| Jazz |
Old Main Chapel was destined to be a historical reference in the field of jazz even before its official release, not only due to the extraordinary performance offered by the trio of Ron Miles (trumpet), Bill Frisell (guitar), and Brian Blade (drums), but also because of the passing of the excellent trumpeter Ron Miles. Here’s the announcement from Blue Note Records regarding this live album: Blue Note Records will honor the legacy of the brilliant trumpeter, composer, bandleader, and educator Ron Miles with the release on May 10th of Old Main Chapel, a live recording from 2011 featuring Miles’ trio with guitarist Bill Frisell and drummer Brian Blade. Listen to the expansive opening track of the album, “Mr. Kevin.”
To be more precise about the significance of this album: When Miles passed away at the age of 58 in March 2022 from a rare blood disease, he had just made his debut as a bandleader at the Village Vanguard in September 2021, becoming the first artist to perform in front of a live audience at the legendary New York jazz club after the COVID lockdown. He had planned to record the follow-up to his acclaimed debut album on Blue Note, Rainbow Sign, released in 2020. In a review for The New York Times of the Village Vanguard performance, Giovanni Russonello wrote: “Miles spent most of his life in Denver and only recently began to attract national attention,” adding that “he has a dull, unvarnished sound on the trumpet that recalls his roots in the Rocky Mountains, and unlike your typical high-brass improviser, he almost never resorts to flashy effects or grand statements.”
This set being purely acoustic, offering the listener an album that will not go out of style, especially since Ron Miles’ style has always been very contemporary, while remaining quite accessible. Impossible for me not to share with you the notes written by Brian Blade:
“Listening back to this recording, I am reminded of how precious is the time we spend with the ones we love. Relative to my friendship with Ron Miles and many relationships at this point in my life, that precious time feels much too brief and selfishly, I forget that The Lord and author of all things has only loaned us to each other down here until He calls us to our eternal home. I think back and smile and bubble with joy at how rare a being Ron was in this world. To me, he was the embodiment of the words Jesus spoke on a mountain saying, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” I have been guilty of confusing meekness with weakness, but Ron was the defining difference. A war horse with power to run and reign with his horn and a willing spirit, but he chose instead to give and to support and to guide us with a gentle breath of loving encouragement, especially when I would get lost in the forms of his brilliantly challenging compositions written on what I referred to as the “11 x 17 scrolls.” Brother Ron was a multiverse to me. In one moment, sharing his thoughts about the depth and soulfulness of Prince’s “Dirty Mind” album and in the next moment, telling me to check out Tristan and Isolde recorded by the Berlin Philharmonic. Then the next moment, “Say Brother Brian. Let’s play this forgotten Scott Joplin rag with Bill tomorrow night.” Ron was a deep cut, yet so accessible and every note counted and communicated grace and mercy and fire and passion and all the things we loved about the man himself.
Thank you Ron and I will see you soon.”
Brian Blade – September 1, 2023
Or even from these few words from Bill Frisell: Words for Ron Miles.
Words are not enough.
Shining star.
Guiding light.
The truth.
Steadfast.
Unflinching.
Stoic.
Strength.
Dear friend.
Partner.
Brother.
Father.
Husband.
No compromise.
Child.
Lover.
Generosity.
Chance.
Hero.
Heroic.
Compassion.
Empathy.
Well dressed.
Respect.
Humor.
Humility.
Laughter.
Joy.
Relentless.
All inclusive.
Enigma.
Paradox.
Power.
Grace.
Pain.
Gentle.
Dreamer.
Teacher.
Student.
History.
Future.
Optimistic.
The Bee Gees.
Fearless.
Risk.
No fear.
Devotion.
Family.
Beauty.
Hope.
Unknown.
Adventure.
Words don’t come close.
Music.
All love.
By Bill Frisell
An album of all emotions, of all superlatives, “Indispensable” for art, for history, for jazz, for the happiness that this album brings…
Thierry De Clemensat
USA correspondent – Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, April 30th 2024
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