# Miles Davis muted & mellow: recommendations needed **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 15, 2003, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miles-davis-muted-mellow-recommendations-needed/195379 "2003-08-15T13:55:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miles-davis-muted-mellow-recommendations-needed/195379/1 "2003-08-15T13:55:52Z")
I love Miles’ “Kind of Blue,” but it’s become so overplayed that I want to move on. I have a discography of his, but I’m unsure which are the best pix. Basically, anything that features Miles playing his trademark cool, muted trumpet. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miles-davis-muted-mellow-recommendations-needed/195379/2 "2003-08-15T16:45:47Z")
Try **“Dingo”**. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miles-davis-muted-mellow-recommendations-needed/195379/3 "2003-08-15T16:47:44Z")
Sketches of Spain, perhaps? * * * A Gay Bishop? Can’t beat that! ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miles-davis-muted-mellow-recommendations-needed/195379/4 "2003-08-15T16:54:20Z")
Do you specifically want muted trumpet or his trademark cool phrasing? I personally prefer the “\_\_\_\_ with Miles” series more than his later modal stuff. Cooking, Steaming, Walking, Rolling, etc. ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miles-davis-muted-mellow-recommendations-needed/195379/5 "2003-08-15T16:57:35Z")
That’s a track off “Kind of Blue”. Try _Live at the Plugged Nickle._ You can get versions up to about 10 hours. Miles and one of his many great bands in good form explore the landscape. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miles-davis-muted-mellow-recommendations-needed/195379/6 "2003-08-15T17:04:18Z")
In A Silent Way ---
**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miles-davis-muted-mellow-recommendations-needed/195379/7 "2003-08-15T20:17:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gatopescado \* > \*\*Sketches of Spain, perhaps? > > \*\* I’ve listened to Sketches. Didn’t grab me the way that “Kind of Blue” does. Yes, I’m looking for Miles playing the **muted trumpet**. It has a kinda bluesy, spacey feel to it. **Ukelele Ike should know this inside out…** ---
**Author:** ![Super\_Gnat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Super\_Gnat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Super_Gnat)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miles-davis-muted-mellow-recommendations-needed/195379/8 "2003-08-15T20:59:45Z")
What about “Birth of the Cool”? ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miles-davis-muted-mellow-recommendations-needed/195379/9 "2003-08-15T21:10:30Z")
Since _Kind Of Blue_ stands almost by itself as the “modal jazz” cornerstone by which most other modal jazz efforts are measured, you’re going to have to select some other of Miles’s genre-making or genre-breaking efforts. There’s a soundtrack for a French movie whose English translation is something like “Elevator to the Gallows.” Columbia released it as _Jazz Track_. The only real issue I have with it as music is that it’s very monotone as you would expect soundtrack music to be. It **is** moody and in the vein of that detached but gripping way Miles has with a mute. If the big orchestra of Gil Evans was what turned you sour on _Sketches of Spain_ I suspect _Miles Ahead_ and \* Porgy and Bess\* will have similar effect. The weird thing about Miles is that no two records have the same sound, so you’re going to face the problem of having to hear a few to decide if you like them. Getting input from others will bring in their tastes, which may not square with yours. I suggest trying to check out a few from a library that loans CD’s. That’s the best way I know of to select new music on your own. FWIW I really like **Tutu** which is almost totally electronic music plus Miles. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miles-davis-muted-mellow-recommendations-needed/195379/10 "2003-08-15T21:21:07Z")
Skip **Bitches’ Brew** ; it’s 'way overrated, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Hodge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Hodge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hodge)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miles-davis-muted-mellow-recommendations-needed/195379/11 "2003-08-15T21:24:52Z")
Try _Birth of Cool_ and, while not technically a Miles Davis album, Cannonball Adderly’s _Somethin’ Else_ contains some of Miles Davis’ best work. His (muted) trumpet on _Autumn Leaves_ is a wonder of understated beauty. Oh, and Art Blakey, Hank Jones, Cannonball, and Sam Jones are no slouches either. Definitely a must listen. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miles-davis-muted-mellow-recommendations-needed/195379/12 "2003-08-16T00:47:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Country Squire \* > \*\ ***Ukelele Ike should know this inside out…** \*\* Yeah, but I’m too sleepy. Catch you tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![dbygawdcapn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dbygawdcapn/32/3995_2.png) [@dbygawdcapn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dbygawdcapn)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miles-davis-muted-mellow-recommendations-needed/195379/13 "2003-08-16T02:58:07Z")
Seven Steps To Heaven IIRC it is one of his earliest collaborations with Tony Williams, Ron Carter and Herbie Hancock. ---
**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miles-davis-muted-mellow-recommendations-needed/195379/14 "2003-08-16T16:54:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ukulele Ike \* > \*\*Yeah, but I’m too sleepy. Catch you tomorrow. \*\* But you’re in the City That Never Sleeps!!