The CD "DARK MAGUS" by Miles Davis is completely documented in detail on the
Soul-Patrol Website at the following link:
http://www.soul-patrol.com/jazz/magus.htm
I won't try to recreate here the commentary on that web page. It's one of
the most detailed, comprehensive and unique album reviews that you will ever
read.
"HALFaTrip" & "nightrain" tell the story of the "DARK MAGUS" CD far better
than I ever could...
The CD "DARK MAGUS" was released in 1997 and contains a previously
unreleased live concert of the Miles Davis Band circa 1974 from Carnegie
Hall in NYC. In the context of this discussion it's significant because in
1974 I saw the Miles Davis Band perform live at the Syria Mosque in
Pittsburgh, so the band on "DARK MAGUS" is essentially the same one that I
saw perform live in 1974, in Pittsburgh.
Here is what I wrote about that 1974 concert in Pittsburgh...
The show was at the Syria Mosque (a large "acoustically perfect" auditorium
seating around 3,500) in 1974. Miles was the opening act for Herbie Hancock
who at that time was flying high with the big hit record "Chameleon". Kevin
Amos, myself and about 10 of our friends who were also "MF's" "prepared for
the show" and then got there early. There were several hundred "MF's" at the
show that we knew and it was obvious they had "prepared" as well. I guess
one of the biggest surprises to me was the fact that I saw some of the city's"
Black Elite" (athletes, entertainers, politicians, etc) in attendance at the
show. I was shocked that many of this folks were in to Miles Davis
"jazz-funk", but it pleased me none the less.
We had all heard all of the stories about how outrageous Miles was in
concert and were prepared to see him do anything from spit at the audience
to playing with his back turned. He did neither, when he came out he looked
like an "African King".....played the trumpet "hunched over".....he also had
a small keyboard right next to him which he played occasionally.
As best I can recall the Miles Davis Band that evening was:
Reggie Lucas - Guitar
Micheal Henderson - Bass
Sonny Fortune - Sax
Mtume - Percussion
Al Foster - Drums
Badal Roy - Tabla Drums
(Somebody help me out here!!!)
I don't remember the names of the songs played that night, but all of the
stuff was from "On the Corner", "Get Up With It" & "Big Fun". I sat there in
sheer amazement as I watched the "master" go to work. It was a 90 min.
workout of pure unadulterated FUNK. Miles himself didn't say one damn word
(neither the group nor the songs were introduced) during the whole show!!
To this day....it's the "best concert I have ever attended"!!
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Bob Davis
earthjuice_at_prodigy.net
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Received on 2006-03-05 16:15:55