Sorcerer (Miles Davis album)

Sorcerer is an album recorded in May 1967 by the Miles Davis quintet. It is the third of six albums that this quintet recorded. It also includes one track from a 1962 session with vocalist Bob Dorough, which was the first time Wayne Shorter recorded with Davis. Davis does not play on the second track, "Pee Wee".[8] The album's cover is a profile photo of actress Cicely Tyson, who at the time was Davis's girlfriend (and many years later his wife).

Sorcerer
Studio album by Miles Davis
Released	October 23, 1967[1]
Recorded	May 16–24, 1967 30th Street Studio B, New York City August 21, 1962 (track 7) 30th Street Studio A, New York
Genre	Jazz Post-bop[2] modal jazz
Length	40:03
Label	Columbia
Producer	Teo Macero
Miles Davis chronology
Miles Smiles (1967) Sorcerer (1967) Nefertiti (1968)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[3]
Down Beat	[4]
Sputnikmusic	4/5[5]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide	[6]
Tom Hull – on the Web	A–[7]

Songs

The only tune from the album known to have appeared in Davis's live performances is "Masqualero", written by Wayne Shorter. Davis's groups performed it as late as April 1970; the last known version appears on the live album Black Beauty. The tune has also been revived by Wayne Shorter by his quartet since the 1990s.

The CD reissue includes alternate takes of "Masqualero" and "Limbo". The alternate take of "Limbo" was recorded in Los Angeles on May 9, several days before the final take was recorded in New York City. This take also replaces Ron Carter with bassist Buster Williams. Both versions of "Masqualero" were recorded on the same date and with the same personnel.

Track listing

Columbia – CS 9532[9]

Side one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Recording session[1]	Length
1.	"Prince of Darkness"	Wayne Shorter	May 24, 1967	6:37
2.	"Pee Wee"	Tony Williams	May 24, 1967	4:49
3.	"Masqualero"	Wayne Shorter	May 17, 1967	8:53
4.	"The Sorcerer"	Herbie Hancock	May 17, 1967	5:10

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Recording session[1]	Length
1.	"Limbo"	Wayne Shorter	May 16, 1967	7:13
2.	"Vonetta"	Wayne Shorter	May 16, 1967	5:36
3.	"Nothing Like You"	Bob Dorough, Fran Landesman	August 21, 1962	1:55
Total length:				40:03

Personnel

• Miles Davis – trumpet
• Wayne Shorter – tenor saxophone
• Herbie Hancock – piano
• Ron Carter – double bass
• Tony Williams – drums

The lineup differs greatly on the track "Nothing Like You", since it was recorded several years prior:

• Miles Davis – trumpet
• Wayne Shorter – tenor saxophone
• Bob Dorough – vocals
• Gil Evans – arrangements
• Frank Rehak – trombone
• Paul Chambers – bass
• Jimmy Cobb – drums
• Willie Bobo (William Correa) – bongos

References

1. "Sorcerer – Miles Davis". milesdavis.com. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
2. Bailey, C. Michael (April 11, 2008). "Miles Davis, Miles Smiles, and the Invention of Post Bop". All About Jazz. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
3. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2011). "Sorcerer – Miles Davis | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
4. Quinn, Bill; et al. (2007). Alkyer, Frank; Enright, Ed; Koransky, Jason (eds.). The Miles Davis Reader. Hal Leonard Corporation. pp. 244–6. ISBN 1617745707. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
5. Campbell, Hernan M. (June 17, 2012). "Miles Davis – Sorcerer". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
6. Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 58. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.
7. Hull, Tom (n.d.). "Grade List: Miles Davis". Tom Hull – on the Web. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
8. Jack Chambers (1998). Milestones: The Music And Times Of Miles Davis. Da Capo Press. p. 104. ISBN 978-0306808494.
9. "Miles Davis – Sorcerer". Discogs. Retrieved February 4, 2017.

External links

• Sorcerer at Discogs (list of releases)