Artist: Bill Evans
Album: Everyone Digs Bill Evans
Modal Tracks: Peace Piece
Date: 1958
Description: "Peace Piece" was originally conceived as an extended introduction to Leonard Bernstein's standard "Some Other Time". Inspired by the opening theme, Evans adds layer after layer of ideas - concocting a 6 minute tour de force in solo piano improvisation. Interestingly, the start of this track would become the genesis for the modal classic "Flamenco Sketches", recorded a year later on Kind of Blue.
More Info/Reviews

Artist: Cannonball Adderley
Album: Country Preacher
Modal Tracks: Hummin'
Date: 1969
Description: Bizarrely, "Hummin’" is a live track recorded at a Jessie Jackson "meet" in the late 60s. These “meets” were a mix of civil rights discussions, preaching, special guests and music. At this particular event Cannonball and his band provided the music. On "Hummin’" they lay down some brilliant funky-soul jazz. The atmosphere on the record is palpable and you can almost picture the crowd clapping, shouting and getting really into the vibe of the event. A curious piece of modal jazz history!
More Info/Reviews

Artist: Wayne Shorter
Album: JuJu
Modal Tracks: JuJu, Mahjong
Date: 1964
Description: Listening to "JuJu" is like being in a strange, vivid dream where danger lurks in the shadows. Exotic and dark, its incessant rhythms disorientate the listener into a trance like state, somewhere in-between relaxation and agitation. McCoy Tyner (piano) steals the show on this one - his comping is breathtaking, unleashing series after series of cascading, tumbling chord runs. Shorter is the master of musical Yin-Yang - this is must have modal jazz.
More Info/Reviews

Artist: Miles Davis
Album: Seven Steps to Heaven
Modal Tracks: Joshua
Date: 1963
Description: "Joshua" is all cool, urban chic. Sophisticated and tasteful, it evokes images of neon-lit Broadway and mid town Manhattan. The track is propelled along by Williams crisp energetic drumming, while Hancock’s sparse comping gives the song plenty of room to breath. This was Davis's first album with his newly assembled quintet (Coleman/Hancock/Carter/Williams), and is somewhat of a crossroads between his modal jazz of the late 50s, and the semi-atonal music that he would record in the mid 60s. It also boasts one of the best double bass intros in modal jazz!
More Info/Reviews

Artist: Miles Davis
Album: In a Silent Way
Modal Tracks: Shhh/Peaceful
Date: 1969
Description: "Shhh/Peaceful" is probably the most 'chilled out', ambient modal jazz track ever recorded. Soothing and ethereal, Davis employs 3 electronic keyboards to create a warm, flowing collage of sound. The drum rhythms and bass lines are simple and repetitive, becoming increasingly hypnotic as the song unfolds. As usual, Davis's soloing is brilliant - sparse and melodic, it brings focus to the meandering soundscape. The introduction of electronic instruments, in this album, hinted at the jazz-rock style Davis would explore in the 1970s, but the musical feel is all modal coolness, a la Kind of Blue.
More Info/Reviews

Artist: Chick Corea
Album: Light as a Feather
Modal Tracks: 500 Miles High
Date: 1972
Description: “500 Miles High” fuses modern electronic jazz with Brazilian percussion and vocals.  Time hasn’t been kind, and the vocals and Latin influences sound dated and “cheesy” now. However, the instrumental playing more than compensates for this. Indeed, the Fender Rhodes piano never sounded better – warm and rich in tone, Corea uses it to full effect in his solo opening, playing some beautiful cascading lines. Joe Farrell’s (saxophone) improvisation is also excellent, and he blasts out a torrent of energetic bebop style runs. Indeed, once the band builds up a head of steam, the interplay and awareness is outstanding as they “bounce” musical ideas off each other.
More Info/Reviews

Artist: Miles Davis
Album: Miles Smiles
Modal Tracks: Footprints
Date: 1966
Description: On Miles Smiles, Miles Davis took a back seat writing wise, penning only one composition. Wayne shorter came to the forefront and contributed 3 songs, including the modal piece "Footprints". Abstract and ambiguous, the track is another Shorter Ying-Yang master class. The main theme is plaintive and mysterious, with slow sweeping horns sketching out the melody. Bubbling away underneath is Tony Williams agitated and frenetic cymbal work. It propels the song along, instilling it with a kind of nervous energy. The resulting melee is somewhat enigmatic and unsettling to listen to, a kind of nervous relaxation if you like. "Footprints" is more experimental and looser sounding then previous Davis modal recordings, and may require a few listens to “get into”.
More Info/Reviews

Artist: John Coltrane
Album: Ole
Modal Tracks: Ole
Date: 1961
Description: This Coltrane gem has slipped under the radar somewhat. Largely due to music retailers not stocking the album, and it being over shadowed by more famous Coltrane recordings such as A Love Supreme and Giant Steps. It’s worth seeking out though as the music is amazing. The title track "Ole" is a brooding modal epic, which conjures up images of the Moorish landscapes of Iberia. The feel is mellower and more mysterious than other Coltrane extended pieces. Indeed, it owes more to Sketches of Spain/Kind of Blue than say “Impressions”. Elvin Jones (drums) is, as always, fantastic - relentlessly propelling the music along on it’s hypnotic, spiritual journey. This album is less avant-garde than Coltane's later works and more accessible to the casual modal jazz fan.
More Info/Reviews