|
|
The Electric / Fusion Period (1969 - 1975) By the end of 'Filles De Kilimanjaro', the seeds were sown for Miles' next leap. In February 1969, 'In A Silent Way' was recorded & included John McLaughlin on electric guitar, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, and Jo Zawinul on keyboards, plus Wayne Shorter & Tony Williams.These four individuals would dominate jazz-rock later in the 1970s with The Mahavishnu Orchestra, Headhunters, Return to Forever and Weather Report. With this album they created something that would turn the world of Jazz upside down.
After recording this album, Tony Williams left to form his group Lifetime and was replaced by Jack DeJohnette. A Short time later, the ground breaking 'Bitches Brew' was recorded. This was the first 'Jazz' album to chart in the Billboard Top 40 & the first to be targeted at new, younger, listeners who were more familiar with guitars than trumpets. The albums of this period were characterised by lengthy improvisational pieces over pre defined themes, often with multi-tracking & splicing of performances to create something that was never actually performed as such. This had the simultaneous effect of capturing a new younger audience who were familiar with the then in vogue improvisational works by various contemporary bands & at the same time alienating a large portion of the traditional Jazz community. The Jazz equivalent of Dylan going electric! Starting with Bitches Brew, Davis' albums also began to feature less conventional artwork. He took significant cuts in his usual performing fees in order to open for rock groups like the Steve Miller, The Grateful Dead & Santana. This period also saw the recording of several live albums including It's About That Time (March 1970), Black Beauty (April 1970) and At Fillmore (June 1970). Over the next four years, Miles refined this technique of recording & revelled in the freedom that it gave him & the musicians he employed. The mixed influences of Karlheinz Stockhausen, Jimi Hendrix, Sly & The Family Stone were incorporated into the performances, often leading to concerts of Psychedelic Space Funk rather than what you would perceive as traditional Jazz. The improvisional nature of the pieces meant that nearly every live performance he gave over these years was different & this was captured on several live albums released at the time- In Concert, Dark Magus, Agharta & Pangaea.
Essential listening for this period would be Bitches Brew, On the Corner & A Tribute To Jack Johnson. Come 1975, the rock star ethos & intense touring was taking its toll and physical, drink & drugs problems led to Miles' retirement from music. There would be no new Miles Davis music for over five years. |
|
|
|