Miles Davis vs. John Coltrane

[clive gash]

Miles for substances.

[Hightea]

Miles over Coltrane although I'm a big fan of both.
Miles covered more ground, more different styles and played with just about everyone.
Plus love the Bitches Brew/Live Evil fusion era.

[sloopjohnc]

I tried for 10 minutes to make an argument for Coltrane before I finally admitted to myself that the answer just has to be Miles. He went everywhere musically.

I probably love Comtrane’s best more. But not by enough to ignore the sheer scope of Mile’s work (Coltrane was no slouch either in the “scope” dept. - but nobody beats Miles on that score).

Ditto.

[Goat Boy]

I've not been able to get with Coltrane. I just don't find him as melodic as Davis and I'm not interested in anything free jazzy either so stuff like Ascension is over my head.

Even when Miles moves to the tropical electric stew of Bitches Brew etc I can still get something out of it but I like the purity of his playing. There's an elegance to something like In A Silent Way or Sketches of Spain that I love.

[BARON CORNY DOG]

This is all rather shocking and depressing.
McCoy Tyners chords are enough for me to vote for John Coltrane!

[Jimbly]

I've not been able to get with Coltrane. I just don't find him as melodic as Davis and I'm not interested in anything free jazzy either so stuff like Ascension is over my head.

Even when Miles moves to the tropical electric stew of Bitches Brew etc I can still get something out of it but I like the purity of his playing. There's an elegance to something like In A Silent Way or Sketches of Spain that I love.

Try Coltrane's Sound

[The Modernist]

I've not been able to get with Coltrane. I just don't find him as melodic as Davis and I'm not interested in anything free jazzy either so stuff like Ascension is over my head.
.

Try the Ole album Dougie.

[The Modernist]

This is all rather shocking and depressing.

Not at all. Davis' music is as beautiful and moving as anything in the 20th century. He's being undervalued by the BCB jazz snobs.

[joels344]

Coltrane. His late-60s avant-garde jazz run is some of the greatest music ever recorded. I do love Miles Davis, but Coltrane is just on another level for me.

[BARON CORNY DOG]

This is all rather shocking and depressing.

Not at all. Davis' music is as beautiful and moving as anything in the 20th century. He's being undervalued by the BCB jazz snobs.

Then why is he winning the poll?
And who are these jazz snobs?

[clive gash]

Miles is ok if you like coffee tables.

[Penk!]

Miles is ok if you like coffee tables.

I like coffee tables. They look good (if discerningly chosen) and provide somewhere to put your beverage, snack, remote, phone, laptop, book and so on.

[Penk!]

I tried for 10 minutes to make an argument for Coltrane before I finally admitted to myself that the answer just has to be Miles. He went everywhere musically.

I probably love Coltrane’s best more. But not by enough to ignore the sheer scope of Mile’s work (Coltrane was no slouch either in the “scope” dept. - but nobody beats Miles on that score).

I agree with your man Davey there.

[The Modernist]

Miles is ok if you like coffee tables.

Fuck off! That's got to be the most ridiculous thing you've ever said

[clive gash]

You’ve obviously been away!

[Darkness_Fish]

I like coffee tables, and I also like Miles Davis, so he could be onto something. Unlikely, but you never know.

[clive gash]

Pass me my Miles Davis Taschen book will you?

[Six String]

First I must admit I don't really like these vs. threads as they rarely make sense and this is a good example. What are we measuring here, best instrumentalists? Band leader? Visionary? Composer?

Second, Coltrane didn't produce music as good as Miles? Are you kidding me? Blue Train, Giant Steps, A Love Supreme, Africa Brass, The Complete Live At the Village Vanguard? Some of the criticism of his playing is truly dumbfounding and shows a lack of knowledge on the subject. Coltrane only recorded for about ten years vs fifty years for Miles. I think JC did quite well with the time he was given. He may not have been the talent scout that Miles was but he was laser focused on what he was trying to do and didn't feel a need to change bands ever three or four years to accomplish it.

[Muskrat]

Miles w/Gil Evans alone decimates anything Coltrane ever did -- and I like 'em both (and also prefer reeds).

[BARON CORNY DOG]

This is total insanity. Madness.