I Remember Miles
- Artist: Shirley Horn
- Total time: 52:54
- Label: Verve
- Availability: Sold out
- Item #: 21050580
- List Price: $14.98
- Member Price: $14.38
Review
No thanks to the paucity of musical genius in the latter half of the 1990s, tribute albums to the departed just kept pouring forth, although in Shirley Horn's case, she was repaying an old personal debt to her subject. After all, it was Miles Davis who originally got Horn out of D.C. in 1960 as his opening act at the Village Vanguard and contributed his trumpet to one of her comeback albums (1990's You Won't Forget Me). Not only that, Horn's understated, laconic, deceptively casual ballad manner is a natural fit for the brooding Miles persona, and she doesn't have to change a thing in this relaxed, wistfully sung, solidly played collection. She doesn't actually perform any Davis compositions; everything here consists of standards that Miles covered or transformed in the 1950s, including three numbers from Porgy and Bess. Roy Hargrove adds his effective muted Miles imitations on "I Fall In Love Too Fast" and open flurries on "I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'"; and Toots Thielemans makes like a long, lonesome train whistle on "Summertime." Former Davis cohorts Ron Carter and Al Foster join the rhythm section in a remarkably searching, extended "My Man's Gone Now," the only track which takes note of the electric music that consumed so much of Miles' output (in this case, inspired by the We Want Miles version, not the more familiar Gil Evans interpretation). In a sad way, the very idea of a Miles tribute is an oxymoronic denial of the ever-restless spirit of this genius who didn't believe in looking backwards. But Shirley Horn certainly serves the man's sensitive side well. ~ Richard S. Ginell, All Music Guide
Read About This Recording
Singer-pianist Shirley Horn has vivid memories of working with Miles Davis, who invited her to open for him at New York's Village Vanguard. This gig led to Quincy Jones signing her to Mercury. Miles later played on her 1990 CD You Won't Forget Me, and Ms. Horn looks back fondly on this CD, released two years after Davis' death.
Three of the songs performed at her Vanguard gigs (Basin Street Blues, I Fall In Love Too Easily and Baby, Won't You Please Come Home) impressed Miles enough to put them on his album Seven Steps to Heaven. Most of the rest of the songs are from his albums Cookin' wtih The Miles Davis Quintet, Porgy and Bess and Kind Of Blue.
Ms Horn is joined by bassists Ron Carter and Charles Ables, drummers Al Foster and Steve Williams, Roy Hargrove on trumpet and flugelhorn and Toots Thielemans on harmonica. There are quiet takes on Summertime, Blue In Green and My Man's Gone Now.
This CD contains liner notes by Ira Gitler, original cover art by Miles Davis and photos by Jimmy Katz, Susan Ragan and Alan Williams.
-Richard Antone
Quotes
"I've been thinking about this album for a long time... He liked for me to sing ballads." —Shirley Horn
"The reason for my doing those songs at the Vanguard was because that was the music I heard. My mother took me to all the musicals — they were great in those days. They were my light opera. I love the lyrics and the songs. Miles especially liked those ballads that I did at the Vanguard and ended up recording several. But when we talked about them he did say [imitates Miles's voice] 'You do 'em awful slow.'" —Shirley Horn talks about I Fall In Love Too Easily, Baby, Won't You Please Come Home and Basin Street Blues
Extended Article
When Shirley Horn opened for Miles Davis's classic early-sixties quintet at the Village Vanguard, she performed three standards that turned the trumpeter's head. He soon recorded them on his landmark LP Seven Steps to Heaven.
But Horn, in turn, has always been touched by Davis's genius. Here she reclaims those three pieces, and with three from Porgy and Bess and Davis alumni Ron Carter and Al Foster, Horn's love for Miles is all over this record.
Contents
My Funny Valentine; I Fall In Love Too Easily; Summertime; Baby, Won't You Please Come Home; This Hotel; I Got Plenty o' Nuttin'; Basin Street Blues; My Man's Gone Now; Blue In Green.
Shirley Horn, Vocals, Piano; Buck Hill, Tenor Sax; Roy Hargrove, Trumpet, Flugelhorn; Toots Thielemans, Harmonica; Ron Carter, Charles Ables, Basses; Al Foster, Steve Williams, Drums.
Tracks + Soundclips
| I Remember Miles | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
1. My Funny Valentine | 5:33 |
|
2. I Fall in Love Too Easily | 5:39 |
|
3. Summertime | 4:59 |
|
4. Baby Won't You Please Come Home | 7:21 |
|
5. This Hotel | 3:37 |
|
6. I Got Plenty O' Nuttin' | 3:39 |
|
7. Basin Street Blues | 5:28 |
|
8. My Man's Gone Now | 10:39 |
|
9. Blue in Green | 5:59 |
Details and Credits
- Label: Verve
- Release date: 1998/06/09
- Vocal Jazz
- Traditional Pop
- Mainstream Jazz
- Ballads
| Album Credits | |
Performance Credits |
|
| Al Foster | Drums |
| Buck Hill | Sax (Tenor) |
| Charles Ables | Bass |
| Ron Carter | Bass |
| Roy Hargrove | Trumpet |
| Shirley Horn | Piano |
| Steve Williams | Drums |
| Steve Williams | Drums |
| Toots Thielemans | Harmonica |
Technical Credits |
|
| Camille Tominaro | Production Coordination |
| Chika Azuma | Artwork |
| Dave Baker | Engineer |
| Duncan Stanbury | Mastering |
| Ira Gitler | Liner Notes |
| Miles Davis | Illustrations |
| Richard Seidel | Producer |
| Sheila Mathis | Assistant Producer |
Shirley Horn
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