Miles' Ever Changing Moods
Mr. Richard D. Coreno | Berea, Ohio USA | 07/09/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Miles Davis was transitioning his sound during this October 26 to November 9 European Tour - Directions: A Tribute to Duke Ellington - which featured music from the yet-to-be released Bitches Brew, the 2-album soundscape that would burst onto the scene in April 1970. And the bridge to his landmark fusion period was through the lineup of Wayne Shorter (tenor and soprano sax), Chick Corea (electric piano), Dave Holland (bass and electric bass) and Jack DeJohnette (drums).
Part of an ongoing series of previously unreleased concert performances from a variety of sources, there is an impressive wealth of music (2:17:49). The first CD and tracks one through three on the second disc are from the October 27 gig in Rome, while tracks four through eight were recorded on November 4 in Copenhagen. The liner notes state they are from "rare broadcasts" and the sound quality varies drastically; the first CD is very sharp, while the remainder of the show can get a bit rough in sections and the Copenhagen tracks are very good.
Miles and Shorter ignite Rome by pushing each other to crazy good heights by trading solos, while Corea delivers melodic mysteries during both shows when given the space to stretch out. The closer on the second CD - It's About That Time into The Theme - seemingly captures the sign o' the times through its frantic power and edgy peacefulness.
Though there is duplication in the setlists, the presentations vary and capture an important quintet in the history of jazz as it shook the foundation with some big fun. The collection was released in March 2010 - nearly simultaneously with Live in Berlin 1969 - and both share material contained in the booklets.
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