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My first exposure to Miles, even before I heard his fusion stuff. This is great traditional jazz music. A great introduction to pre-electric Miles. This covers the late 1950s to mid-1960s. Nothing from Kind Of Blue, although two songs from that album are here in live versions. I like to listen to this once or twice a year. I'm more of a "rock" guy, but I like to listen to some jazz, classical and avant-garde music occasionally just for variety. I prefer his proto-fusion and fusion stuff to this.
Here you will find some of the biggest names in the world of jazz: John Coltrane, "Cannonball" Adderly, Herbie Hancock, Bill Evans, Ron Carter, Wayne Shorter and Tony Williams. Miles was born in the 1920s to a well-to-do dentist; the family owned a ranch.
I like the essay by George Frazier in the liner notes called "The War Lord Of The Weejuns." My CD copy has the back cover upside down; I assume this is a printing error but I like it that way. The music here deserves 4 stars at least.