IN A SILENT WAY

Forget Bitches Brew. This is the first album with Miles Davis in FULL jazz-rock mode. And what an album. This is, in my opinion, the superior album to BB. It also sounds much different that the album that came after. It's quite spiritual in sound, with great melodies and solos. All keyboardists shine on this one, and this is John McLaughlin's first appearance in a MD album. Also this is the last album Tony Williams would be on, before he left for Lifetime.

I like to think of this album as the calm before the storm. The 'storm' being Bitches Brew. And it really is. This album is so 'calm' and really laid back. Then immediately, with the next album, you are barraged with dissonance and chaos and serious funk that is Bitches Brew. Sometimes I think about the fact that Bitches Brew came out right after this and it gives me chills.

I must mention that Joe Zawinul (Weather Report, The Zawinul Syndicate) is all over this album, playing and composition. He really makes this album what it is (besides Miles of course). The use of electric piano is especially worthy of purchase!

Speaking of which, Miles' playing on this record is some of the best and fluid of his playing I've ever heard. It's so weird how fierce and angry it would sound on the next album.

This is one of those albums that's hard to describe, especially since there's only 2 songs. If you haven't heard this album yet, get it. This is one of the most beautiful Miles Davis albums ever, right next to Kind of Blue. And of course highly influential in the world of jazz-rock. Essential.