Search - Miles Davis :: At Fillmore: Live at the Fillmore East

Classic

William R. Nicholas | Mahwah, NJ USA | 10/20/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For a guy who knocked free jazz, Miles sure let his young players have free reign. More so with his electric bands then the great quartet that disolved in 1969.



The Filmore East shows are clear evidence. These concerts were Miles and his new band fresh off In A Silent Way and B-Brew, and the shows contain snippits of both. But where they are pristine electric jazz in the studio, they are keybored freekouts here, with Chick Corea and Keith Jerret battling it out in a psychadelic noise tornado.



This album is not representative of the full shows, as Teo Marceo edited parts together, sometimes hamhandedly, from all four nights, one night per selection. Such were the limitations on vynal. One wonders if Sony has the full performances in the vaults, and if they can be issued.



Counterpoint to the wonderful freakouts are soft and sublte passages, particually when Miles solos. You can shut your eyes and see him under the red lights that night, turning hippies on to electric jazz confections.



The dynamics here between the players are incredible. Listen to how the bande free associates-musically and verbaly, on the start of the last track. Miles chimes in melodically, settles the young bucks down and then they all blast back into space. You could do this in front of a wide audiance in 1970.



You get the sense listening that the Miles and crew were figuring out this music while playing as much as the listeners were while hearing. This type of sound was new in those days, and the band probe the possibilites. What an edge this gives the album.



The same sequence of tracks was issued on Black Beatuy, recorded at Flmore West as opposed to these Filmore East recodings. Of the two, this is the more probative, played at slower tempos, with more of a curious edge than the rote set in San Fransisco.







"

Miles of Miles

Gman | Lost in the Midwest | 04/29/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I bought this double album when it first came out and lived in for 2 months straight. Later on I ran into the brother of Steve Grossman, Hal, who was teaching at Berklee. He told a funny story about this concert. It seems the concert was set up for Miles to open up for the Steve Miller Band. The first night Miles heard the Steve Miller Band and got pissed off he had to open for them. So . . . the second night Miles showed up real late and Steve Miller had to open for him. The next two nights had Crosby, Still & Nash on the ticket. They found themselves also opening for Miles. He did say he liked them better . . . "at least they can sing!""

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Talking Wall | Queen Creek, AZ | 09/17/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Yes, it would be wonderful to have the complete recordings on CD for these performances by the very first "fusion" super-group. Until Sony gets off the dime and makes that happen all we have are these performances, a couple of tracks on The Complete Jack Johnson Sessions, and Call it Anything from the Isle of Wight. You can hear what this band sounded like in a complete performance at a site called "Wolfgang's Vault". Locate Miles Davis Tanglewood performance that is offered there. That performance does have Gary Bartz in place of Steve Grossman and it is phenomenal - Sony needs to get that one released!



I think some reviewers are being far too harsh about this release. I have all three of the Fillmore releases (It's About That Time, Black Beauty, and Miles Davis at Fillmore). While some of the edits are a bit abrupt - remember Teo did this with scissors and scotch tape - the performances here are absolutely smokin' and through the wall. Miles' solos are blistering! He never sounded better! I also do not understand all the complaining about Steve Grossman. He was certainly not among Miles'finest sax men in his ELECTRIC period - those accolades go to Shorter, Liebman (woah!), Bartz, and Fortune. But Grossman is in the company of greatness. He is still a very good player and I like his sound here (I admit he sounds too thin and reedy on Black Beauty). The recording quality on Miles Davis at Fillmore is also far better than the other two releases. I think this is a must have for those who love listening to Miles' late 60's early 70's music.



So... yeah, I want Sony to go to the vault and give up the goods on these historic performances, but until then... why deprive yourself? There is no reason why Miles Davis at Fillmore should be sitting at 3 stars.



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