Aural Fixations

NIKOLO KOTZEV
Nostradamus
TRENT GARDNER
Leonardo: The Absolute Man
Rock opera: two words that strike fear into the heart of a rock critic. Never let it be said, however, that we at High Bias shirk from a challenge. (more)

Refreshed

MILES DAVIS
At Newport 1958 (Columbia/Legacy)
Jazz At the Plaza (Columbia/Legacy)
Live At the Fillmore East - March 7, 1970: It's About That Time (Columbia/Legacy)
The 2001 Miles Davis reissue program, in honor of the music giant's 75th birthday, continues with a spate of live albums, including one previously unissued set. At Newport 1958, recorded in the titular year at the prestigious Newport Jazz Festival but not originally released until 1964, features much of the same band would go on to record the landmark Kind of Blue, with acclaimed pianist Bill Evans replacing Red Garland and drummer Jimmy Cobb taking Philly Joe Jones' place. (Saxophonists John Coltrane and Cannonball Adderly and bassist Paul Chambers complete the sextet.) Interestingly, though, the band doesn't play any of those tunes, concentrating on the postbop sounds of 'Round About Midnight and the transitional modal experiments of Milestones. (more)