Many Miles High

Here's one For Miles.  For so many Miles Davis has been the ultimate influence on music.  From the 1940s through his death in 1991, Miles changed music no fewer than 5 times, moving it into new and unchartered territories, and bringing along with him some of the most influential players of each generation and ultimately, the 20th Century.  

For this tribute to Miles I have rounded up the very finest fusion players I know on SoundCloud to participate.  These are highly creative musicians, who understand what Miles has meant, the merging of electricity and jazz, and who are all superb improvisers.  

The trumpet is played by Vivek Patel, who brings with him the lonely Harmon muted sound for which Miles was so well known.  Vivek opens and closes the piece with elegance and with a harmonic and rhythmic edge that Miles was known so well for.  What a treat to have him join us.

Mirko Borach (Stringburner) anchors the essential modal bass line here, helping set and keep that funk groove.  During the 80s, the period from which this draws, Miles was playing with the great Marcus Miller and Darryl Munch Jones.  Think you'll love what German's Mirko brings as always.

The ordering of solos is as follows:

LA's Derek Cornet is a consumate musician, recording so many styles and composing significant pieces as well.  After hearing a fusion tune he recorded that reminded me of Mike Stern's playing (Mike was Miles' guitarist from '81 to '83), I wanted to have his playing on this tribute.  What a great start to the tune!

Australia's CHeeZ tackles the second solo and brings the fire and explosive playing he is know for on SoundCloud.  Anthony hasn't done things with other musicians here on SC and I wanted to give him the change to fly with these other heavyweights.  Wow.

New Jersey's Pinner - Stephen Lipinski - sits in for Miles' other famous early '80s guitarist John Scofield.  And does Pinner bust this out or what?  Bringing the same approach to rhythm and angular soloing that Sco pioneers, this solo is a masterpiece.  

Dan van den Berg follows Pinner with exceptional playing and virtuosity.  Listen how he weaves in and out with the moving chromaticism of my backing horn comping, nailing the movement perfectly.  Wouldn't have don't this tune without Dan, one of the true virtuosos on SC.  

New York based Alto sax pro Matt Criscuolo brings his Kenny Garret sound to For Miles, taking it in and out the way that Miles and Kenny did on stage together for so many years.   

Dutch fusion guitarist Rients Draaisma follows, with what is simply a remarkable display of sound and virtuosity.  This powerful solo showcases why Rients for me is at the very pinnacle of progressive fusion anywhere, pushing the very limits of concept and execution.

Spain's fine multi-instramentalist Santi-Caballero is our second horn, showcasing his tenor playing here.  Santi-Caballero takes it out all over the place here, moving in and out of the mode as Miles and his great '80s tenor player Bob Berg did together.

French keyboard player Julien Apelien is the perfect choice to join the team, and brings a great electric keyboard solo and sound in the style of Miles' Adam Holtzman, using fourths to create tension and ambiguity.

Mirko's fine solo technique is featured after Julien, and he just kills it on this one with his slap bass technique.

Italy's Daniele Turani has the concluding guitar solo and in his playing you will again hear a  superb sense of structure and organization, along with his virtuoso playing.  Such a treat to have him joining this Miles tribute.

For Miles concludes with Vitek's beautiful searching trumpet solo, which showcases his deep understanding and appreciation for Miles, as well as a modern jazz conception that also includes weaving patterns in and out chromatically similar to the great trumpeter Woody Shaw.  What a finish to this special tribute For Miles.

Thanks as always for your time listening, for your comments and for your shares.


BUY JAMIE'S MUSIC

For Miles: Patel/Borach/Cornet/CHeeZ/Pinner/vd Berg/Draaisma/Apelian/Mendez/Criscuolo/Turani

Fingerstyle arrangement of the fabulous Thelonious Monk tune.

Monk's Mood (arr. Derek Cornett)

I am not a musician but music plays a very important role in my creative life! I am an artist/designer and music is my companion and my muse in the long hours I spend working in my studio! 
I am immensely impressed and grateful for all the talented and inspiring musicians whose work graces this Cloud, and I will always re-post sounds that I love (and will listen to again) - knowing that others will enjoy them!
I feel slightly embarrassed and quite humbled when I receive such graceful messages of thanks from artists whose work I have re-posted - after-all, I am the one who is so inspired by the discovery of your brilliant music!!!
So thank YOU!!!
Jools :)
P.S. If you want to see where the music takes me there is a link to my Portfolio site on Behance below!!! 
NEW!! - Thanks for all the great feed-back on my work! I shall be re-launching with a website (shop & archive) ‘KULT-JE’ in the not too distant future! Meanwhile, examples of past and current work are featured on my Instagram (@joolselphick)
Since my heart op in Jan2021, I have had to deal with taking quite a lot of meds which have interrupted my design work - that and moving to Germany in 2020 - and back in 2021 (due to Covid my business plans stalled!) - SO, slowly getting it together…. hang tight!😊

I have an archive of my work to date on Instagram - @joolselphick

Many Miles High

Julie Elphick