Miles Davis
At Newport 1958
Album · Jazz · 2001
This live recording is the feverish twin of 1958’s comparatively cool Milestones. If you think that record’s studio takes of “Ah-Leu-Cha” and “Two Bass Hit” bring the hard-bop energy, check out the concert versions. On the latter, Coltrane’s shifts in harmony and dynamics show a move toward a greater intensity heard on his later albums like Giant Steps. Miles’ trumpet cooks throughout the session, but he also flaunts his expressive range on “Fran-Dance”, producing melodic lines full of blues and balladry.