BIG FUN

This album is Big Fun. The first Miles Davis album I bought. This one always gets me. I love the Indian music influence. This is some of the most serious jazz-rock I've ever heard. It's haunting, it's funky, it's mystical, it's quite energetic, especially when Billy Cobham's behind the set. Not to mention looking at the personnel will make your head implode, as so many Miles Davis albums do. If you're even remotely familiar with jazz-rock/fusion, or jazz in general, you will have heard of at least 3-4 of the names besides Davis; maybe more. This is a must hear for any jazz fusion fan. It's a shame it was not released when it was supposed to be, not long after Bitches Brew. Instead it came out a few years later, and is not mentioned as much for some reason. When I was deciding which Miles Davis album to buy first, it was tough. I then saw the cover for this album, and I did not know this album existed before that moment. I saw the title Big Fun and picked it up immediately. I don't know why, but i basically bought the album because of the title, which I dont really do often. It was a great decision, because I was into jazz-rock for a while before I decided to check out Miles Davis' music. I had heard a few songs, but not much, and most of them were his jazz songs. I think this was a great first album to check out. It's a long album (2 discs, but a lot of his 70s albums are), but you dont even realize it, and you'll be taken in by the music.

I love the sitar and percussion work a lot. Miles Davis always had a great percussion section during this time.

Great Expectations is EPIC!!!! A 27 minute opus. It is haunting, yet intriguing. It is like a long journey, filled with danger and adventure. The middle is dark, reminds me of the night. The melody is great. The next section is one of the most beautiful pieces of music I've ever heard. Listening to this is so great. The melody from before returns. This an epic song, the only way I can describe it.

Ife is great on here. When this one is played live, it's a little different. Here the Rhythms between the bass and drums constantly switches and makes for a serious jazz-fusion song.

Recollections and Trevere remind me a little of Bitches Brew, but with more Indian influence. Great melodies throughout.

Disc 2 is very good as well. It opens with Go Ahead John. This song is so dark and mysterious! The band hangs on a vamp while Miles does his thing for a while. I love the line-up for this track, consisting of Miles Davis Steve Grossman on soprano saxophone, John McLaughlin on guitar, Dave Holland on bass, and Jack DeJohnette on drums. This should have been a touring lineup! McLaughlin's guitar sounds fantastic, with some weird effect on it.

Lonely Fire, The Little Blue Frog, and Yaphet are all very mystical, Indian-influenced jazz-fusion workouts, with a heavy emphasis on the sitar and Indian percussion. I love this sound a lot. Bennie Maupin plays a lot of good stuff.

I recommend this album to anyone who loves jazz-fusion, or is interested in checking out Miles Davis. I would say this is a good one to start, it worked for me. The title definitely works for the music within. Check this out, I think this is one (of many) Miles Davis masterpieces.