Baker's Dozen

Artists discuss the 13 records that shaped their lives

4. Miles DavisAscenseur pour l’Ă©chafaud/Lift To The Scaffold

I love the story of the album, how it was recorded in Paris in just a few days while they watched the film. They improvised it, but Miles had a few motifs and some absolutely brilliant lines that he brought to the sessions. It’s a great example of a genius at work in a very spontaneous way. I got into jazz about 25 years ago. Miles Davis is the obvious, accessible side of jazz. I did get into be-bop and Charlie Parker for a while, but I find Miles’s playing absolutely beautiful.

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