The first time I ever heard Walkin' by Miles Davis I was puzzled when it came to the theme that starts here at 11 minutes 30 seconds in...
I was puzzled because it was already familiar to me and I couldn't think why. Then one day I put on The Sermon by Jimmy Smith, with Lee Morgan on trumpet. Listen to what happens just after 18 minutes 50 seconds in...
The Miles Davis is from 1954, and the Jimmy Smith from 1958, but I knew the latter before I knew the former - which is why that theme was already familiar to me when I first heard Walkin'. And my question is: were the musicians on The Sermon directly quoting Miles? Anyone out there know?
