Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. E.S.P. - Miles Davis
2. R.J.
3. Eighty-One - Miles Davis
4. Little One
5. Iris
6. Agitation
7. Mood - Miles Davis
8. Circle
9. Orbits
10. Dolores
11. Freedom Jazz Dance

Disc 2:

1. Gingerbread Boy
2. Footprints
3. Limbo
4. Limbo
5. Vonetta
6. Masqualero
7. Masqualero
8. Sorcerer
9. Prince of Darkness
10. Pee Wee
11. Water Babies

Disc 3:

1. Nefertiti
2. Capricorn
3. Madness
4. Hand Jive
5. Hand Jive
6. Hand Jive
7. Madness
8. Madness
9. Sweet Pea
10. Fall
11. Pinocchio

Disc 4:

1. Pinocchio
2. Riot
3. Thisness
4. Circle in the Round
5. Water on the Pond
6. Fun
7. Teo's Bag
8. Teo's Bag

Disc 5:

1. Paraphernalia
2. I Have a Dream
3. Speak Like a Child
4. Sanctuary
5. Side Car I
6. Side Car II
7. Country Son
8. Country Son
9. Black Comedy

Disc 6:

1. Black Comedy
2. Stuff
3. Petits Machins (Little Stuff)
4. Tout de Suite
5. Tout de Suite
6. Filles de Kilimanjaro

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #59831 in Music
• Released on: 2004-05-11
• Number of discs: 6
• Formats: Box set, Extra tracks, Original recording remastered

Customer Reviews

One of the all-time best Miles Davis box sets
"Miles Davis Quintet, 1965-1968" features nothing less than some of Miles' best music. This box set showcases many of Davis' most innovative albums including "E.S.P.," "Miles Smiles," "Sorcerer," "Nefertiti" and "Miles in the Sky." While the music leans towards psychedelia and the impending fusion movement, this is still jazz by any stretch of the imagination. The mood is cool, intelligent and laid back. While the box set documents the inevitable introduction of electric instruments, it is a gentle preamble. The electric piano is a mere suggestion and the plugged in guitar seems light years away from squealing Jimi Hendrix type power chords. While [...] Brew would eventually pass the point of no return, these six discs suggest mind expansion, but never cross the line. With this 2004 reissue, the listener gets the same music as on the original box set release but for about $30.00 less. Considering that this reissue also comes with a handsome full-color booklet, it is a mystery as to why anyone would pay an additional thirty dollars for the original. The Amazon description claims that this contains additional tracks. While this has tracks not found on the 60's releases, this reissue has the same music found on the 1998 box set. If you've always wanted Miles' 'light trip' music in one place, the "Miles Davis Quintet, 1965-1968" is the perfect box set.

ARGUABLY THE MOST INTERESTING PERIOD OF MILES' CAREER
This remarkable box set focuses on a period of Miles Davis' career that many jazz neophytes tend to overlook. A great deal of attention is spent on Kind of Blue, Sketches of Spain and Bitches Brew - all deservedly so - but each of them represent only a portion of Davis' musical scope. Of all the stylistic changes that Miles Davis undertook, few had been as adventurous and rewarding as the work he created with his second `classic' quintet lineup, featuring Wayne Shorter on saxophone, Herbie Hancock on keyboard, Ron Carter on bass and the explosive Tony Williams on drums.
Unlike the most popular works of Miles Davis, this is not easy listening music, not by any means. The music created by this quintet is challenging and demanding, which is precisely why it is so extraordinary. Repeated listening continues to pay dividends, in spades. Difficult, angular arrangements constantly veer off into ingenious, mind-boggling directions. Following the supple movements of this rhythm section is about as difficult as chasing a kitten, but soloists Davis and Shorter (and Hancock, too, who is a major component of the rhythm section and a startling soloist as well) never seem to lose their footing. It is jazz music as an intricate game of prodding and suggestion, able to go in virtually any direction, with all five members listening to each other with an intensity that most musicians could only aspire to.

5 Stars for the music, 3 for the box
Although I am a huge Miles Davis fan (His Autobiography is essential reading), I was hesitant to make such a lump-sum investment in this boxed set, even at $70.00 for the 2004 re-issue. However, after reading most of the reviews here and listening to sound bites, I decided to pick it up. I have mixed emotions about my purchase.

First of all, the music is astounding! I concur with most of the other reviews regarding the music, and have nothing to add except to emphasize that every jazz fan MUST own these historical recordings. I honestly can't believe I have been on this earth for three decades, a jazz fan for one, and never owned this music before.

On the other hand, I was disappointed in the packaging. Yes, Todd Coolman's essay, "The Quintet" is revealing and informative, and the packaging has some rare photos that are fantastic additions. However, notably absent are the liner notes and artwork of the original album releases from which these six discs derive most of their material! I was planning to savor the original album art of "E.S.P.", "Miles Smiles", "Sorcerer", "Nefertiti", "Water Babies", "Miles in the Sky", and "Filles de Kilimanjaro", and to read what was written about the musicians and music on these albums when they were released. So, I was disappointed that this classic jazz was not accompanied by these historic visual representations of the music.

Still, the music itself is worth any price. The alternate takes and previously unissued tracks are great, and I personally enjoyed the chronological arrangement of the music. This boxed set is highly recommended and essential if this is how you plan to purchase this music. However, if you want the rest of the history surrounding these recordings, I suggest picking up the individual albums.