Miles Davis is still with us! The man who plugged jazz in has now had his music and voice sampled and put into a collection of urban R&B tunes. The right man for the job did it as well. Robert Glasper, who has walked the tightrope of jazz and hip hop, took a bunch of pieces of Miles Davis’ electronic period and used them as riffs for songs that include a wide range of guest artists.
Stevie Wonder’s harmonica is featured on “Right On Brotha,” and you’re gonna raise an eyebrow or two when you hear John Scofield’s guitar with Ledisi on “I’m Leaving You.” The pieces that actually work the best are when Glasper takes in-studio chatter and uses it for a very cool backdrop for some synth groove. Bilal adds to Miles on “Ghetto Walkin” , while a clever interpretation of “Milestones’ features Georgia Anne Muldrow.” Almost everything has a vocalist, rapper, social commentator, and the grooves are synth driven. Given that, pieces like “Song For Selim” with KING and “Violets” with Phonte are truly clever reads. Would Miles himself have liked it? He would have commissioned it!
Columbia/Legacy