The year 1972 had Miles Davis in plugged in form, leading a funky team that included soprano saxist Dave Liebman and producing the highly charged On The Corner. As Liebman states during his intro to the concert, at the time of its released, it was not well received by the jazz mainstream, but for the youth it was like a clarion call. This album celebrates the “songs” (as they were named after splicing and editing) as well as the musical attitude of the time.
The all star team of Liebman/ts-ss-fl, Jeff Coffin/ts-ss-fl-cl-es, Victor Wooten/b, Chester Thompson/dr, Chris Walters/key and James DaSilva/g mix and match latter days Miles with a few interludes by Wooten DaSilva and Thompson. The team is dark and ominous on “In A Silent Way” and quite lyrical for “Jean Pierre” with the woodwinds and reeds palpably rich. The take of “On the Corner” is hip and funky, and the team stretches out on the jam fest of “Black Satin.” The choice of not bringing in a trumpet player was judicious, making the songs alluring on their own merits. A nice re-assessment of an overlooked part of the Davis mosaic.