Miles Davis, artwork by Michael Symonds
In 1963, Miles Davis reinvigorated himself by forming a new quintet with younger, energetic, progressive-minded musicians. They stretched the boundaries of hard bop with harmonic and rhythmic adventures, yet maintained a ferocious sense of swing. With his new rhythm sectionespecially drummer Tony Williamslighting a fire beneath him, Davis responds with fierce and blazing intensity of his own. His solo on this live version of So What is filled with sudden screams into the high register, snaking lines and deceptive starts and stops. Davis confronts and conquers his own limitations, and his playing is volatile and thrilling.