Riot

Wayne Shorter (tenor sax), Miles Davis (trumpet), Herbie Hancock (piano), Ron Carter (bass) and Tony Williams (drums). From the album Nefertiti (1968).

In 1963, Davis increased his use of alcohol and cocaine to reduce joint pain caused by the genetic sickle-cell anemia he suffered from. That same year he formed a quintet with George Coleman on tenor saxophone, Victor Felman on piano, Ron Carter on double bass and Frank Butler on drums with whom he recorded three live albums interpreting the same bebop standards he had played with previous bands, but he treated them with structural and rhythmic freedom, and sometimes at a breathtaking speed.

They also recorded five tracks from the album Seven Steps to Heaven, but Davis substituted Felman for Herbie Hancock and Butler for Tony Williams to record the remaining three. In 1964, Davis replaced Coleman with Sam Rivers until he convinced Wayne Shorter to leave Art Blakey and join him. This is the Davis second great quintet that remained active from 1964 to 1968 and has influenced so much in later decades.

The rhythm section makes a brief introduction and then Shorter and Davis join in at the unison to expose the theme at a fast speed. The solos are concise and Shorter enters with short and jumping phrases. Next comes Davis playing in a different and intricate way while Williams plays the drums with special care. Hancock follows him with a loose and daring melodic line, and then the wind section re-exposes the theme and the piano says the last word.