IN A SILENT WAY

Don't ask me how or why, but IN A SILENT WAY was my first ever experience of a Miles Davis album. I honestly had no expectations of the sound other than something in the grey matter of jazz, but I never expected what I actually heard. I almost felt like giving it an average rating until the surprise factor wore out and I slowly grew warm to everything.

Everything here sits on basically one idea of which there are plenty of solos and variations so that an album side is filled out. So, right off the bat, this is not for those who hate any type of jamming or those who hate pieces of music that just sit on one theme. I personally find it as the strength of the album, so much so that I pay more attention to the keyboards, bass and drums as opposed to the great trumpet and saxophone solos. Plus, I feel that there's a tight groove going on in the pieces which really puts a smile on my face.

My favourite section is the ''It's About That Time'' part of the title theme, although the ''Shhh/Peaceful'' movement is stronger (opinion only) as a whole. IN A SILENT WAY is really one of those albums of which I don't have any legitimate reason as to why I love it, but I do. This album is only for those who have the stomach for long, free-form fusion stuff. I guess I'm amongst the aforementioned ''those''.