Sporting a green trumpet reminiscent of Miles Davis, Paul Higgs kicked off his set with Milestones—the streamlined modal tune from 1958—and immediately followed it with the “old” Milestones, the intricate bebop tune from 1947. This pair of tracks effectively captured the evolution of Miles Davis’s musical style during that period.
Paul demonstrated how Miles revolutionized the standard Harmon trumpet mute, typically used for comic effects, by removing the inner stem to create his signature soft, muted sound. Using this muted trumpet, Paul performed Bye Bye Blackbird, perfectly mirroring the relaxed, melodic style of Miles’s rendition. Bassist Paul Whitten then played a solo that reflected the mood of the piece.
Miles’ sensitivity to ballads was highlighted in a poignant rendition of My Funny Valentine, while his collaborations with Gil Evans were showcased through Summertime (from their Porgy and Bess album) and the Adagio from Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez (from Sketches of Spain).
From Miles’ iconic modal jazz album Kind of Blue, Paul performed So What (with the original Bill Evans piano intro, played by Adrian York) and Flamenco Sketches. The concert also featured uptempo hard-bop tunes like Seven Steps to Heaven (with a thrilling drum solo from Vince Dunn), Four, and Straight No Chaser (highlighted by a stunning trumpet solo by Paul).
The evening ended on an energetic note with Move from the Birth of the Cool sessions. The concert was a resounding success, not only due to Paul’s virtuoso playing and the excellent house band, but also because of his insightful and engaging commentary on the music of Miles Davis.
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