Hi y'all,

I'm looking for some help here. Since I'm a big fan of Prince's jazz-oriented projects (The Flesh, Madhouse, Xpectation, Eric Leeds' Times Squared) I recently decided to give Miles Davis a try, and I bought his Kind Of Blue album. I'm not saying I don't like it, but I'm not really impressed either. So now my question is: any Miles fans round here who can give me advice as to which albums from his jazz-funk period are must-haves?

Answers are welcome at my email address dirtymind@wildmail.com as I don't check the org all that often (I'm more into Housequake.com recently).

Thanks in advance.

J.

yeahronimo said:

IN A SILENT WAY. Buy it now. It's not, technically, in the fusion period, but it's getting there. If you like that then go for:

Bitches Brew
On The Corner
Live Evil
Big Fun
Get Up On It

2 be honest U should first try Miles' albums from the eighties ie Tutu, You're Under Arrest, Decoy etc
They're much closer 2 Princes style than Bitches Brew, Live Evil etc
The albums JohnnyTheFox recommended R undeniably great but the ones I recommend are easier 2 get into.

Bitches Brew & Tutu are non-stop in my player. Also his work with Herbie Hencock cannot be mess with

I heard that he also worked with Marvin Gaye but I'm not sure, I'd love 2 hear it tho.

Harlepolis said:

How cool that U dig Bitches brew.
That album is a trip & a ½.
There is a really good compilation called Black beauty covering his funk period late 60´s/early 70's.
My favourite album is the beautiful In a silent way.
I can highly recoment listening 2 that 1 laid down with
headphones on.I also dig his "comeback" album in the
early 80's, The man with the horn & Tutu,
both collaborating with Marcus Miller.
I´m 99,99% sure he did´nt work with Marvin Gaye tho'
they highly respected each other & talk about each other
in their books.
/peace Manki

Start with BITCHES BREW.Then move on to ON THE CORNER.From there check out SKETCHES OF SPAIN and IN A SILENT WAY.After that you'll be ready for DARK MAGUS.

manki said:

I sho hope you're wrong cuz that would be a serious let-down

yeahronimo said:

Not jazz-funk BUT Miles Smiles is the shit!!!

I would like to add to the suggested titles "Tribute to Jack Johnson" which I believe to be one of the finest album Miles released in the 70's, and also "Agharta" and "Pangea" (even tought I find these two more difficult to approach to... you will need more than one simple listening to fully appreciate them, but IMO they're two complementary sides of an amazing musical trip).

I got that Live At The Fillmore East album and it's pretty funky in places. It's certainly not anything near Prince's style, but it's an awesome record and the band plays so aggressively! Great to drive to! Plus it's the only known recording of the Miles/Shorter/Chick Corea/Dave Holland/Jack DeJohnette/Airto quintet! HAving said all that, what is everyone's favorite period in Miles' music?

Start at Bitches Brew then check out Agharta and Pangea. The three aforementioned albums are in constant rotation in my cd player. If you want to hear something really trippy check out On The Corner.