Footprints and Miles Davis' Miles Smiles (With Guest Mike Kaplan)

“Footprints,” composed by Wayne Shorter, first appeared on Adam’s Apple (1966) but became widely known through its performance on Miles Smiles by Miles Davis. The piece is a haunting minor blues that blends traditional structure with modern harmonic color. Often played in C minor, the tune uses a distinctive bass ostinato that outlines a 12-bar blues form while introducing subtle modal movement. On Miles Smiles, the rhythm section—Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams—reshapes the groove into a loose 6/8 feel that shifts fluidly between swing and Afro-Cuban influences.

Released in 1967, Miles Smiles is one of the defining recordings of the Miles Davis Second Great Quintet. Featuring Davis, Shorter, Hancock, Carter, and Williams, the album reflects a move toward greater rhythmic freedom, interactive improvisation, and abstract harmony. Rather than strict chord-scale improvisation, the group emphasizes collective interplay, making Miles Smiles a landmark of post-bop innovation. (EP 119)