Jimi Michiel

Hi Wilmer,
I've been doing some research on Miles Davis' life and career, especially with regard to "classical" influences. I have found some references to a Columbia studio date which featured Gunther Schuller's Symphony for Brass. On the other side of the LP was supposed to be a collaboration between Miles and Gunther (Gunther played on Birth of the Cool, so they must have at least known each other). Miles didn't sign on to Columbia until the mid 50s, so it must have been mid-50s. I can't find any record of the record ever being released.
This is probably a shot in the dark, but I know you said in your Peabody interview that you played in some of the first performances of Schuller's piece and so I'm wondering if you could help me fill in some loopholes, either from personal experience or hearsay. It was probably a decade and a half before you moved to New York, so I know it's a shot in the dark, but I figure if anyone might know if this session even existed, it's you.
Thanks,
Jimi

wiseone2

The other side of the Schuller Brass Symphony contained works by John Lewis, J.J. Johnson and Jimmy Giuffre. Miles had very little to play on these pieces. Joe Wilder had a couple nice moments in J.J Johnson's work.
The titles are......
John Lewis-"Three Little Feelings"
J.J.Johnson- "Poem for Brass"
Jimmy Giuffre-Pharaoh

Dimitri Mitropoulis conducted the Schuller, Guther conducted the rest of the album.

Wilmer

Jimi Michiel

Thanks, Wilmer! So Miles played, but was not the "leader" or "headliner"... That's very helpful. You wouldn't happen to have a date and/or catalogue number for this recording, would you? I've wandered aimlessly through many used record shops looking for it, but so far have found nothing.
Thanks again,
Jimi

wiseone2

Here you are.....be quick!
http://www.musicstack.com/item.cgi?f...ler+And+Others
Wilmer

Jimi Michiel

Wilmer,
I can't thank you enough. I thought I had covered the entire internet, but there it is! Now, if you wouldn't mind, could tell me how I can win one of those New York Phil jobs that just opened up?
Thanks,
Jimi

gus

HI Wilmer,

I have the reissue of Music for Brass in CD. It was released with the name
"THE BIRTH OF THE 3rd STREAM". This album has the Music for Brass and a Modern Jazz Album all of them conducted by Günther Schuller with the exception of the Symphony conducted by Mitroupulos. It is not that old (the reissue). This reissue cutted a work by Milton Babbit I think.


Miles played some nice lines in Some little feeling with the Flügelhorn.

Gus

PH

Yes, this is supposedly the first big jazz recording of the flugelhorn. Miles was inspired by his experience here to use the flugelhorn on Miles Ahead, Porgy & Bess, etc. It was also the musical success of this record that convinced Miles (& Columbia) to invest the money and rehearsal/studio time in Miles' lat '50s large ensemble projects with Gil Evans.

The other stuff on the CD reissue is from the Brandeis University festival where Gunther Schuller formally "announced" the birth of the "3rd stream" via commissioned works by himself, Babbitt, Geo. Russell, Mingus, et al.