MILES DAVIS QUINTET: MILES IN THE SKY

For whatever reasons escape me, I can't get into the groove of MILES IN THE SKY. This album represents the precursor of Miles Davis experimenting with more rock styles to spice up his own jazz style, so MILES IN THE SKY can be retconned as a transitional album of sorts. ''Stuff'' is the track that best represents the future of Davis's body of work (particularly to fans of IN A SILENT WAY), as this cut sounds more psychedelic that the other works on the album, plus the presence of an electric piano helps progress the sound. I would point ''Stuff'' out as the best track as it handles the ''service-to-the-song'' method more so than anything else on the album.

The rest of the album is locked into more traditional jazz territory, complete with walking bass lines, fast, swinging tempos (that swing is best on ''Black Comedy''), irregular chords and fastbreak horn soloing. From a technical perspective, these tracks are impressive, and I'll highlight the start-stop feel of ''Paraphernalia'' and Tony Williams's drumming overall as memorable. Yet, the last three tracks sound a bit cold. Some of the best jazz I've heard had a warmth to it that (excuse the hyperbole) could melt your soul. Albums from a decade prior to this like KIND OF BLUE or TIME OUT could nail that emotional sweet spot to the point of mesmerization. MILES IN THE SKY often makes me nod my head in indifference. Coming from Miles Davis, a man whom I respect for making jazz inviting and fun, this album is a head-scratcher.