André Francis, the Mr. Jazz of French radio from 1946 to 1997, presented this new quintet,
taking care to specify that the drummer with such a distinctive sound was only 17. After
warming up on an “Autumn Leaves” in which Tony Williams displayed several highly
unusual figures, the quintet took off, in “Milestones” with a diabolical rhythm. It was
Tony Williams who wanted to go back to this piece, in honor of the earlier quintet with
Philly Joe Jones. One quickly understands that without ever imitating it, Williams
connected to this luminous tradition that from Max Roach to Philly Joe Jones so effectively
stimulated Miles. Miles engaged in a continual dialogue with the drummer, who
constantly exchanged mischievous turns with Herbie Hancock, around Ron Carter’s
double bass, which firmly anchored the tempo throughout his fellow musicians’ most
daring risks.
Original issue: Columbia LP CL 2183
on July 13, 1964
Producer: Teo Macero
Engineer: Recorded by ORTF French Radio
Tracks 2, 5 and 7 were originally issued
on CL 2183 in edited form.
Miles Davis (tpt); George Coleman (ts);
Herbie Hancock (p); Ron Carter (b);
Tony Williams (d)
Recorded live at The Festival Mondial
du Jazz Antibes, Juan-Les-Pins, France
on July 27,1963