MILES DAVIS AND THE LIGHTHOUSE ALL-STARS: AT LAST !

Miles way out west could be a way to describe this session recorded in 1953. The Lighthouse was a jazz bar in Hermosa Beach south of Los Angeles and had a regular in house band comprisng Rolf Ericson-Trumpet, Bud Skank-Alto Saxophone, Bob Cooper-Tenor Saxophone, Lorraine Geller-Piano, Howard Rumsey-Bass and Max Roach on Drums who had just replaced Shelly Manne. All West Coast Players and good ones at that.Chet Baker was a regular at the club and actually the last track on this album( At Last) is Chet with the band and not Miles.

At this time in his career Miles was really going no where. He had been playing with Charlie Parker from 1945 and in 1949 to 1950 he did the Birth of the Cool and had sucess but things had dropped off and his next sucess was a year away with the album Walkin'.

This album kicks off with a lively version of Infinity promenade and all the band get to do their solos, Miles is 2nd and Max even gets to give the drums a quick bash, a great bop number and the solos are good.The 2nd track 'Around Midnight,the Monk tune is played with Miles on open horn which was rare as he usually used a mute when playing this tune but most likely the reason was he was playing a borrowed horn.The track only comprises the rythmn section and none of the other horn players. This version is nice to hear but the best for me will always be the one from his Columbia album.On the last number that Miles actually appears on this album is Dizzy Gillespie's great composition a Night In Tunisia. He takes the lead and the first solo. Quite a lively version and for me the favourite of the album.The 4th track is Max showing his stuff and the the finishing number which a ballad is played by Chet Baker and was taken from the previous session that day.

The actual sound on the album is quite good for a live session from that era.

Nothing new or different but a good listen. 100% Jazz 0% Prog