Miles Davis
And
The Lighthouse All-Stas
At Last!
This and the companion album recorded for a competing label (Contemporary) captures a magical September day in 1953. The companion album is titled Witch Doctor and is more focused on Chet Baker's performance that day.
The reason I have this album five stars, aside from the historic value and the superb playing, is the sound quality. It's not spectacular, but is surprisingly good for a live performance using 1953 recording technology and techniques. Listen to the sound samples and you will hear that the mix is very good - each instrument is where it should be - and the overall quality is more than adequate to enjoy this live performance.
The first three tracks are a continuation from the companion album I mentioned above. Miles seems to have taken over from Chet by accompanying Rolf Ericson on trumpet with Bud Shank on alto and baritone sax and Bob Cooper on tenor sax completing the front line. The rhythm section is Lorraine Geller on piano, Howard Rumsey on bass and Max Roach on drums.
On track 4 Max Roach treats to a four plus minute drum composition. I am not going to call it a solo because it has melodic qualities that Max perfected and is more focused on musical values than the bombastic showmanship most drummers display when given a solo spot.
The final track features Chet Baker backed by Russ Freeman on piano, Howard Rumsey on bass and Max Roach on drums.
This album was recorded for the Fantasy label at Howard Rumsey's Lighthouse Cafe in Hermosa Beach, CA on September 13, 1953. It's a rare glimpse into a West Coast institution (Rumsey's lighthouse) as well as a glimpse into the early and nascent years of West Coast jazz.
*Mike Tarrani (amazon.com)
In 1953, Miles Davis sat in one Sunday afternoon at the Lighthouse. No big deal; lots of people sat in at the Lighthouse, and Davis was no more famous than most and less famous than many. Fame, big fame, was two or three years away for Miles. There was no compelling reason to issue the recordings made that afternoon. Les Koenig probably figured he had more interesting All-Stars material in the can, so the tapes sat around for three decades. And when they emerged, guess what: they were interesting, not just historically but musically. Miles solos on classics by Thelonious Monk and Dizzy Gillespie and on a Shorty Rogers original that has an affinity for Tadd Dameron's "Good Bait". The other tracks are an intriguing drum solo by Max Roach and a lovely ballad by guests Chet Baker and Russ Freeman. This was not just another Sunday at the Lighthouse. *milesdavis.com*
Of note:
His three performances here represent the entire Miles Davis set, except for an opening "Get Happy", on which the tape machine was turned off after the first five minutes (catching only the opening trumpet and a rather nice alto solo). Miles played the entire set on a borrowed horn, and without a mute.
"Drum Conversation," a drum solo by Max Roach, concluded the set. (Actually, on the session tape it is followed by an unidentified woman beginning to sing "That Old Black Magic"; mercifully, the tape machine was turned off almost at once. Things seem to have been pretty loose on Crazy Sunday.) The musicians left on a dinner break. The Chet Baker—Russ Freeman—Rumsey—Roach quartet version of "At Last" which closes the album was actually a part of the set preceding Davis's. Baker seems not to have ever recorded the tune, either before or since, certainly not during his West Coast period. *Ed Michel (from the liner notes)*
1 - Infinity Promenade
(Shorty Rogers)
2 - 'Round Midnight
(Bernie Hanighen, Cootie Williams, Thelonious Monk)
3 - A Night In Tunisia
(Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Paparelli)
4 - Drum Conversation
(Max Roach)
5 - At Last
(Harry Gordon, Mack Warren)
#1, #2, #3:
Miles Davis, Rolf Ericson (trumpets); Bud Shank (alto sax,baritone sax [#3]);
Bob Cooper (tenor sax); Lorraine Geller (piano);
Howard Rumsey (bass); Max Roach (drums).
#4:
Max Roach (drums).
#5:
Chet Baker (trumpet), Russ Freeman (piano),
Howard Rumsey (bass) , Max Roach (drums).
Recorded live at The Lighthouse, Hermosa Beach, California, September 13, 1953
