Jim Tavegia
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Kind of Blue Re-Make
Jeff Wong
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I'm often not fond of remakes, especially when it comes to film, because most often, the original is quite good enough or even excellent, that any attempt to top it is futile. I really didn't get Gus Van Sant's shot for shot recreation of Hitchcock's Psycho, other than being an interesting thought experiment... but, I suppose there's something to be said for actually executing an idea.

I am, however, fascinated by cover songs by bands, especially when the tune is reinvented, and the new version takes on a life of its own with its own merits. DEVO's version of 'Satisfaction' leaps to mind.

I've been a sucker for buying albums that were entire recreations/reinventions of whole albums. So, while I kind of have mixed feelings about messing this Miles classic, it's an interesting idea, if it was to be redone in a way that really presented a new, exciting, insightful version.

I'm going to think about this some... but, it may be difficult or unrealistic in the sense that the particular musicians I have in mind might not play well together, as brilliant and talented as they may be... it's sort of like cobbling together an audio system of various products of esteemed lineage and ending up with a sonic redheaded stepchild.

Jeff Wong
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Well, I've given it a fair amount of thought, and here's my line up:

Tomasz Stanko - trumpet
Ornette Coleman - alto saxophone (except #3)
Peter Br

mmole
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Miles voice is so distinctive that I think this needs to be done without a trumpet. Simply replacing the Kind of Blue line-up with contemporary jazzmen at each position leads to unsatisfying tributes like Herbie Hancock's VSOP Quintet. Freddie Hubbard was fine but you sure missed Miles.

I like what the Spiritual Unity Quartet is doing. They are an Albert Ayler "tribute" band that doesn't contain a sax or any horn, recognizing that Ayler was unique. Instead of approximating the Ayler sound, they are devoted to following his process in a group improvisation that does justice to his memory.

If Derek Bailey hadn't recently passed I would have suggested the Joseph Holbrooke Trio (Bailey, guitar; Tony Oxley, drums; Gavin Bryars, bass). I'm still thinking that the best group to explore "Kind Of Blue" would be an intact ensemble rather than a one-off all-star team.

Therefore I'm looking forward to "John Zorn's Electric Masada meets Kind of Blue."

-Roy E.-

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I lean in Roy E's direction on this. It would have to be a bit of a re-invention more than a re-creation.

Or, perhaps we could "sample" Miles and have a series of other artists do 'duets' with him...does he have a daughter who's career is lagging?

Maybe Kanye West could rap over it...and call it "Kind of Blue Language." He could even have Jamie Foxx sing back up on his version..."Freddie the Gold Digger."

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OK, seriously, who among the living would be candidates for a new KOB session?

Hmmmm...playing off each other will be key, so I'll try for some guys who I know work together.

Terence Blanchard on trumpet.

Donald Harrison on sax.

For the other sax, I will go along with the crowd and say Branford Marsalis, which will allow me to go with a partially off the wall piano choice and say Harry Connick, Jr! I think Harry is able to play accompaniment quite well and wouldn't be busy trying to draw too much of the spotlight just for him.

Or! Toss Keith Jarrett on the keyboards with bassist Gary Peacock and drummer Jack DeJohnette.

Yeah, Harrison, Blanchard, Jarrett, Peacock, and Dejohnette might do nicely.

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Ok, Ok, how about Dana Colley on all sax parts, Billy Conway on drums, and (he's dead, but...) Mark Sandman on bass and just leave it at that!

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Jim that sounds like a great idea. I'm going to side with the re-invention rather than re-creation camp on this one.

Based on past performance I would go with Wadada Leo Smith on trumpet, just listen to great work he's been doing with the Yo Miles! band (and it's on SACD no less!) and I think you might agree. For piano I would like to see Brad Mehldau because he has such a great ear or Geri Allen because she just deserves more respect. The saxophone chairs are much tougher to fill because there are so many worthy choices out there. Alto sax could be Greg Osby and for tenor I might go with Kenny Garrett, based on his recording "Pursuance: The Music of John Coltrane", which is outstanding. That leaves the bass and drums. Greg Cohen would be a good choice on bass and the ever resourceful Herlin Riley could re-invent Philly Joe Jones with plenty of taste and room to spare.

Now where would you record this event, who would be the engineer and is it going to be an analog recording?

Buddha
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Wadada Leo Smith is a great choice.

So is Kenny Garrett.

Nicely done!

Jeff Wong
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I had thought about selecting Greg Osby, and even dug out one of his CDs to play before deciding. I ended up going with the choices I posted, though I briefly considered Charles Lloyd on tenor... but, the thought of hearing Coleman and Br

Buddha
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Don't hate me, but...

How about Philip Glass on piano?

Dig it...

"Flamencoyaanisqatsi Sketches" and "So What On The Beach."

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As to the venue?

Same room, man, same room.

I read that recent article but can't remember, does the original recording space still exist?

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Buddha,

If you're going try and do really wacky remakes of KOB then I would go with John Zorn in his heavy duty Jewish mode. "So Whatever", "Freddie's (A No Good) Freeloader" and "Blue In Greenburg". Plus the epic multi-part suite of "Pink Floridian Flamingo Sketches" which features a tour de force turntable/electronic section of samples from bar mitzvah favorites. Truly inspired!

Jeff Wong
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Quote:
Buddha,

If you're going try and do really wacky remakes of KOB then I would go with John Zorn in his heavy duty Jewish mode. "So Whatever", "Freddie's (A No Good) Freeloader" and "Blue In Greenburg". Plus the epic multi-part suite of "Pink Floridian Flamingo Sketches" which features a tour de force turntable/electronic section of samples from bar mitzvah favorites. Truly inspired!

You forgot "Oy Blues", the classic that had everyone kvetching.

Buddha
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Dudes, when I suggested Philip Glass, I was being serious.
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jazzfan
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Like I wasn't

And I'm sure that Jeff was also quite serious.

Buddha
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Thanks for the reply, I had gone back to read about the venue again.

I'll know that hi fi will have finally arrived when the rest of us audiophiles can finally hear what you heard that day.

Now, if we may pick your brain...Is there a system on which you've heard any commercial releases of Kind of Blue that came closest to your experience with the master tape?

How about your favorite commercial release, in light of what you've now heard?

I tell ya, I don't think I'd ever be the same after a day like you had there.

I've had the rare experience where I listen to something that sounds so good that I walk away thinking I should just scrap my whole crap system and go buy a Bose Wave radio thing...hearing those master tapes may have done me irreversible audio harm!

Jim Tavegia
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I have the last Gould Goldberg session on LP and CD. I also have the '55 version, but the sound is not very good on the CD release I have. Gould's biography was pretty interesting. A very, very talented, but quirky man. His rift with Steinway was pretty bizarre.

RE: The torn down studio is to some just like the thought of tearing down Fenway Park or Wrigley Field. Always enjoy John Marks' comments. Always enlightening.

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