The Cellar Door Sessions documents the great trumpeter-bandleader Davis at the helm of one of his most stimulating and electrifying groups.
The sextet on The Cellar Door‘s bandstand – Davis, saxophonist Gary Bartz, Keith Jarret (playing electric organ and electric piano), Motown bassist Michael Henderson, drummer Jack DeJohnette, and percussionist Airto Moreira – is a sheer marvel of kinetic energy. And adding more visionary pyrotechnics is the blazing guitar of John McLaughlin. Every member of this Davis band has subsequently proved to be a major figure in jazz; in his own way, each has placed a highly personal stamp on improvisation during the past 35 years.
In 1969, Miles told DownBeat‘s Don DeMichael, “I could put together the greatest f*&%$g rock band you ever heard.” Well, here it is – a band breaking on through to another side – the fearless and peerless territories of funkmeisters James Brown and Sly Stone, and rock deity Jimi Hendrix. The music on these six discs, running nearly six hours, adds up to a stunning document of the sonic cross-breeding spearheaded by Miles and his “children.”
Bringing additional luster to this deluxe package are six highly-individual essays of four unforgettable nights by each of the men who, with their leader, were exploring the heavens and creating the music that elevates The Cellar Door.
- – Over 4 hours of newly-discovered music
- – Features Keith Jarrett on electric organ/piano, John McLaughlin, Jack DeJohnette, Gary Bartz, Motown bassist Michael Henderson, and Airto Moreira
- – Prior to this release, this band went almost undocumented
- – 96-page, full-color book with brand new essays/reflections by each band member
- – Impeccable sound – 24-bit digitally remastered
