“E.S.P.” and Miles Davis’ Second Great Quintet (110)

Standards Rating 5, Difficulty Rating 7 

“E.S.P.” stands as a defining statement of Miles Davis’ Second Great Quintet, featuring Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams. Written by Shorter, the tune captures the group’s concept of “time, no changes,” where pulse remains steady but harmony feels fluid and constantly shifting. Its 16-bar A and A’ sections, filled with syncopation and chord tensions (#11s, 9ths, altered dominants), create ambiguity rather than predictable resolution. The half-step root motion and unresolved cadences reflect the band’s conversational style—each member shaping form in real time. Williams’ elastic drumming and Hancock’s harmonically suggestive comping free the soloists from strict harmonic boundaries. On the original 1965 recording, the quintet achieves remarkable cohesion, balancing structure and risk. “E.S.P.” exemplifies how this ensemble reshaped post-bop into a more interactive, modern language.

Miles Davis 

Joey DeFrancesco 

The Jazz Real Book Playlist Vol. 2