Miles Davis Complete Jack Johnson Sessions CD

THE COMPLETE JACK JOHNSON SESSIONS won the 2004 Grammy Award for Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package.

Of all the Miles Davis recordings, the 16 weeks of sessions that created a single, two-selection LP produced by Teo Macero called A Tribute to Jack Johnson have been the most apocryphal. While the album itself was a confounding obscurity upon release -- due to its closeness in proximity to the nearly simultaneous release of the vastly inferior yet infinitely more label-promoted Live at the Fillmore East -- its reputation as the first complete fusion of jazz and rock is cemented. It also garnered a place in the history books for guitarist John McLaughlin, the axis around whose raw, slash-and-burn playing the entire album turns.

The five-CD Complete Jack Johnson Sessions set, covering February 18 to June 4 of 1970, reveals that a revolving cast of musicians entered the Davis/Macero music and sound lab and made a series of mind-bending, often inspired -- yet sometimes maddeningly monotonous -- recording dates, where the creation of backbeat-driven grooves and short, rhythmic, rock- and funk-inflected riffs were the only ideas presented by Davis; everything else flowed freely, for better or worse. No less than five albums have benefited from these sessions: the others include Live-Evil, Get Up with It, Directions, and Big Fun. The two cuts that make up A Tribute to Jack Johnson, "Right Off" and "Yesternow," make up the last two selections on disc five. The arrangement of the session is basically chronological. Thus, there are not only numerous takes of a composition but insertion and remake takes as well. For instance, there are two takes of "Willie Nelson," two inserted "versions," and two remakes, all sequenced here in a row. Likewise is the strange genesis, deconstruction, and rebirth of "Go Ahead John," which appeared in this form on Big Fun. Still, despite the hypnotic grooves where already elongated tunes turn into monolithic groove structures, the historical importance of these sessions and the sheer listening pleasure they provide in doses cannot be overestimated.

There are 17 previously unissued performances here, 14 takes, and alternates that have never been issued in full form! As a small example, the official unearthing of the "Duran" alternate take offers so much more in terms of different instrumentation (many alternates here provide this) and ambience than the circulated version that it is nearly a different tune altogether. The roo

5 CD 24-bit digitally remastered set includes music from the original albums 'A Tribute To Jack Johnson' (1971), 'Live Evil' (1971), 'Big Fun' (1974), 'Get Up With It' (1974) & 'Directions' (1981). Led by John Mc Laughlin, musicians include Ron Carter, Billy Cobham, Chick Corea, Jack DeJohnette, Steve Grossman, Herbie Hancock, Sonny Sharrock, Wayne Shorter and more. 42 tracks with 34 of them previously unissued. Over 4 hours of brand new Miles Davis music plus a 120-page booklet containing extensive essays, rare photos & complete discography. Deluxe metal-bound packaging with cardboard slipcase. This set has already garnered 7 grammy awards. Columbia. 2003.

Recorded at Columbia Studios, New York, New York between February & June 1970. Includes liner notes by Miles Davis, Michael Cuscuna and Bill Milkowski.

Personnel: Miles Davis (trumpet); Hermeto Pascoal (vocals, whistling, drums); John McLaughlin , Sonny Sharrock (guitar); Airto Moreira (berimbau, cuica, percussion); Bennie Maupin (bass clarinet); Steve Grossman, Wayne Shorter (soprano saxophone); Chick Corea (electric piano, organ, ring modulator); Herbie Hancock (electric piano, organ); Keith Jarrett (electric piano); Dave Holland , Gene Perla, Michael Henderson (electric bass); Jack DeJohnette, Lenny White, Billy Cobham (drums).

Audio Mixer: Mark Wilder.

Liner Note Authors: Miles Davis; Bill Milkowski.

Recording information: Columbia Studio B, New York, NY (11/19/1969-06/04/1970); Columbia Studio C, NewRolling Stone (12/25/03, p.112) - Included in Rolling Stone's "Top 10 Reissues of 2003" - "...A salute from one great black fighter to another."
Spin (10/03, p.109) - "...More confident than BITCHES BREW's jams and more free-ranging than AGHARTA and PANGEA, JOHNSON features the trumpeter dropping electric-guitar science while producer Teo Macero cuts and mixes..."
Q (11/03, p.130) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...Davis's playing is as big, riffy and incisive as it ever got, yet still finds itself matched all the way by John McLaughlin's brutalising guitar..."
Uncut (11/03, p.132) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...Much of it's the equivalent of sparring, especially the skinny funk workouts on the second disc..."
The Wire (01/04, p.38) - Included in Wire's "50 Records Of The Year [2003]"
JazzTimes (10/03, pp.83-4) - "...'Right Off' is Davis' last masterpiece; it's a unique combination of raw energy, serendipity and postproduction craft..."
Mojo (Publisher) (11/03, p.136) - 5 stars out of 5 - "...The musicians arrive at destinations light years from where they started....This music is still right on time..."