Hey comparsions can be fun and maybe we could all learn something about these two great individuals. I for one are listening to Kind of Blue and is bloody amazing as for John Coltrane and A Love Supreme I,ve never had the pleasure:no: But finding LP's are hard to do, good ones that is. All I know is that JC was the sax player on KoB is this correct? Are those two albums equally as good? Do you own them on LP?

I'm just a novice and want to learn more about their music, like is Bitches Brew any good? or Giant Steps(I think thats what its called, sorry if I got that wrong).

Thanks for any positive input, Daza:music:

Coltrane cut his teeth playing with Miles Davis' band in the early years. They both have good and bad albums as far as Im concerned.
I lean more towards liking them as they do covers and standards. Davis' "like blue" is a good one for him as is Coltranes "ballads". Sometimes when they go off free style it can get a little nuts.
Miles Davis' Agharta album has alot of this and isnt easy to listen to for me. Coltranes Night trane also is a little mixed up.

Its really a personal preference but some of their stuff is fantastic.
I recommend using the internet to get a feel for the sound of each album before you buy it. Limewire or any similiar program can find you a mp3 copy to check them out first.



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Both men were innovative but both men went seperate directions after they parted ways in 1961. John moved towards avant-garde/free jazz and Miles towards jazz rock fusion although that would not be apparent until the 1967-68 time frame with the releases of Miles In The Sky, Filles de Kilimanjaro and In A Silent Way. Bitches Brew (1969) was a full on charge into jazz fusion and would get even more electrified with the release of Jack Johnson in 1970. Prior to those years, the second great quintet (1965-67) played straight ahead hard bop for the most part but with Miles always reaching for new ideas. There were some fantastic recordings made during that period.

John Coltrane had an amazing output of recordings from 1959-1967. His Atlantic years (1959-61) seem quite restrained to what his music would ultimately become during the last few years of his life. You do know that John died in July 1967 right? The Atlantic albums Giant Steps and My Favorite Things are highlights of that period. During John's time with Impulse! Records his music saw increasing amounts of impovisational soloing (especially on the albums after A Love Supreme) with some solos lasting 20 or 30 minutes. John certainly took the free jazz movement to new heights. Man, what a great quartet John had during those years leading up to 1965. After 1965 his ensemble would change.

This is just a brief synopsis of the careers of two great jazz men. Each man writing it's own chapter in the history of jazz music. I do wonder at times what John Coltrane's music would have evolved to had he lived on. I know Miles Davis' music from his later years (1980-1991) was very spotty and in some cases, down right dreadful. I just wonder what road John would have travelled down.

Oh, and John did play tenor sax on KoB.

Cheers

It's either really difficult to compare them, or really easy, since they made such different music from one another.

For one thing, Miles was known as a man who was difficult to like personally. He was egotistical, sharp, and angry, grasping to achieve and maintain celebrity. But his music was calm and cool. In fact he pioneered the whole concpt of cool jazz.

Coltrane on the other hand, was known to be kind, modest, soft spoken, self-deprecating, and seemingly unaware of his own stardom. Conversely, his music was loud, fiery, seemingly out-of-control and crackling with over-the-top energy. In fact, he pioneered the avant/free jazz playing eventually known as "energy plying"

It's true that Coltrane's stint with Miles was an important part of his artistic development. (Even more important to his development was his year with Thelonious Monk.) But eventually they both knew it was time for Coltrane to move into his own.

I see Coltrane's output as a leader in 4 distinct periods and styles; The rather straight forward "blowing sessions" he did while at Prestiege (albums like John Coltrane, Black Pearls and Bahia)

Then his Atlantic years which included the unlikely hit "My Favorite Things" and one of my favorite Coltrane albums, Coltrane's Sound.

The the earlier Impulse! years. The first sets with the Classic Quartet of Coltrane McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison and Elvin Jones. Which includes "Love Supreme"

Then his way-out free-jazz explorations with Rashad Ali on drums, Pharoah Sanders on sax, his wife Alice Coltrane on piano, and the bass player, Jimmy garrison who stayed with him until the end.

Conveniently, Coltrane's music is most accessible in chronological order; the early stuff is very accessable and the last of his output is unlistenable by many. (but is my favorite)

Miles' career took a very different direction; he went on to invent "fusion" after seeing the hippie kids creaming over such electric acts a Sly and the Family Stone.

I could go on, but I think I'll give it a break.
Suffice to say, both these men made a huge impact on the music and both should be explored in their own right.
have fun!
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Nobody has mentioned the fact that one played trumpet while the other played the sax.

The background info you've received from Brett a and drybasement is excellent. For getting deeper into their music, I suggest starting with their earlier years (50-60s period). Those albums are more straight forward hard bop style and more accessible for new listeners.

Then once you get your feet wet, delve into the more avant garde stuff (Coltrane) and jazz fusion (Miles) albums.

One note: Miles Davis' "Bitches Brew" is one of those albums where you love it or hate it. Personally, I dig it. It's not an album you just plop on while doing laundry -- it's an experience with many layers. The best description I've heard of it is "a brooding cauldron of soul" -- that sums it up for me.

Enjoy the journey.

both are in my top ten artists ever, right up there with Bob Marley and Janes Addiction. I see no reason or way to compare them, except that they both played jazz, played together at times, were masters of their instruments, were extremely creative, and walked the earth at the same time for awhile.

I probably have 150 albums by both. If your looking for a place to start, I would suggest the following

Miles: Kind of Blue, Bitches Brew, Steamin, Workin, anything basically from the 50's and 60's.

Coltrane: Africa Brass I and II, Giant Steps, Blue Train, My Favorite Things

Work through the catalog after digesting the above and you should know what you prefer.

I love them both equally, except that on some days, I just prefer the sound of a trumpet to a Sax

Somedays I prefer Coltane because McCoy Tyner and Elvin Jones make me happy, etc...

I cannot imagine a world without both of them...

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b257/stoutblock/stereo038net.jpg

John on my new toy :D

Nobody has mentioned the fact that one played trumpet while the other played the sax.
:lmao::lmao::lmao:

Two towers of jazz:
Personally I find Miles fusion stuff unlistenable, but a picture of him dominates my living room.

Nobody has mentioned the fact that one played trumpet while the other played the sax.

It was assumed.

But hey, there's probably someone out there who thought Miles Davis played the tuba. :rolleyes:

like many, Coltrane & Miles were my entry points. Dig deep into their work - the posts above give great advice. However, try to spare some listening time to some of their peers as well. A bunch of great jazz from their peers tend to get passed by these days. For example, I just finished listening to Wayne Shorter's "Adam's Apple" - absolutely amazing.......

Funny that you mention these two artists and those two particular records. I listened to Kind of Blue for the first time early this year. Just one of those things, I'd never heard it before. Well, it took me over. I found myself listening to KoB and A Love Supreme back to back every day for a week. That then launched me into an exploration of Miles Davis - I was a bit more familiar with Coltrane - and found myself drawn to his late '60s through mid '70s period. I love In A Silent Way. And I love the element of the guitar on Jack Johnson, Live / Evil and Dark Magus.

The great thing is, this mini obsession with Miles has lead me to educate myself about jazz in general. So I've been visiting the library and scooping up 5 or 6 cds at a time by different artists. For those of you in the northern LA area, the Brand Branch of the Glendale library has a terrific selection of music. Anyway, it's been a lot of fun. Just another great "one thing leads to another" aspect of this hobby.

Funny that you mention these two artists and those two particular records. I listened to Kind of Blue for the first time early this year. Just one of those things, I'd never heard it before. Well, it took me over. I found myself listening to KoB and A Love Supreme back to back every day for a week. That then launched me into an exploration of Miles Davis - I was a bit more familiar with Coltrane - and found myself drawn to his late '60s through mid '70s period. I love In A Silent Way. And I love the element of the guitar on Jack Johnson, Live / Evil and Dark Magus.

The great thing is, this mini obsession with Miles has lead me to educate myself about jazz in general. So I've been visiting the library and scooping up 5 or 6 cds at a time by different artists. For those of you in the northern LA area, the Brand Branch of the Glendale library has a terrific selection of music. Anyway, it's been a lot of fun. Just another great "one thing leads to another" aspect of this hobby.'

I have done the exact same thing the past year. Started with Miles/Coltrane, then delved into others. Trips to the library to try out other artists... great way to explore new territory. :thmbsp:

like many, Coltrane & Miles were my entry points. Dig deep into their work - the posts above give great advice. However, try to spare some listening time to some of their peers as well. A bunch of great jazz from their peers tend to get passed by these days. For example, I just finished listening to Wayne Shorter's "Adam's Apple" - absolutely amazing.......

Also "Speak No Evil".