Miles Davis, Dexter Gordon, John Coltrane - Best Of The Best

[Bogey_J]

out of these jazz legends, who do you prefer?

[Theodore Pendergrass]

out of these jazz legends, who do you prefer?

Miles. No one played as sweet as Miles did no homo. He smoothed jazz out when everyone was beboppin their minds out. His influence on jazz was crazy, especially on the west coast. He was a hell of a composer.

Listen to Moon Dreams on Birth of the Cool. Now that is smooth and cool. :yes:

[Copper Scroll]

I say Miles, based on...

...the length, diversity, and impact of his catalogue. Who else played bebop, hard bop, cool, modal, fusion, (ugh) smooth jazz, and even jazz-hiphop all when they were either new or before they even existed?? Who else worked with Charlie Parker and Easy Mo Bee?

...the strength of his leadership abilities and knack for seeing the potential in little-known players. Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Tony Williams, Bill Evans, Dave Holland, Ron Carter, Wayne Shorter, Sonny Rollins, Marcus Miller, John Scofield, Paul Chambers, John Coltrane, and many others worked under Miles' leadership before becoming major figures in their own right.

Honestly, though, I'm not sure who is a stronger player--Miles or Trane--but overall I enjoy Miles' music more.

...and c/s the comment about "Moon Dreams". Beautiful track there.

But I have a question: How is Dexter Gordon even in these guys' league? I can see someone like Thelonious Monk or Charles Mingus or Charlie Parker coming up in this poll, but Dexter Gordon?

[Mr. Martinellis]

the best out of that list is coltrane

but if i was to make my own list

1. Thelonius Monk
2. Sun Ra (I prefer him over Thelonius monk but monk is just better)
3. John Coltrane

[Copper Scroll]

Favorite composer: Andrew Hill
(honorable mention: Thelonious Monk)

Favorite bandleader: Miles Davis
(honorable mention: Charles Mingus and Art Blakey)

Favorite tenor saxophonist: John Coltrane

Favorite alto saxophonist: Charlie Parker

Favorite player of other reed instruments: Eric Dolphy

Favorite trumpeter: Miles Davis

Favorite pianist: Keith Jarrett
(honorable mention: Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea)

Favorite vibrophonist: Bobby Hutcherson

Favorite guitarist: John McLaughlin

Favorite bassist: Dave Holland
(honorable mention: Richard Davis and Jaco Pastorious)

Favorite drummer: Tony Williams

Favorite album: A Love Supreme by John Coltrane

Favorite album of the last decade or so: Dusk by Andrew Hill

Favorite album of the past year or so: Sangam by Charles Lloyd
(honorable mention: Time Lines by Andrew Hill)

2. Sun Ra (I prefer him over Thelonius monk but monk is just better)
Check the sig:

[Bogey_J]

no love for Dex?

[Forté]

no love for Dex?
dexter gordon wasn't really an innovator, persay, he was just a really bad ass player, especially of ballads. miles and trane both were innovators from a composition standpoint, improvisational concepts and innovators from a stylistic standpoint on their respective instruments. dexter, imho, from transcribing him, it seems as if he was influenced by trane moreso than trane being influenced by him, especially in his blue note releases he made in the 60s, most of the harmonic lines he plays in the upper register resemble formations, lines and progressions trane made popular (however sonny stitt is the original composer of those forms and therefore stitt is an influencer to trane's playing, however stitt was written off by critics as a charlie parker replica).

my vote (out of those 3) would be for coltrane mainly because of the example he set, and i play tenor so...

[Copper Scroll]

dexter gordon wasn't really an innovator, persay, he was just a really bad ass player, especially of ballads. miles and trane both were innovators from a composition standpoint, improvisational concepts and innovators from a stylistic standpoint on their respective instruments. dexter, imho, from transcribing him, it seems as if he was influenced by trane moreso than trane being influenced by him, especially in his blue note releases he made in the 60s, most of the harmonic lines he plays in the upper register resemble formations, lines and progressions trane made popular (however sonny stitt is the original composer of those forms and therefore stitt is an influencer to trane's playing, however stitt was written off by critics as a charlie parker replica).
I'm wondering if you've ever transcribed any Eric Dolphy solos?? That's sounds like a ton of fun.

Btw, I'm listening to "Society Red" now. Mr. Gordon was a fine fine player (no homo).

[Forté]

I'm wondering if you've ever transcribed any Eric Dolphy solos?? That's sounds like a ton of fun.
nah, haven't gotten to him, i'm working more on the rollins/stitt style of jazz language...