13/01/2005

In A Silent Way: the pinnacle Miles Davis recording?

Reader Peter Grant writes: "I'm just starting to get into Miles Davis, going beyond the compulsory copy of Kind Of Blue owned by virtually every Baby Boomer rock fan I know. What should I try first?"

Well, Kind Of Blue is a majestic piece of work, fully justifying its legendary status. But I'd put In A Silent Way above it. Here's why.

In A Silent Way (Columbia, 1969): Shhh/Peaceful; In A Silent Way/It's About That Time

Personnel: Miles Davis (trumpet); Joe Zawinul (electric piano, organ); Wayne Shorter (tenor sax); Herbie Hancock (electric piano); Chick Corea (electric piano); John McLaughlin (guitar); Dave Holland (bass); Tony Williams (drums)

Some recordings touch the listener deeply. Others develop an overwhelming cultural significance. In A Silent Way does both. It's a breakthrough recording, quite unlike anything that had been heard before.

Although it contains only about half an hour of original music - both tracks repeat their opening themes, taking up a quarter of the album's short running time - In A Silent Way is a rich tapestry of unforgettable melodies, improvisation, and tempi. Davis's playing, which rarely reached these peaks again, is alternately assertive and plaintive, often sublime. But it's matched by the playing of his fellow pioneers - this is an outing by a team of virtuosi, and a more talented line-up is difficult to imagine. Once heard, In A Silent Way's themes will remain etched in your memory

As well as breaking new ground in presenting jazz-rock fusion to a mainstream audience, In A Silent Way was also one of the first jazz albums to make extensive use of post-production - tape of the recording sessions was edited to such an extent that some believe that it's really producer Teo Macero's album. The adoption of scissors and paste technology wasn't a one-off, either - this was how future Miles Davis records would be made.

The Complete In A Silent Way Sessions, a 3D boxed set released in 2001, puts the short album in its creative context, complementing the released tracks with others recorded in the creative pinnacle between the acoustic material of the second great quintet and Bitches Brew. It includes alternate versions of the tracks on the album, as well as new material. Delightful as the box undoubtedly is, beginners are advised to start with the finished album, as released.

In A Silent Way's only "flaw" is its short running time: it only lasts 38 minutes. If you can swing it, it's best heard on continuous play over a full working day: music just doesn't get any better than this.

Gerry Smith

[Previous entry: "Van Morrison's live shows in 2004"]

[Next entry: "The music biz - dumbing down the world"]

[Latest Daily Update]

Search entries:

Copyright © Music for Grown-Ups Ltd. 2005
The words Music for Grown-Ups^® and the logo design constitute a registered trademark of Music for Grown-Ups Ltd.

www.musicforgrownups.co.uk
Email: info@musicforgrownups.co.uk

[Latest Update]

[Archives]

[Previous entry: "Van Morrison's live shows in 2004"]

[Next entry: "The music biz - dumbing down the world"]

Top | Back

Site design by watson press website design & authoring