Miles Ahead

As Recorded by Miles Davis

Jazz Big Band Arrangement

This arrangement was written and recorded in 1957 and appeared on the 'Miles Ahead' album. This is pure brilliance by Evans. 'Miles Ahead' was an album arranged as two suites of several songs each (for CD reissue, the entire album plays as one continuous piece). The held-over chord from 'My Ship' should only be played if you perform these two pieces together. If 'Miles Ahead' is performed by itself, begin on the melodic pick-up to bar 3. One of the great arranging discoveries made when Gil's original manuscripts turned up in 1996 was the various woodwind combinations Evans used in these settings. As can be seen, 'Miles Ahead' has three bass clarinets playing throughout most of this arrangement. As if that wasn't enough, he has all of them playing in unison at the highest part of their register (only Evans would ask for a bass clarinet to play a high F above the staff). Though it was not played on the master take, we have included the original piano part.

Swing - Difficult

Full Score, Solo Flugelhorn (or Trumpet), Reed 1: Alto Sax, Reed 2: Clarinet/Bass Clarinet,Reed 3: Bass Clarinet, Reed 4: Bass Clarinet, 5 Trumpets, 2 Horns in F, 3 Trombones, Bass Trombone, Tuba, Piano (Optional - was not played on recording), Bass, Drums.

Swing - Difficult

Full Score, Solo Flugelhorn (or Trumpet), Reed 1: Alto Sax, Reed 2: Clarinet/Bass Clarinet,Reed 3: Bass Clarinet, Reed 4: Bass Clarinet, 5 Trumpets, 2 Horns in F, 3 Trombones, Bass Trombone, Tuba, Piano (Optional - was not played on recording), Bass, Drums.