Miles Davis - Big Fun
Columbia, 1974Miles Davis - Trumpet
Joe Zawinul - Electric Piano, Farfisa
Herbie Hancock - Electric Piano
Chick Corea - Electric Piano
Wayne Shorter - Saxophone
John Mclaughlin - Guitar
Steve Grossman - Saxophone
Dave Holland - Bass
Michael Henderson - Bass
Jack Dejohnette - Drums
"On Big Fun, Miles Davis and his band seamlessly merge Indian music, electric jazz, rock, and funk. Released during his electric period, this is one of his more obscure albums. For those of us who love Bitches Brew and In A Silent Way, we need more electric Miles. For those hungering for more of the mellow moods shown on In a Silent Way, but with more of an edge, Big Fun is a good choice (as is Filles De Kilimanjaro). Miles’ improvising is great throughout and his solos range from pastoral to biting. In my opinion, Big Fun features one of the most interesting guitar solos ever put to tape, in "Go Ahead John", by John McLaughlin; it sounds absolutely nothing like any other guitar solo I have ever heard. The gnarly phrasing and warped effects will mess with the mind I felt like my ears were cutting out. Also, the music on Big Fun carries the electric period trademark of multiple drummers, bassists, and percussionists, creating huge layers of rhythm that propel the music forward. The difference here is that the sitar really adds some unique color to the dense brass and percussion textures." - Heather Mackenzie (progreviews.com)
These are 4 tracks filling up 4 sides of vinyl, outtakes from the Bitches Brew, Jack Johnson, and On the Corner sessions spanning 69-72. A magical Miles album... just as coherent, sweltering, and heady as any of the better known albums that resulted from these legendary sessions. Totally worthy of a place of honor in the Miles catalogue-- this is one of my favorites. I thank Joe, my coworker from my Manifest Discs days for convincing me to listen to this record that had been up on the wall for a while... which led to me loving it, buying it, and hunting down many more magnificent Miles records. (I've even used samples from it in an experimental music project)
(sorry for not getting this out last night, took me a while to upload everything...)
FILL YOUR EARS pt. 1
FILL YOUR EARS pt. 2
FILL YOUR EARS pt. 3
FILL YOUR EARS pt. 4
1 comments:
Great stuff. I had Big Fun when it came out in 1974. It was the first thing I ever heard by Miles. I have a huge collection of his stuff ranging from his work with Charlie Parker in the 40's up until his death. If you like Big Fun, get The Complete Bitches Brew Sessions as it contains most of Big Fun and some music from those same sessions that has never been released and is very much in the same groove.
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