All Artists:Miles Davis Title:Aura Members Wishing: 1 Total Copies: 0 Label:Sony Original Release Date: 1/1/1985 Re-Release Date: 8/22/2000 Album Type: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered Genres:Jazz, Pop Styles:Jazz Fusion, Swing Jazz Number of Discs: 1 SwapaCD Credits: 1 UPC:074646396223
"Miles Davis,just about to leave Columbia records after a lucrative 30 year career witht he label turned to Danish composer and musician Patte Mikkelborg to record a ten piece suite in Copenhagan in the late winter of 1985. After a frenetic fusion intro there are nine compositions titled after different colors of the "aura": white,yellow,orange,red,green,blue,electric red,indigo and violet. Most of these songs,while musically very much in keeping with the early 80's part of the "electric Miles" period showcase impressionistic "sound paintings" that not only bare a striking resemblance to Miles' work with Gil Evans on albums like Sketches of Spain at least in terms of arrangement. The main difference is that on these Miles plays against the melody most the time rather then with it,which while very much in the jazz improvisation tradition gives the music that sense of organized chaos common in Miles' electric music:the idea melodies and rhythms that are completely different from eachother and never coming to a resolution.In this context it could be seen as mixing different shades to make primary colors.The only really funky tune here is "Orange" which is indeed very firey in nature. "Electric Red" and "Violet" are a slower burning kind of groove wheras "Blue" expressess a light reggae feeling for another musical "color"."Indigo" is the only real acoustic piece here. Some of these songs also feature the guitar of John McLaughlin who worked with Miles back in his Bitches Brew days. While the complex,almost ambient nature of 'Aura' might qualify elements of this album as off putting and some jazz fans might find some of these songs leaning towards the new age sound it is definately one of the more unique and individual recordings in Miles' vast catalog and he has many."
Aura- Miles Davis
Robert L. Mc Neil II | Shoemakersville, Pa | 08/26/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"A must have for your collection.
Miles at his best. Miles Davis has always been on the cutting
edge. Ahead of his time.
He may be gone, but great cd's like this one remind us how
wonderful he really was."
Miles Davis- Aura
lil rook | Fayetteville,GA,USA | 05/15/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Miles Davis' Aura was his best album of the 1980's. Miles said of Aura " I think it's a masterpiece, I really do". Aura was recorded in 1984 and released 5 years later in 1989 when Miles had already left Columbia after 3 decades. Aura is a mix of different jazz genre's. It has a little bit of everything from hardbop, avant-garde, orchestra, fusion, rock and even reggae. Miles records with an orchestra here and it is conducted by Palle Mikkelborg who wrote all ten songs on the album. John Mclaughlin is a special guest on here as well. All the songs are named after colors except Intro, and Electric Red. My favorite songs are Orange, Electric Red, Violet, and Indigo. The 1980's is Miles' most hated period but this album is great and I do find it to be a "masterpiece"."
If You Could Hear Color and See Sounds...
Talking Wall | Queen Creek, AZ | 04/28/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"First of all I just have to get this out of the way. The dufus with the user name of Funk Meister below probably doesn't even own this CD and hasn't heard it. That review asserts this is a Miles Davis/Gil Evans project. Evans had nothing to do with this and as far as I know that last time Evans arranged anything for Miles was on Star People in 1982. The last orchestral work they did together was the ill fated Quiet Nights circa 1965. There isn't an ounce of funk in this music so it sure isn't a "funk opera" as that reviewer calls it.
Ok, that's out of the way. Aura is unlike any Miles release I have ever heard. It is very different. If you know any thing about the ECM record label (Euro-jazz) one could imagine this release on that label. In fact, it reminds me of a release on ECM called Waves by Terje Rypdal with Palle Mikellborg - the guy who wrote the Aura suite. This is not an 80's funk opera - although there are some very beautiful vocals that simply sound out a chord in the background.
McLaughlin plays on 3 tracks, he's just so amazing on "Orange". Miles' playing on this release is VERY strong. I hadn't heard him play like this since the Live-Evil live material (culled from The Cellar Door Sessions).
The material is very interesting though the comments about sterility are understandable if one is not used to that ECM sound that moves jazz further toward the classical tradition in its overall sound. Still, I love the writing and the playing by the supporting players, including the booming electronic drums that Vince Wilburn plays. There are some portions of the music that sort of sound like Frank Zappa's later period.
Anyway, gotta go. If you are a Miles Davis collector, have no fear of this release. It is a great work of art and has little or nothing to do with entertainment. This is a serious as anything he did up until 1975.