Review from The Wall Street Journal:
The new 3-CD set, Miles Davis Quintet – Freedom Jazz Dance: The Bootleg Series Vol. 5 is a compilation from six recording sessions held between late 1966 and 1968, during the making of the albums Miles Smiles, Sorcerer, Miles in the Sky, Nefertiti and Water Babies. The producers at CBS Records had developed the habit of capturing every moment that Davis was in the studio, and as demonstrated here, the alternate takes, banter, complaints and laughter were all recorded as the tapes continued to roll.
… Perhaps the most fascinating moment comes in the midst of “Nefertiti,” the haunting tune by Mr. Shorter, during which the musicians forgo the usual improvised solos and simply repeat the melody, over and over. The final recording is mesmerizing, and unlike anything else in jazz. The moment it came together is captured here. After about 4 1/2 minutes of play, Davis suddenly interrupts. “Hey man, why don’t we make a tune . . . with just playin’ the melody, no play the solos. . . .” The immortal result was, announced Mr. Williams, “groovin’.”
Buy Now: Amazon | iTunes | Official Store
Photo by Veryl Oakland