Miles Davis - Complete Jack Johnson Sessions D1~5-2003 [EAC - FLAC] (oan)


By Rod Sibley

The Complete Jack Johnson Sessions, Columbia's latest
addition to the Miles Davis reissue series, documents the period
from January 27, 1970 to June 4, 1970 and contains unedited
takes from the sessions plus previously unreleased material.

A bit of background: Jack Johnson was the world heavyweight
boxing champion from 1908-1915. Miles felt an affinity toward
Johnson; not only because Miles himself boxed, but because of
the racial issues of being a Black man in America both men
faced. Director William Clayton made a documentary movie
about Johnson's life. A Tribute To Jack Johnson is the
soundtrack to the film. The album was released in the summer
of 1971.

A Tribute To Jack Johnson was a continuation of Miles' musical
direction away from more traditional jazz forms. The densely
layered music of Bitches Brew, recorded in August of 1969, was
stripped down and became funkier and more groove oriented.
The music also incorporated more elements of rock with the
guitar work of John McLaughlin. For listeners whose only Miles
Davis recording is Kind Of Blue and want to hear some "electric
Miles," The Complete Jack Johnson Sessions may be the
starting point to work your way backward, as well as forward,
through the Miles Davis catalog.

Disc One: February-March 1970


Disc One begins with five takes of the song "Willie Nelson,"
which was released on the Directions album. The song is
named after the country singer. Miles loved Willie's singing; he
thought that his behind-the-beat phrasing resembled the way
that he played trumpet. Although the various takes of "Willie
Nelson" have differences in tempo and the amount of time Miles
and the other soloists play, the real evolution of the piece is
shown in Jack DeJohnette's drumming. He continuously
increases the complexity of his patterns. What started out as
simple timekeeping on the early takes later becomes highly
syncopated and intensely propulsive with constant rhythmic
variations.

The unedited takes also reveal guitarist Sonny Sharrock's
presence on the sessions. His appearance along with John
McLaughlin marks the first time that Miles used two guitar
players. Pianist Chick Corea uses an Echoplex (a tape driven
delay) on his electric piano, and Sharrock uses one on his
guitar as well. At times it is difficult to distinguish between the
two of them. This may have factored in Sharrock’s playing on
the track being questioned at one time.

Along with Jack Johnson, the box set contains a series of tracks
that are named after other boxers. The first is "Johnny Bratton."
The first take has shades of the Lifetime version of
McLaughlin's "One Word" (from Turn It Over ), in part due to
McLaughlin's chord voicings and DeJohnette sounding [a little]
like Tony Williams. The second take sounds like a band of
teenagers practicing in the basement on Saturday morning.
Miles at the end of the take says, "I couldn't even play on that
deal." The third take has a slower tempo and a funkier feel,
which gives Miles something to sink his teeth into. However, the
repetitive pattern starts to wear after awhile.

The last track, named after boxer Archie Moore, is an
unexpected surprise featuring John McLaughlin playing a
straight-up blues! McLaughlin may play bluesy sometimes, but
it's rare that you hear him play like this. The take has no horns:
just guitar, bass, and drums. John is on this one like white on
rice. This is a real treat for McLaughlin fans!

PERSONNEL

Miles Davis - Trumpet; John McLaughlin, Sonny Sharrock -
Guitar; Michael Henderson, Dave Holland, Ron Carter, Gene
Perla - Bass; Billy Cobham, Jack DeJohnette - Drums; Chick
Corea, Keith Jarrett, Herbie Hancock - Keyboards; Steve
Grossman, Wayne Shorter - Saxophone; Bennie Maupin - Bass
Clarinet; Airto- Percussion; Hermeto Pascoal - Vocals



   1. (06:43) - Willie Nelson (take 2)
   2. (10:23) - Willie Nelson (take 3)
   3. (06:33) - Willie Nelson (insert 1)
   4. (05:24) - Willie Nelson (insert 2)
   5. (10:45) - Willie Nelson (remake take 1)
   6. (10:19) - Willie Nelson (remake take 2)
   7. (08:19) - Johnny Bratton (take 4)
   8. (06:40) - Johnny Bratton (insert 1)
   9. (05:21) - Johnny Bratton (insert 1)
  10. (04:45) - Archie Moore


Playing Time.........: 01:15:11
Total Size...........: 466.72 MB


All tracks accurately ripped

No errors occurred

End of status report 
http://www.discogs.com/Miles-Davis-The-Complete-Jack-Johnson-Sessions/release/490807