Endless MilesA Tribute to Miles Davis This is a special recording which spans the various stages of the jazz innovator’s musical career, as played by alumni of the trumpeter’s various ensembles. The music was recorded live at Birdland in New York City, May 26th 1998 on what would have been Miles’ 72nd birthday, at an event marking the launch of Jazz Central Station’s MilesDavis.com website, the first official site for Miles sanctioned by his family. Produced by Michael Cuscuna, Phil Ramone and Bob Belden and Associate Producer Carl Griffin, N2K Encoded Music will release Endless Miles: HI Tribute to Miles Davis on September 8.
The goal of the recording and the site is not to only pay tribute to the trumpeter, but to be part of a living continuum of his work. Endless Miles: A Tribute to Miles Davis includes both his original material and songs which he made his own. Miles’ “So What,” from one of the most renown jazz recordings of all time Kind of Blue, is performed by trumpeter Wallace Roney (Roney was Miles’ choice to play his parts in his final concerts), with George Coleman on tenor saxophone, Harold Mabern on piano, Gary Peacock on bass, and Jimmy Cobb on drums. “Walkin”‘ the Richard Carpenter composition with which Miles helped initiate the hard hop movement, features the “So What” backline, with Randy Brecker on trumpet and Dave Liebman on tenor saxophone.
Miles’ outstanding 1963-64 quintet is represented with compositions by members Wayne Shorter (“Nefertiti”) and Herbie Handcock (“The Sorcerer”) as performed by Wallace Roney, Antoine Roney on tenor saxophone, Geri Allen on piano, Buster Williams on bass and Lenny White on drums.
Marcus Miller’s “Tutu,” the title track of Miles’ 1986 electric recording, was performed by Wallace Roney, Bob Berg on tenor saxophone, Adam Holzman on synthesizers and Wurlitzer electric piano, Robert Irving III on Roland A90EX synthesizer, Foley on electric bass, Lenny White, Mino Cinelu on jimbe, wave drum, percussion and Don Alias on conga. Drummer Al Foster also sits in on the rendition of “No Blues.” The cover also commemorates another area of Miles’ art – it is a reproduction of one of his oil selfportraits.
Since Miles was a tireless supporter of young talent, a MilesDavis.com scholarship fund, to be administered by the International Association of Jazz Educators, will receive the net proceeds from the sales of Endless Miles: A Tribute to Miles Davis. N2K, Inc., the parent company of N2K Encoded Music’ made an initial contribution of $10,000 to the Scholarship Fund at the Birdland event.