Breakneck live work from Miles Davis – and proof that his famous 60s quintet wasn't only just about mellow and spacious sounds! The set was recorded at the same concert as the album My Funny Valentine – and while that one's mostly ballads, this one's mostly high tempo numbers that skip along with incredible ease – crackling with modern touches on the rhythm from Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams – and featuring some really excellent work by George Coleman on tenor sax!
The album MY FUNNY VALENTINE, comprised of delicate, complexly arranged ballads, and one of trumpeter Miles Davis's finest live recordings, is taken from a concert performed on February 12, 1964. Interestingly, the up-tempo numbers from that same concert appear here on FOUR & MORE. Energized by his new, young rhythm section–drummer Tony Williams, bassist Ron Carter, and pianist Herbie Hancock–Davis tears through versions of classics ("So What," "Walkin'," and "Four") at breakneck speed.
Miles Davis' concert of February 12, 1964, was originally divided into two LPs, with all of the ballads put on My Funny Valentine. These five lengthy tracks (which include "All of You," "Stella by Starlight," "All Blues," "I Thought About You," and the title cut) put the emphasis on the lyricism of Davis, along with some strong statements from tenor saxophonist George Coleman and freer moments from the young rhythm section of pianist Herbie Hancock, bassist Ron Carter, and drummer Tony Williams.