Talking Jazz w/ Ben Sidran – Episode 1: Miles Davis

Here’s the story. Back in the mid-80’s on National Public Radio (NPR) in America, a show ran called Sidran On Record. Presented by Ben Sidran, a musician, author, lecturer and journalist, the show featured interviews with the great and the good from the world of Jazz. Miles, Dizzy, Herbie and Grover were amongst 60 interviews that ran over the course of 5 years. Many of the legends featured are sadly no longer with us, but the recordings are, and several years back Ben released these as part of a wonderful, 24 CD box set called Talking Jazz – bringing to life a golden period of entertainment and understanding as we learn about the masters, their thoughts and their works. Whilst this may seem like an advert for this prestigious box set, it isn’t really. Promise. We’ve been in touch with Ben and asked for his permission to use these interviews and create our own shows based on his works. Ben gave it two thumbs up and we’re delighted to present to you Talking Jazz with Ben Sidran – our most ambitious project to date.

Episode One focuses on Miles Davis in possibly his most revealing and opinionated interview. The language is strong in parts, but we’ve left the original dialogue absolutely as is, so as to paint the complete picture. It makes for truly compelling listening, but it’s content we’d prefer to let you discover rather than us spoil what is an extraordinary 58 minutes and 42 seconds broadcast. We really hope you enjoy, so please, tell us your thoughts and your friends as well!

If you fancy buying the essential box set, which includes the full sixty interviews, then here’s where you need to go.

Enjoy!

Not a subscriber to SoulandJazz.com? Then please support by sharing a Tweet.

 


Talking Jazz with Ben Sidran
Episode 1: Miles Davis

Artist – Track – Album – Year

Miles Davis   Freddie Freeloader (excerpt)   Kind of Blue   1959
Miles Davis (feat. solo by Herbie Hancock)   Basin Street Blues (excerpt)
   Seven Steps to Heaven    1963
Miles Davis (feat. George Duke)   Backyard Ritual (excerpt)   Tutu   1986
Miles Davis   Now’s The Time (excerpt)   The Essential Miles Davis   2001
Miles Davis (feat. Solo by John Coltrane)   So What (excerpt)   Kind of Blue   1959
Miles Davis   Round Midnight (excerpt)   Miles Davis & The Modern Jazz Giants   1954
Charlie Parker    Billie’s Bounce (excerpt)   Complete Savoy Sessions    1945
Miles Davis   Boplicity (excerpt)    Complete Birth of the Cool    1998
Charlie Parker & Jay McShann   Hootie Blues (excerpt)    Bird In Time: 1940-1947    2008
Miles Davis   Milestones (excerpt)   Early Milestones 1945-1949    2002
Miles Davis (feat. John Scofield)   U ‘n’ I (excerpt)    Star People    1984
Miles Davis   You’re Under Arrest (excerpt)   You’re Under Arrest   1985
Miles Davis   Decoy (excerpt)    Decoy   1990
Miles Davis   Human Nature (excerpt)   You’re Under Arrest   1985
Miles Davis Sextet   Jean Pierre (excerpt)   Live at the Hollywood Bowl   1981
Miles Davis   Chocolate Chip (excerpt)   Doo-Bop   1991
Miles Davis   All Blues (excerpt)    Kind of Blue   1959