Call It Anything

Miles Davis, Isle of Wight, 1970 [from Miles Electric: A Different Kind of Blue]

I apologize for breaking tradition and posting a video, but this is just too good not to share. Youtube seems to have "liberated" the footage of Miles Davis' electric band's stellar performance at the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival from the great Miles Electric: A Different Kind of Blue DVD. Highly recommended. The DVD also has additional live footage and some great interviews with Miles' old bandmates and with artists influenced by his music.

After the release of Bitches Brew, Miles began to court new audiences- mostly rock and pop audiences. Taking cuts in his appearance fees, he opened for bands like The Grateful Dead and Santana. He laid down this particular masterpiece during a rock festival, amidst sets by such acts as Supertramp, Chicago, Sly & The Family Stone, Emerson Lake & Palmer, The Doors and The Who. Being the only "jazz" outfit on the bill, this crew must have blown plenty of minds.

The lineup: Jack DeJohnette (drums), Dave Holland (bass), Airto Moriera (perc), Keith Jarrett (keys), Chick Corea (keys), Gary Bartz (sax), and of course Miles Davis.

They jump right in...


and go deeper...


deeper still...
Part 3

a different kind of blue.
Part 4