|  | | | Customer Reviews: | | | Average Customer Review:
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.
WOW! Jan 02, 2010
Miles Davis, in a 38 minute free-form jam session, is worth the price of admission for this first rate disc. In addition, director-producer, Murray Lerner, prepares those of us unversed in Davis' career at this point in his life, with an admirable background, through interviews with members of the band who played with him at this venue, The Isle of Wight Festival, 1970, attended by an estimated 600,000 people. The film-DVD is one of five Lerner produced from his commission to film the total event.
Not knowing what I was getting into, I doubt if I would have listened to more than a few minutes of this "piece" were it on a CD. Watching, what did not seem to me, to be a group of musicians, being led by a Master of the Craft, through a set piece of music, for the delectation of an audience, but rather a select group of Shaman''s assistants. being led through a magical rite, by the Shaman, the Master Magician and Head Priest, to solicit some natural miracle from their ruling Gods, was an entirely different and completely engrossing experience.
I can commend this with the greatest confidence to those with an interest in music. We might not get out of it what more knowing people do, but it will be a rich experience.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Free Miles Oct 02, 2008
For me, the whole "Bitches Brew" period was a necessary step in where "jazz" had to go. The other "free" players had not caught up with the electric / electronic developments that the rock players were mastering (at least a few did; like Hendrix). Miles brought them together; blurring lines and violating the boundaries in service of a greater vision.
While there may have been a few moments during "Bitches Brew" that may have meandered a bit, the whole point of that recording was that it was a big risk. A gamble by walking into musical territory that had not yet been created. But while the recordings were great, that situation works best when it is performed live.
The Isle or Wight performance exemplified this marvelously. All the musicians walked on stage for that gig and delivered with no idea what was going to happen. Let's face it; few musicians have both the courage and the skill to do that. This performance was exemplary of what could be done.
One thing I particularly liked about it was how Miles led the band. In this he had few peers. I saw Miles live, and his band leading skills were the best I ever saw of anyone (Frank Zappa came a close second). A single phrase or an inflection on a single note, and the whole band reacted, seemingly as a reflex or instinct, and the direction of the music changed.
I enjoyed some of the interview parts of the DVD. I was, ironically, glad that Stanley Crouch was given the chance to vent his feelings (even if I vehemently disagree with him - he's entitled to his opinions, despite the danger that they may unduly influence others). But once all the talk was out of the way, the actual performance itself was presented in its entirety to stand up on its own merit.
What Miles Davis accomplished during that phase was both unprecedented, and musically as beautiful as it was dangerous and insurrectionist - as real as love and revolution.
What Ken Burns never figured out... Jul 26, 2008
I'll leave the descriptions to some of the excellent reviews posted above. My main point is that - Although I like the Ken Burns set, and use it as a resource to teach college classes - they don't have a clue about what Miles was up to from 1969 on. Another chapter is needed, and this works! This is a nice documentary, which shows that Miles was anything but a "pop sellout" as depicted in Burns. This is cutting-edge avante-garde-jazz-funk-stretchin' out music that is far from commercial pop! And there could be more documentaries, as Miles had several different phases during the 20+ final years of his life.
Belongs in every electronic musician's collection Jul 06, 2008
If you play electronic music and like Miles, this is the one to have. I'm guessing from watching this that this was lovingly restored from analog film and tape. Considering the setting at a live venue in the early '70s, the sonic quality is simply amazing. If you're a keyboard player, you're in for a real treat: there's great playing by Herbie, Chick, and Keith Jarrett. The only keyboard player missing from the DVD who worked with Miles during this period is Josef Zawinul. -- Again an amazing recording. Get it now.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Wonderful, with one tiny exception May 09, 2008
The words: Perception and history from his collaborators, inspiration from Miles himself (most in his own unmistakable voice). And the high-quality film and sound that comprise this record of the landmark IOW set, which are transcendent. I'm grateful for all of it. I'm just wondering if we really needed to waste a minute or so of laser light on the pathetic ramblings of a neo-classicist wingnut like Stanley Crouch. Thankfully, we also get Dave Liebman explaining people like Stanley in the extra interviews: "You know, you have to take a test to be a bus driver. Nobody ever took a test to be a jazz critic. So I guess it must be a pretty low occupation."
|
| |
|
![Firefly: The Complete Series [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51734pRq2%2BL._SL75_.jpg "Firefly: The Complete Series [Blu-ray]")
![Gattaca [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51VfE5rU9OL._SL75_.jpg "Gattaca [Blu-ray]")
![Resident Evil [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51m8P3lO%2BnL._SL75_.jpg "Resident Evil [Blu-ray]")
![Run Lola Run [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51gTXpHYF7L._SL75_.jpg "Run Lola Run [Blu-ray]")
