CD/LP/Track Review
Ron Miles: Heaven (2002)
Dan McClenaghan
A lover of sounds, and the way they fit together.
Simply put: Trumpet and guitar. Horn man Ron Miles tries a duet this time out, and he picked his partner well: the high-profile and hugely talented Bill Frisell
Heaven is a delicately rendered set of songs, highlighting the strengths of the two players. Ron Miles has a breathy, very lyrical approach to the trumpet; his six originals here have memorable, straightforward melodies that seem to cry out for words.
Bill Frisell—whom Miles has worked with—is a perfect accompanist for for the soft trumpet sound. His accoustic talent is subtle and nuanced, versatile as it can be.
Six Ron Miles originals—a bright, joyous opener, "Just Married"—Ellington's "Heaven", culled from Ron M's days with the Mercer Ellington Band; a gentley-rollicking "King Porter Stomp"; his partner is music Frisell's "Ron Miles"; a back porch version on Hank Williams' "You Cheatin' Heart"; and a bequiling take on Dylan's "Hard Rain's Gonna Fall" that starts out with Frisell taking the lead, Miles doing the swaths of pastel background; a pungent, stop-time take on Monk's "We See"
Heaven is lyrical jazz pared down to its lovely essense, with Bill Frisell shining around Ron Miles warm glow.
Track Listing: Just married, Coward of the County, Ron Miles, Beautiful, We See, Heaven, King Porter Stomp, Your Cheatin' Heat, Close, Falsetto, A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall, Darken My Door
Personnel: Ron Miles, Trumpet; Bill Frisell, guitar
Record Label: Sterling Circle | Style: Straight-ahead/Mainstream
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