Courtesy of Song Music
The box set, which is officially due out on October 26, will reportedly be the first to bring together all eight multi-CD box sets that are collectively known as 'The Miles Davis Series.' Each installation in the series covers an especially influential period of Davis' artistic development, from 1955 to 1975. Originally released in 1966, 'The Miles Davis Series' has garnered a total of eight Grammy Awards.
Now, Columbia has decided to come out with just 2,000 limited edition box sets, each of which will come packaged in a replica of Davis' very own trumpet case. In addition to the cool packaging, 'The Genius of Miles Davis' will also come with a replica of Miles' very own 'Gustat' Heim model 2 trumpet mouthpiece, a rare art lithograph from Miles himself, and a specialty t-shirt from Trunk Ltd. All swag aside, the heart of the new box set, as always, is the music.
Highlights of the new Miles box set include the six-CD box set 'Miles Davis & John Coltrane: The Complete Columbia Recordings, 1955-1961,' which focuses on the evolution of Davis' "first great quintent": Coltrane on sax, Red Garland on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums. The set, which also includes a contribution from pianist Bill Evans, includes music from seminal Davis albums like 'Kind of Blue,' and ''Round About Midnight.' Other box sets include 'The Complete Bitches Brew Sessions,' and 'The Complete on the Corner Sessions.'
All this jazz goodness, of course, won't come for free -- fans can go ahead and pre-order the new box set now, for $1,199.99.
1. September 8, 2010
Re: "2,000 limited edition box sets, each [with] a rare art lithograph from Miles himself"
Miles Davis -never- created a lithograph.
What is being offered in this so-called "limited edition" are non-disclosed reproduction/posters of Miles Davis paintings.
Lithographs are a labor intensive original creative medium by an artist, an edition of 2,000 in black and white would be a titanic accomplishment in theory, much less in practice by any artist but what is being offered for sale is most likely in color. Which would mean Miles Davis would have to prepared four or more matrixs on stone, plate or mylar for printing, laboriously print one color at a time on 2,000 or more sheets of rag paper then print the second color while registering it to the first and so on and so on. It would take weeks or longer to prepare, print and complete such a task. Not including the signing and numbering of such a huge edition which would wear down any wrist and numb the fingers. But that is probably a rhetorical point since this edition is not limited and not lithographs and probably not numbered if signed by Miles Davis.
In other words, this is a blatant attempt to sell for $1,200 each this CD package, by misrepresenting these non-disclosed reproduction/posters as original works of visual art ie., lithographs by Miles Davis to entice the public to purchase one.
Unfortunately, this website is a prime example of those who, in part, have little to no idea what they are writing about, much less promoting but end up perpetuating the misrepresentation to the mostly unsuspecting public.
Finally, under California Civil Code 1738-1745 and New York Statutes 11:01, if you sell a reproduction for $100 or more, you are required to disclose it as a reproduction. Failure to do so, may include but not limited to: refund, interest, treble damages and $1,000 fine per occurence.
In closing, the credibility of this website is in its' hands and as for this promotion's credibility, it has none.
Gary Arseneau
artist, creator of original lithographs & scholar
Fernandina Beach,Florida
Posted at 6:28PM on Sep 8th 2010 by Gary Arseneau