Sporting a green trumpet à la Miles, Paul Higgs started his set with Milestones (the streamlined modal tune from 1958) and immediately followed it with the “old” Milestones (the complex, chord-heavy bebop tune from 1947), neatly encapsulating the changes in Miles Davis’s approach over that period.
Paul showed how Miles took the standard Harmon trumpet mute (usually used to make comic Tom and Jerry type effects – which he duly demonstrated) and removed the inner stem to create his trademark soft muted sound. Using the muted trumpet, he played Bye Bye Blackbird and captured the relaxed, melodic style of Miles’s version perfectly. Paul Whitten played a bass solo which also reflected the mood of the tune.
Miles’ tender way with a ballad was displayed by a moving rendition of My Funny Valentine, while his collaborations with Gil Evans were represented by Summertime (as heard on the duo’s Porgy and Bess album) and the Adagio from Rodrigo’s Concierto De Aranjuez (from Sketches Of Spain).
From Miles’ best-selling modal jazz album Kind Of Blue, Paul played So What (with the original Bill Evans piano introduction played by Adrian York) and Flamenco Sketches. Uptempo tunes in a hard-bop style included Seven Steps To Heaven (with an exciting drum solo from Vince Dunn), Four and Straight No Chaser (featuring a brilliantly executed solo trumpet chorus by Paul).
The evening concluded on a high-speed note with the appropriately titled Move, from the Birth Of The Cool sessions. The concert was a great success, not only because of Paul’s highly accomplished playing (and the excellent support of the house band), but also because of his informative and entertaining comments on the music of Miles Davis.
Paul Higgs’ Shades of Miles at East Grinstead Jazz Club, Chequer Mead Theatre, East Grinstead, 4 February 2025. Paul Higgs (trumpet); Adrian York (piano); Paul Whitten (bass); Vince Dunn (drums)
