Miles Davis – Ascenseur pour l’échafaud – OST – Fontana – 1958

In 1957, Miles Davis was in Paris for an engagement at the ‘Club Saint-Germain’ and a wonderful concert at the Olympia Theatre. During his stay, he connected with members of the modern existentialist cultural environment in Saint-Germain-des-Près, including director Louis Malle. Malle, having just finished his first movie ‘Ascenseur Pour L’échafaud’, enlisted Davis to create the film’s soundtrack.

On December 4, 1957, Davis brought three French Jazzmen – Barney Wilen on tenor saxophone, René Urtreger on piano, Pierre Michelot on bass – and his American compatriot Kenny Clarke on drums to the recording studio ‘Le Poste Parisien’. Without preparation, Davis gave the musicians rudimentary harmonic sequences he had assembled in his hotel room. The recording was made at night in an informal atmosphere.

Though the soundtrack was not released on its own in the USA, ten songs from it were included on one side of the album Jazz Track, which received a 1960 Grammy nomination for Best Jazz Performance, Solo or Small Group. ‘Ascenseur Pour L’échafaud’ has since become a great achievement of artistic excellence.

Exclusive Features

• Re-mastered from the original mono master tapes with echo effects
• Cut by Ray Staff at Air Mastering Studio in London
• Vinyl pressed by Optimal in Germany using the Metal Mothers from Pallas
• 10-inch facsimile reissue using the original cover art with OBI
• Double insert using an original photo by Gérard Landau/INA from 1957
• Each record visually checked to prevent defects

Tracklist

Featuring the legendary Miles Davis on trumpet, René Urtreger on piano, Barney Wilen on tenor saxophone, Pierre Michelot on bass, and Kenny Clarke on drums, this album is a must-have for jazz enthusiasts and collectors.

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