The Miles Davis Quintet – Miles Smiles (Speakers Corner)

Bassist Ron Carter best meets the needs of the difficult rhythm part and remained Miles' 'Number One' in a quintet that reinterpreted Wayne Shorter's compositions as well as jazz hits like "Freedom Jazz Dance" by Eddie Harris or the "Gingerbread Boy" by Jimmy Heath.

Each of the nine minutes of Shorter's composition "Footprints" are real highlights, but also the drumming of the young Tony Williams in "Freedom Jazz Dance" is full of dynamics, with high pulse and is even described as "threatening" in the liner notes. Not 'New Stream' - not 'Old Guard' but good, modern jazz is what Anthony Tuttle calls the music - and that was Miles Smiles when it was released 40 years ago, but that is still the LP today!

And that Miles Davis is said to have smiled exceptionally when he enjoyed the excellent interplay of the five individualists is certainly not a rumour.