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In Memoriam: Al Foster, 1943–2025
Al Foster, a drummer regarded for his fluency across the bebop, post-bop and funk/fusion lineages of jazz, died May 28…
Miles Davis
(Photo: DownBeat Archive)Nearly 25 years after his death, the recorded artistry of trumpet genius Miles Davis continues to grow. Columbia/Legacy Recordings, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, will release Miles Davis Quintet: Freedom Jazz Dance: The Bootleg Series, Vol 5 on Oct. 21.
The three-CD box set collection chronicles Davis’ musical evolution during his Second Great Quintet period (1966–1968), in which he worked primarily with saxophonist Wayne Shorter, pianist Herbie Hancock, drummer Tony Williams and bassist Ron Carter.
The latest edition in Columbia/Legacy’s acclaimed Miles Davis Bootleg Series, these albums provide a glimpse into trumpeter’s creative process, drawing on full session reels and rehearsal footage, partial and alternate takes, extensive studio conversation and more.
The box set will be released to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Davis’ landmark album Miles Smiles, which was the second album to be recorded by this iteration of the Great Quintet. The new collection includes the master takes of performances which would appear on the Miles Smiles, and later on Nefertiti (1968) and Water Babies (recorded 1967, released 1976). The set also features more than two hours of previously unreleased studio recordings from original sessions produced by Teo Macero.
Miles Davis Quintet: Freedom Jazz Dance: The Bootleg Series, Vol 5 box set was produced for contemporary release by the multi Grammy Award-winning team of Steve Berkowitz, Michael Cuscuna and Richard Seidel. The album was mixed from the original 4-track tapes and mastered by Grammy Award-winning engineer Mark Wilder.
In addition to more than two hours of previously unreleased studio sessions, the collection includes “Blues In F (My Ding),” a rare home recording of Davis and Shorter working out a new blues composition on piano.
The box set includes liner notes by Grammy Award-winning writer and educator Ashley Kahn, author of Kind of Blue: The Making of the Miles Davis Masterpiece, as well as new interviews with Quintet members Ron Carter and Wayne Shorter.
For more information, visit LegacyRecordings.com.
Foster was truly a drummer to the stars, including Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins and Joe Henderson.
Jun 3, 2025 11:25 AM
Al Foster, a drummer regarded for his fluency across the bebop, post-bop and funk/fusion lineages of jazz, died May 28…
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