Four Generations of Miles Davis performed at Regattabar last weekend; I was only able to catch one set, but oh what a set it was!

Set List for both Friday shows

The four musicians who comprised this show all played with Miles Davis, albeit at different times.Each one of them is a master of their instrument.  Mike Stern is an incredible guitarist and a truly nice man.  He genuinely appreciates the musicians with whom he plays, often standing back and grinning or looking amazed at a riff one of them nailed.

Mike Stern

Mike, at 61, is the youngest of the musicians on stage that night; he played with Miles in the 1980s. When he plays a solo, he’s completely focused on ensuring that his playing is as good as it can be but when he steps back for someone else’s solo, he’s focused on that musician.

Mike

Jimmy Cobb is the elder statesman of this group; he’s 85 and played with Miles in the 1950s. He makes drumming look effortless, yet there’s a subtle complexity to his playing that I particularly enjoyed. He’s the lynch-pin of the band.

Jimmy Cobb

I saw Buster Williams play (with Lenny White) several weeks ago, but as I said to him, on this night I actually got to SEE him play. I was close to the stage and he wasn’t in a dark, back corner of it. I don’t know much about playing bass, but I felt like he coaxed sounds from the strings in a way not many other bassists can. Buster played with Miles in the 1960s.

Buster Williams

The fourth member of the quartet was Sonny Fortune on the saxophone. I was sitting very close to Sonny and felt that he also made it look effortless to play (even with the vein in his neck showing!). He played with Miles in the 1970s.

Sonny Fortune

I thought it interesting that there is no trumpet player in this band; they did not attempt to recreate the music of Miles Davis, which is what I thought they would do.

Jimmy

Mike

Sonny

Buster

The collaborations among musicians is thrilling to watch, no matter what style of music is being performed. Jazz, however, is to me the most exciting because of the intricacy of the music.

This is a collaboration that shouldn’t be missed. They are not playing many dates, but if they’re coming anywhere near a city near you, run to see them!