Mark Murphy, Bop For Miles (HighNotes)

Idiosyncratic jazz vocalist Mark Murphy’s deep affinity for the artistry
of Miles Davis shines through on Bop For Miles, a live performance recorded in
Austria in 1990. As anyone who has ever experienced Murphy’s incredible
live performances can attest, there are many amazing moments of vocal splendor
and stratospheric scatting that leave the listener spellbound, especially on “Bye
Bye Blackbird” and “On Green Dolphin Street” featuring a stunning
a cappella introduction. The only issue I have with Bop For Miles is that the
mix seems a little off to me, no big deal, just less than perfect…and with
Mark Murphy that’s what I’ve come to expect.