Although the Paris recordings can hardly be described as “lost” they are fine examples of Miles Davis at his best in one of his favourite cities.

Lost Recordings – 2 Vinyl LPs

Miles Davis (Trumpet); Sonny Stitt (Saxophone); Wynton Kelly (Piano); Paul Chambers (Bass); Jimmy Cobb (Drums)
Recording date 11 October 1960

Record 1
Stardust / Unidentified / Round About Midnight / Walkin’ / If I Were a Bell

Record 2
Fran Dance (Put your little foot right out) / Two Bass Hit / So What / All of You / The Theme

All the music has been issued before. The existing recordings. CD: Trema 710455/8, Trema 710578, Frémeaux & Associés FA 5451

Sonny Stitt plays alto saxophone on “Autumn Leaves,” “No Blues,” and “The Theme” (first concert), and on “Fran Dance,” “‘Round Midnight,” and “All of You” (second concert). He plays tenor on the remaining titles unless indicated otherwise.

September 24: Hammersmith Gaumont Theatre, London (two concerts)
September 25: Guildhall, Portsmouth (two concerts)
September 26: DeMontfort Hall, Leicester September 27: Free Trade Hall, Manchester (two concerts)
September 28: Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool
September 30: Colston Hall, Bristol
October 1: Finsbury Park Astoria Theatre, London (two concerts)
October 2: Lewisham Gaumont Theatre, London (two concerts)
October 5: Town Hall, Birmingham
October 7: City Hall, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
October 8: Hammersmith Gaumont Theatre, London (two concerts)
October 9: Kilburn Gaumont Theatre, London (two concerts)
October 11: Olympia Theatre, Paris (two concerts)
October 12: Konserthuset, Gothenburg (two concerts)
October 13: Konserthuset, Stockholm (two concerts)
October 15: Kurhaus, Scheveningen October 16: Concertgebouw, Amsterdam

Looking at the dates in the UK it seems as though the UK was living in a golden age with tours covering the country.

Although the Paris recordings can hardly be described as “lost” they are fine examples of Miles Davis at his best in one of his favourite cities. Sonny Stitt, the replacement for John Coltrane would not last much longer after the tour. Apparently, excessive drinking led to his sacking. Stitt’s playing was very rooted in an earlier time. Davis’ playing has the clarity, lyricism and logic that was apparent on the Kind of Blue Sessions.

On” ‘Round Midnight” Davis’ intro is longer than usual as Miles Davis explores and ignores the promptings of the rhythm section to move into the arranged section. Eventually, Sonny Stitt takes over and moves back to an earlier era with his repetitive ideas.

“All Of You “Miles Davis is muted through the intro with a gentle meander through the theme before a more assertive Stitt throws in a quote from “Tangerine” as he develops his own rhythm. Wynton Kelly’s piano solo is thoughtful and lyrical.

In “Walkin’” Miles has dispensed with the mute as he is assertive in developing his solo, exploring the horn’s middle ranges. This is Miles at speed and singing majestically.

There is a marginal improvement in the sound compared to the earlier CD releases.