Miles Davis at the Isle of Wight Music Festival

January 7, 2025 4:51 PM

While some artists were, not unnaturally, overawed by the vast size of the audience, Miles and the band appeared unfazed and slammed into their set with such ferocity that it jerked the audience around me from its stoned afternoon ennui into a bustle of excited head-turners. ... This was jazz Jim, but not as we knew it.

In 1970, Miles Davis' band was undergoing rapid change by even his standards. On this day, the musicians were:

Gary Bartz - alto and soprano saxophone
Keith Jarrett - electric organ
Chick Corea - electric piano
Dave Holland- electric bass
Jack DeJohnette - drums
Airto Moreira - percussion

posted by Lemkin (12 comments total)

Holy crap. Back in 1/2 hour.
posted by whatevernot at 6:24 PM on January 7 [1 favorite]

that's a long you tube video i really don't mind

just amazing music - we still haven't entirely caught up to what he and his bands were doing
posted by pyramid termite at 6:29 PM on January 7 [3 favorites]

That hit the spot, thanks. Miles and his bands during this period made music that’s like pure humanity or something. It feels raw and fresh and relevant today. Hearing this specific band was new to me and holy fuck were they playing their hearts out. Call it anything, indeed. Going back for another listen
posted by dark matter at 7:28 PM on January 7 [1 favorite]

When I think of the straight-up rock bands that had to follow Miles' electric combo at the Fillmores... A few months before the Isle of Wight gig, his septet opened for Laura Nyro at the Fillmore East. Can't imagine that didn't blow some minds. Thanks for this. Much as I love the second great quintet recordings, his electric music, in the right mood, is the shit.
posted by the sobsister at 8:50 PM on January 7 [1 favorite]

A giant among giants. Thank you for posting. Can't wait to fire it up while I'm cranking some work out tomorrow.
posted by Smedly, Butlerian jihadi at 9:18 PM on January 7 [1 favorite]

Phil Lesh after Miles opened for the Dead (later released as Black Beauty):

As I listened, leaning over the amps with my jaw hanging agape, trying to comprehend the forces that Miles was unleashing onstage, I was thinking, “What’s the use? How can we possibly play after this? We should just go home and try to digest this unbelievable s–t.” This was our first encounter with Miles’ new direction. ‘Bitches Brew’ had only just been released, but I know I hadn’t yet heard any of it… In some ways, it was similar to what we were trying to do in our free jamming, but ever so much more dense with ideas, and seemingly controlled with an iron fist, even at its most alarmingly intense moments.

posted by chbrooks at 11:04 PM on January 7 [3 favorites]

In a lot of ways the Seventies were terrible but holy fuck the music was good.
posted by flabdablet at 12:59 AM on January 8 [2 favorites]

Early '70s Miles Davis is my favorite Miles Davis, so this shit rules.
posted by heteronym at 5:38 AM on January 8 [1 favorite]

Was Davis the greatest incubator of talent in Jazz? The only other musician I can think of is Art Blakey.
posted by indianbadger1 at 8:18 AM on January 8 [1 favorite]

I love how, at 33:27, he finishes up with a swing-era "be-dop bop bop boobity-bop," bends over, picks up his Harmon, grabs his gig bag, and walks off.
posted by Aardvark Cheeselog at 11:54 AM on January 8 [1 favorite]

he finishes up with a swing-era "be-dop bop bop boobity-bop,"

That's the tag end of The Theme he's quoting, which he often used at the end of a set.
posted by Greg_Ace at 1:01 PM on January 8 [1 favorite]

grabs his gig bag, and walks off

And the rest of them wait until their musical momentum peters out and then, one by one, they saunter away.

So fucking cool.
posted by Lemkin at 1:28 PM on January 8