"ALL BLUES": THE UNRELEASED TRACK IN "THE MATRIX" ORIGINAL MASTER TAPES

The recent release of The Doors' live performances at "The Matrix" in San Francisco from 7–11 March 1967, enhanced using the original sound sources, includes eight previously unreleased tracks. Two of these are instrumental tracks that have never been heard in the band's repertoire before.

The first of these, in chronological order, is "All Blues", taken from the first concert on 7 March (out of a total of three performances that night). It is a cover of a jazz piece written by Miles Davis and recorded in April 1959. Three months later, it was released on the historic album "A Kind Of Blue".

Let's compare the main features of the original with those of The Doors' version, which we heard for the first time a few days ago.

 

THE ORIGINAL BY MILES DAVIS

 "A Kind Of Blue" is a jazz milestone, the notes of which underscore two important moments in the genre.

The first of these is the crowning of the hard bop genre, achieved through unparalleled refinement of execution — thanks in no small part to the musicians Miles Davis chose as his partners. The second significant moment marked by this album is the transition to a new genre of jazz: modal jazz.

Alongside Davis on trumpet, the line-up includes Cannonball Adderley on alto sax, John Coltrane on tenor sax, Paul Chambers on double bass, Bill Evans on piano and Billy Cobb on drums. They are all exceptional performers on their respective instruments, with Coltrane and Chambers perhaps slightly ahead of the others.

"All Blues" is track number four on this LP and lasts 11 minutes (link here).

Here, Modal Jazz is already predominant over Hard Bop. However, the track sits at the fruitful intersection of the two styles, paving the way for what would be played in jazz in the following decade.

The opening and closing themes are played by the muted trumpet and two saxophones, while the piano builds tension in the background with a carpet of fast, repeated notes. The improvised solos are played in chronological order by Davis, Adderley, Coltrane and finally Evans, who plays a shorter solo than the others.

Without going into detail and stealing space from The Doors’ version, let us just say that this beautiful track with its thoughtful and vaguely melancholy atmosphere is really worth listening to.

 

THE DOORS' VERSION AT "THE MATRIX”

This recording, which was only released a few days ago, shows us The Doors during their first night at the venue. The group did not choose "All Blues" at random. In fact, they were admirers of many jazz musicians of the time, and used to attend their concerts whenever they could. The Doors' passion for jazz is evident not only in their live performances, but also in their studio recordings.

So it's no surprise that they chose to cover a Miles Davis song. Manzarek's electric organ plays the opening and closing themes (taking the place of the two saxophones), while Krieger's electric guitar takes over trumpet duties.

The improvisations feature the organ first, followed by the guitar, and the conclusion repeats the opening theme.

In his solo, Manzarek modifies the original atmosphere, adopting a more dynamic and flowing approach and avoiding the intriguing nuances of the three horn soloists in the 1959 performance.

Krieger, on the other hand, adheres more closely to the Davis arrangement, albeit at the expense of some incisiveness.

These six and a half minutes are anything but predictable for a group that, just three months earlier, released a rock record, and which here presents one of its most musically sophisticated and refined sides. The technical skills of the three instrumentalists, coupled with the artistic flexibility of The Doors as a band, make possible what is rarely found in other rock bands.

P.S.: My book "The Doors Through Strange Days"- The most comprehensive journey ever made through The Doors' second LP, is available on Amazon.com, .uk, .mx, .it, etc.

Here’s a link:

Amazon – “The Doors Through Strange Days”