 𝙄𝙣 𝙖 𝙎𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙒𝙖𝙮.

YouTube video by Miles Davis - Topic Circle In The Round

Recorded this day, 1967: Miles and the Second Great Quintet, augmented by a guitarist, record 35 takes of the mysterious, haunting 𝗖𝗶𝗿𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝗜𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱. It went unissued until this composite edit by engineer Stan Tonkel became the title track of a 1979 outtake compilation.
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YouTube video by MilesDavisVEVO Miles Davis - Working with Louis Malle (from The Miles Davis Story)

This excerpt from the documentary 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘋𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘴 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 includes interviews with René Urtreger and Pierre Michelot about the recording session.

YouTube video by CRITERION Miles Davis Records the Score for ELEVATOR TO THE GALLOWS

Recorded this day, 1957: Miles records the music for Louis Malle's film 𝘈𝘴𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭'𝘌𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘧𝘢𝘶𝘥 with the musicians watching a projection of the movie while playing. This short film recreates the session and includes a short interview with Malle.
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Elevator To The Gallows (1958) : Louis Malle : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive Elevator To The Gallows 1958Louis Malle

The piece is heard around 49 minutes in, as Louis and Véronique attempt to steal Horst Bencker's car, although the title suggests the piece was intended for a different part of the movie- around 1h10m, when Julien finally makes his escape from the elevator.

YouTube video by Miles Davis - Topic Évasion de Julien

With Barney Wilen- ts; René Urtreger- p; Pierre Michelot- b; Kenny Clarke- d, although this piece features only Michelot. The recorded music was edited and had reverb added for release on the soundtrack LP. 𝗔𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗿 was retitled 𝗘𝘃𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗲 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻.

YouTube video by Milestones: A Miles Davis Archive Miles Davis- December 4, 1957 Paris [Ascenseur from Ascenseur pour l'Échafaud]

Recorded this day, 1957: Miles and the René Urtreger Quartet record the music for Louis Malle's film 𝘈𝘴𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭'𝘌𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘧𝘢𝘶𝘥. There was a single take of 𝗔𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗿.
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Elevator To The Gallows (1958) : Louis Malle : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive Elevator To The Gallows 1958Louis Malle

Take 2 appears in the 19th minute, as Louis and Véronique drive away in Julien's stolen car.

Elevator To The Gallows (1958) : Louis Malle : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive Elevator To The Gallows 1958Louis Malle

Despite only take 2 appearing on the soundtrack LP, both takes were used in the movie. Take 1 is heard at around 33 minutes, as the Henckers entertain Louis and Véronique at the motel.

YouTube video by Miles Davis - Topic Sur l'autoroute

The recorded music was edited and had reverb added for release on the soundtrack LP. Take 2 of 𝗦𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 was retitled 𝗦𝘂𝗿 𝗹'𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗲.

YouTube video by Miles Davis - Topic Séquence voiture (Take 2 - Bande originale du film "Ascenseur pour l'échafaud")

With Barney Wilen- ts; René Urtreger- p; Pierre Michelot- b; Kenny Clarke- d. Take 2:

YouTube video by Miles Davis - Topic Séquence voiture (Take 1 - Bande originale du film "Ascenseur pour l'échafaud")

Recorded this day, 1957: Miles and the René Urtreger Quartet record the music for Louis Malle's film 𝘈𝘴𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭'𝘌𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘧𝘢𝘶𝘥. There were two takes of 𝗦𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲. Take 1:
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Elevator To The Gallows (1958) : Louis Malle : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive Elevator To The Gallows 1958Louis Malle

The piece is used 45 minutes in, as Florence continues her search for Julien in the bars of Paris.

YouTube video by Miles Davis - Topic Au bar du petit bac

With Barney Wilen- ts; René Urtreger- p; Pierre Michelot- b; Kenny Clarke- d. The recorded music was edited and had reverb added for release on the soundtrack LP. Take 2 of 𝗟𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁 𝗯𝗮𝗰 was retitled 𝗔𝘂 𝗯𝗮𝗿 𝗱𝘂 𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁 𝗯𝗮𝗰.

YouTube video by Milestones: A Miles Davis Archive Miles Davis- December 4, 1957 Paris [Le Petit Bac from Ascenseur pour l'Échafaud]

Recorded this day, 1957: Miles and the René Urtreger Quartet record the music for Louis Malle's film 𝘈𝘴𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭'𝘌𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘧𝘢𝘶𝘥. There were two takes of 𝗟𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁 𝗯𝗮𝗰.
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YouTube video by Swing Blues Jazz 78 RPM Disorder At The Border - Coleman Hawkins - 1944

That figure was based on Coleman Hawkins' 1944 blues 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿. It's not known if Miles performed a full version of Blue n' Boogie or Disorder at the Border at the 𝘈𝘴𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘶𝘳 session, or if the riff was used as a shout chorus on a different piece.

YouTube video by Prestige Jazz Miles Davis - Blue 'N' Boogie (Rudy Van Gelder Remaster) from Walkin'

It has been identified as a performance of 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲 '𝗻' 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗲, as it resembles the backing figures during Lucky Thompson's tenor solo from Miles' 1954 recording of the Dizzy Gillespie piece.

Elevator To The Gallows (1958) : Louis Malle : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive Elevator To The Gallows 1958Louis Malle

There is another piece of music in the film which remains unreleased, heard 34 minutes in, as Frieda Hencker takes the small camera from Véronique and photographs Louis and Horst. The source of this performance is unknown.

Elevator To The Gallows (1958) : Louis Malle : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive Elevator To The Gallows 1958Louis Malle

The piece is used at 1h14m, as Julien is questioned by the police, unable to convince them he was stuck in the elevator.

With Barney Wilen- ts; René Urtreger- p; Pierre Michelot- b; Kenny Clarke- d, although both Miles and Wilen sit this one out. This piece, despite being used in the movie, was not included on the original soundtrack and remained unreleased until 2018.

YouTube video by Miles Davis - Topic L'interrogatoire de Julien (Take 1 - Bande originale du film "Ascenseur pour l'échafaud")

Recorded this day, 1957: Miles and the René Urtreger Quartet record the music for Louis Malle's film 𝘈𝘴𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭'𝘌𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘧𝘢𝘶𝘥. There was a single take of the almost avant-garde 𝗟'𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗲 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻.
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