4 New from $8.54 19 Used from $1.00 3 Collectible from $14.99
MP3 Album Price: $6.93
Compatible with all MP3 players including iPod, iPad, iTunes and Window Media Player
DECOY is a vivid example of Miles Davis' unerring ear for identifying, casting and nurturing talent. Among those helping out Miles flesh out this modern vision of electric jazz: John Scofield, who ranks among the most progressive of jazz guitarists and composers; reedman Branford Marsalis, who fronted the Tonight Show Band; Darryl Jones, who held down the bass chair for Sting and subbed for Bill Wyman in the Rolling Stones; and drummer Al Foster, who went on to work with Sonny Rollins, Joe Henderson and Ron Carter.
DECOY marks a milestone in Miles' thinking since returning to the jazz wars, and the trumpeter's keyboard abstractions over Jones' Kraftwerk-like bass groove on "Freaky Deaky" offers clues as to the style of spontaneous orchestration and interplay he wanted. Co-producer/keyboardist Robert Irving's title track depicts an opulent canvas of inter-connected modes, all doing a wheeling dance around Jones' spacious, behind-the-beat bass pulse; "Robot 415" is an Afro-Techno miniature; and "Code M.D." offers slick big band synth flourishes and contrasting rhythmic accents over a swampy, post-modern brand of southern funk.
Throughout DECOY, Scofield's deft harmonic intuition and sure feel for boppish blues lines help set the plate for the trumpeter's stabbing upper register declamations and oblique melodies. And as a co-composer, Scofield helps distill Miles' `80s brew of ethnic shadings, funky polyrhythms, Gil Evans-styled keyboard colors...and the blues. Check out how his agitated counterpoint and skanky funk groove on "What It Is" inspire Miles to overdub a melange of trumpet commentaries, while "That's Right" showcases the band's elegant blues plumage. And the rousing "That's What Happened" suggests James Brown let loose in a particle collider, as a fragmented melody snakes its way through the carnage.
Recorded at A & R Studios and the Record Plant, New York, New York; live at Festival International De Jazz De Montreal, Montreal, Canada.
Personnel: Miles Davis (trumpet, synthesizer); John Scofield (guitar); Branford Marsalis (saxophone, soprano saxophone); Bill Evans (soprano saxophone); Robert Irving III (synthesizer, bass synthesizer, programming, drum programming); Al Foster (drums); Mino Cinelu (percussion).
Recording information: A&R Studios, New York, NY (06/30/1983-09/11/1983); Festival International De Jazz De Montreal (06/30/1983-09/11/1983); New York, NY (06/30/1983-09/11/1983); Record Plant Studios, New York, NY (06/30/1983-09/11/1983).
Editor: Tom Swift.
Photographer: Gilles Larrain.
Arrangers: Gil Evans; Miles Davis; Robert Irving III.
Personnel: Miles Davis (trumpet, synthesizer); Bill Evans, Branford Marsalis (soprano saxophone); Robert Irving III (synthesizer, programming); John Scofield (guitar); Darryl "The Munch" Jones (bass); Al Foster (drums); Mino Cinelu (percussion).
Worst Of The Era Though there are some acceptable melodic ideas and Miles plays great, this is the 'throw-away' album of Davis' comback period in the 80's. There's really not a standout song or performance here. Just skip this one, ok. Submitted by St.Davey (Windham, Me.) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 0 of 1 found this helpful.
Have you heard this album?
Buy Decoy CD
Buy Miles Davis - Decoy Posters From Allposters.com
Share this Product