Search - Miles Davis :: Dark Magus: Live At Carnegie Hall [2-CD SET]

True Jazz in Funk/Rock clothing

Earsby | Norman, OK United States | 01/11/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Dark Magus is an incredible account of Miles' live act in Carnegie Hall. This lineup is the last lineup before Miles decides to go home and do cocaine and party with the locals for about 5 years. He was entering a very dark period for himself and was addicted. Nevertheless, this band was hand-picked by Miles.



Jazz purists had by this time seen the writing on the wall and electricity was powering every popular genre on the planet. Still, instead of thanking Miles for keeping jazz alive, they claim he had a hand in killing it.



The jazz on the album is as vital, if not more vital, as any other jazz-rock fusion album. More so, really because the improvisation was happening at a fever pitch. Miles just took the best of what Rock had to offer and threw it into the mix. There's funk, Jazz, Rock all in equal measures, and Miles has his own identification stamp all over this music, when he isn't playing the electric trumpet through a wah pedal, he's playing organ. The others, Mtume, Foster, Sharrock, etc., all place their improvisatory stamp on the music. This is an alphabet stew of perfection in improvisation. Highly recommended.BTW



If you don't like the 1st disc, listen to disc 2. If it doesn't revitalize your jazz sensibilities, listen to this again. After the 5th listen if you aren't convinced this is where jazz was at at this time, go to the Lincoln Center, and listen to what they're playing there, and try to get this out of your mind. When this concert happened, Miles was in the now (then). That is where creative music happens. This is a beautiful clip capturing a wonderful moment of art. With all due respect to the historians, we have some nice technology right now that can help us bring jazz and music into the 21st century. Or, we can let it go the way of the dinosaurs, orchestral music, etc (they all have their place, though).This is the true classical music of the 70s, though."

Classic

Bill Your 'Free Form FM Handi Cyber | Mahwah, NJ USA | 01/06/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of Miles Davis' last great live albums.



By 1973, Miles had reduced most of the jazz instrumentation--the instruments were still there, but took a back seat to percussive drive. It is almost as if the horns were enhancing the beat and not the other way around. Two pieces at over a half hour each; pure perpulsion



This is the meanest, most agressive and most dirty funk you'll ever hear.



It shoots, and penatrates to the core.



For more of the same, check out In Concert: Live at Philharmonic Hall"