There’ll also be some good news stories from Ronnie Scott’s, a stack of live jazz news for the week ahead and music from the likes of Karen Sharp, Trevor Watkiss and Kenny Garrett.

That’s all in The Yamaha Sunday Jazz Jam at 1pm this Sunday on Jazz FM.

miles davis marcus miller siesta

Miles Davis’

Of course, Miles was no stranger to the world of movie scoring, even though his famous ‘Ascenseur Pour L’échafaud (Lift to the Scaffold)‘ soundtrack was mostly improvised in just two days, and his music for ‘Jack Johnson‘ was similarly spontaneous though subjected to detailed post-production work by Teo Macero.

miles davis and marcus miller

But when Davis got a call from the producers of ‘Siesta’ after their request to use ‘Sketches Of Spain‘ on the film’s soundtrack was turned down, he turned to the trusted Marcus Miller for help. Miller was also on a roll at the beginning of 1987. Fresh from co-producing and co-composing ‘Tutu’, his career was branching out in all directions. But he hadn’t done any soundtrack work before and he embraced the project, thrilled to work with Miles again and rightly sensing that the movie’s Spanish elements might open up some dramatic musical possibilities.

‘Siesta’ is a fascinating companion piece to ‘Tutu’ and it features some of the most arresting Miles trumpet playing from the last decade of his life. Indeed, some Davis-watchers such as critic Paul Tingen reckon it’s the pinnacle of Miller and Miles’s ’80s collaborations. Miles sounds fit and strong, investing the material with both power and pathos, consistently providing a sound that someone once described as ‘a little boy looking for his mummy’. Apparently when Miller played the elegiac ‘Los Feliz‘ to an assembled cast and crew, several people broke down in tears. Miles solos at length with glorious open horn on several tracks. The dramatic, flamenco-tinged ‘Conchita‘ was used by American ice skater Nancy Kerrigan for her 1992 Olympic routine – she got bronze.

gil evans and miles davis

As George Cole pointed out in his book ‘The Last Miles‘, only Michel Legrand, Gil Evans and Miller’s names have shared a Miles Davis album cover, and that really proves how highly Miles rated Miller’s efforts. The only downside is that it’s saddled with being the soundtrack to a very poor movie. Rumour has it that there is much more ‘Siesta’ music residing in the Warner Bros vaults – here’s hoping the album gets the ‘Special Edition’ treatment soon.

Listen to ‘Siesta’ and buy it on Deezer.

Marcus Miller comes to the UK in May with Jazz FM – click here for more information.

Here’s Marcus talking about Miles and playing a solo version of ‘Los Feliz’:

A couple of tracks from unlikely blues artists – Arlo Guthrie & Leonard Cohen.

Some really basic blues from T-Model Ford, Captain Beefheart and Howlin Wolf.

And there’s a new album from our favourite banjo-playing bluesman – Otis Taylor.

It’s Oscar Weekend! Emma Dibdin guides us through this year’s Academy Awards runners and riders.

The FT’s esteemed jazz critic Mike Hobart reviews the latest CD releases.

Our rugby expert Russ Hargreaves previews the exciting Six Nations matches this weekend, Ireland v Italy, Scotland v France and the massive England v Wales game.

And Finally Swedish singer Emilia Martensson will be launching her album at the 606 club next week – she tells us about the project and plays us a track.

Plus as ever, Caroline Daniel will tell us what to expect in this weekend’s FT newspaper and magazine.

FT’s Welcome to the Weekend – Friday nights, now from 5:30pm, only on Jazz FM.

moto brooklyn

Moto

Moto

394 Broadway, Brooklyn

http://www.cafe-moto.com/

Balthazar Restaurant

80 Spring Street, New York, NY 10012

http://balthazarny.com/

bill's place

Bill's Place

Bill’s Place

148 West 133rd Street, between Lenox and 7th Avenues.

http://www.billsaxton.com/billsplace.html

There’s also music from some of Motown’s finest including Stevie Wonder and Smokey Robinson, as well as some of the finest classic late-night jazz Ronnie Scott’s has to offer including a very rare Sonny Rollins recording.

That’s all in The Ronnie Scott’s Radio Show with Jumoke Fashola, Friday at 10pm.

There’s also music from General Johnson’s original group The Showmen, while James Fountain and Ann Sexton add a Northern flavour.

New tunes come from Cecilia Stalin, Kirk Whalum and Jessica Lauren. See you on Saturday and on the ‘Audio On Demand’ page right now. Last week’s show includes ‘Reissue Corner’ and our ‘Soul Cellar’ feature on The Dells.

Sipsmith’s handmade copper-pot still, dubbed Prudence, is the first in London for 189 years. Based in Hammersmith, West London, it was once home to the esteemed whisky expert Michael Jackson, and before that was the micro-brewery for a local pub. It is one of only four gin distilleries located within London’s city limits.

Don’t miss his incredible story on Jazz Shapers with Elliot Moss, Wednesday at 6pm.

Please accept our profound and sincere apologies for any offence that may have been caused and rest assured we have taken steps to ensure that there will be no repeat of this incident.

Mike Vitti

Head of Programming – Jazz FM