JAZZ WINNERS 1960.

Description

March/April 1960 German concert tour program
 (Michel+Kieser)

Original vintage concert program produced for “The Jazz Winners 1960” March/April European package tour, featuring the Miles Davis Quintet, the Stan Getz Quartet, and the Oscar Peterson Trio. The tour ran for three weeks, from 21st March through 10th April. The official title was “Norman Granz’ JATP Presents Jazz Winners 1960”. A Jazz At The Philharmonic project produced by jazz impresario Norman Granz in partnership with different promoters in each country, starting in France, then on to Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Holland. Most shows sold to capacity and reviews were uniformly positive, focusing often on Miles Davis. The tour marked Miles’ first time performing overseas with his own ensemble. In early 1960, Miles was leading a band that featured most of the lineup from his recent album Kind of Blue — pianist Wynton Kelly, bassist Paul Chambers, drummer Jimmy Cobb, and tenor saxophonist John Coltrane. Vibraphonist Buddy Montgomery had played with the quintet on a West Coast tour in February and early March, and was booked to be part of Miles’ touring groug, but he never made it. Apparently, an intense fear of flying caused him to cancel at the last minute. John Coltrane was anxious to leave the Davis quintet and start his own band, but agreed to stay on through the end of the tour as a favor to Davis. In appreciation, Davis bought Coltrane his first soprano saxophone while they were in Europe. The gift would have a significant effect on Coltrane’s music. Miles recalled in his autobiography: “Norman Granz had booked me and my band on a European tour. Coltrane decided to go with us, but he grumbled and complained and sat by himself the whole time we were over there. He gave me notice he would be leaving the group when we got home.” Indeed, upon his return home in April 1960, Coltrane got back to leading his own band and pursuing his own musical paths. The program features delicate artwork by acclaimed German graphic duo Hans Michel and Günther Kieser.

In original black and brown pictorial matte-coated wrappers, perfect bound, 27.7 x 25.5 cm, 26 pp. Bilingual edition with text in English and German. In excellent condition, tightly bound and clean. Additional images of the program available on request.