Ballads & Blues Review: a Compilation of an Album that Features Miles Davis

Introduction

Ballads & Blues is a compilation album that features many well-known musicians, but prominently showcases Miles Davis in every song. Although originally released in 1996, the dates for when these songs were initially recorded range from as early as March 9th, 1950 to March 9th, 1958, and the record label is Blue Note. As suggested by the title, listeners can expect to hear jazz ballads and blues when they listen to Ballads & Blues. I decided to explore an artist I was familiar with, like Miles Davis. When I saw the diverse lineup of musicians on the album, I figured it would help me get a feel for the genre since I don’t usually listen to much jazz. This way, I could experience Miles Davis at different stages of his career and observe the contributions of various musicians.

Musicians and Improvisation

Since Ballads & Blues is a compilation, it features over ten different musicians. Art Blakey, Kenny Clarke, and Max Roach handle the drumming duties, while Gil Coggins, Hank Jones, and Horace Silver play the piano. The bass is managed by Percy Heath, Oscar Pettiford, Sam Jones, and Al McKibbon. Throughout Ballads & Blues, musicians such as J.J. Johnson, Cannonball Adderley, and Jimmy Heath contribute solos for one or two songs. A unique aspect of jazz is its allowance for improvisation, offering musicians the freedom to explore and express themselves. These tracks exemplify this, consisting largely of one solo after another. The interplay between the musicians is almost conversational, each soloist responding to the others with creativity and flair.

Analysis of "One For Daddy-O"

One of my favorite songs on the album is “One For Daddy-O.” Upon first listening, it was clear that this was one of those finger-snapping, head-bopping tunes. Art Blakey begins the piece softly and gently, without any ride cymbal. After the introduction, he maintains a steady swing beat and is consistent with his comps. His consistency accentuates noticeable changes, allowing listeners to hear the dynamics clearly, and how he switches up his comps, with slight changes in his sticking that alter the sound of the swing beat on his ride cymbal. This eight-minute song also features Miles Davis on the trumpet, Cannonball Adderley on the alto saxophone, Hank Jones on the piano, and Sam Jones on the bass. Throughout the song, I noticed that Art Blakey had only one short fill and didn’t solo at all, which is consistent with the rest of the album where drum solos are rare.

Analysis of "It Never Entered My Mind"

While I’ve never been a fan of slow songs, “It Never Entered My Mind” was another track I enjoyed. I particularly appreciated Horace Silver’s piano work. Between Miles Davis’s pauses in his solos, Horace Silver plays notes in the rhythm “one and two” that complement Davis's solos beautifully. This is my favorite part of the entire piece. Additionally, Art Blakey kept his drumming simple as he did in other songs. However, a significant difference in his style here was his inconsistency compared to his other tracks. This isn’t a negative, as his light touch and distinctive cymbal work added a unique texture. As the song progressed, he added more to his rhythm on the ride cymbal with extra hits and included a few snare hits towards the end. Overall, his variations complemented the soloists well, and his style of starting simply and gradually adding more gave me something to anticipate.

Conclusion

Overall, I felt that this was a great arrangement of songs. I would give this album a 5 out of 5. I loved the way the album alternated between slow songs and upbeat tracks. The solos seemed to tell a story, and I couldn’t help but notice how seamlessly they flowed. Despite the diversity in solos, they followed a coherent flow throughout. While this album isn’t considered one of Miles Davis’s masterpieces, its mellow tone allows you to unwind and get lost in the beautiful solos. I would recommend Ballads & Blues to anyone just starting to listen to jazz. It is perfect for helping someone understand how jazz works and would provide a general feel for the genre.

References

Blue Note Records. (1996). Ballads & Blues [Album].

Davis, M. (1950-1958). Ballads & Blues [Recorded by M. Davis]. Blue Note Records.