In Europe: Live at the Antibes Jazz Festival

March 30, 2008 | By Doug In Jazz and Blues |

In Europe: Live at the Antibes Jazz Festival
Customer Review: A neglected modern jazz classic.
This album recorded at the 1963 Antibes Jazz Festival with a band who’d been together for just a few weeks is a neglected classic. There is electrifying playing from the whole quintet which includes the vastly underrated tenorist George Coleman and the brilliant 17 year-old drummer Tony Williams who “lit a big fire under everyone in the group” according to Miles in his autobiography. Ralph J.Gleason has written that Miles was so delighted when he first heard this recording that he almost wore out the test pressings!

This marvellous CD which includes a bonus track and has a remarkable playing time of over 80 minutes is an essential part of any Miles Davis collection.

Customer Review: Cote Bleu
I don’t have this CD but I do have the vinyl version of it on Embassy (I’m that old!) and I have to say it is one of my favourite Miles Live discs. It’s actually one half of a concert recorded by French Broadcasting Corporation at the International Jazz Festival of Antibes Juan -Les Pins 1963 - the other half came out on CD just after Miles’ death called Cote Bleu (sorry there should be a circumflex on the “o”). Both discs feature George Coleman on trumpet and he sounds terrific. He also appears on the live charity event in New York in ‘64 and was excellent there - I wonder Miles didn’t record more with him but it is said that Miles always had a problem with Horn players!. The band has Tony Williams boiling on drums and Herbie taking over the keyboards with Ron Carter completing the rhythm section. Miles is, well just Miles at his best - the Cote d’Azur suited him. Do yourself a favour and get this and also if you can find the other half at a car boot or charity shop get that as well.