IN A SILENT WAY

Now this is a truly beautiful work of art! Miles Davis had been hinting at a new direction for a couple of years and with this seminal album he delivers. It's his first foray into what would go on to be called jazz-rock fusion, though I am sure to Miles it was just "music". This is an incredible album and one of several masterpieces he would give the world during his lifetime. The recording features some of the greatest musicians on the planet at the time - Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Wayne Shorter, Dave Holland, Joe Zawinul, John McLaughlin & Tony Williams. Just an amazing collection of talent. Never really warming up to his mid-60s quintet, I feel that this is the best album Miles Davis released since Sketches of Spain. It's massive influence cannot be underestimated. This album along with Bitches Brew and Jack Johnson represent a trio of albums that would completely transform the jazz landscape. This was the new music and it was exciting. It was progressive, it was experimental and it rocked. This particular album is also very ambient. The feeling is of a group of musicians in on a secret that the world may not quite be ready for. It's hushed and meditative, but definitely inspired. The way Miles would approach recording at the time was basically to gather his musicians in the studio (or on stage), give a little direction, roll the tape and then let them jam. Ideas were developed on the spot. This is organic music making in it's purest form. Albums would then be edited down to something digestible for people to listen to. And on this album producer Teo Macero gets a lot of credit for splicing together these open-ended jams into something that could be put on an album and flow beautifully. The edits are noticable, but do not hinder the musical experience in the least and they are certainly not as dramatic as they would be on some the live albums Miles would release in the 70s. This album is essential to any lover of music.