146. Miles Davis | In a Silent Way (1969)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Shhh/Peaceful
2. In a Silent Way/It's About That Time

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In a Silent Way is a novel album. Miles Davis, once again, has reinvented himself. Not only did he "go electric", but he also used the recording studio to as instrument for editing parts of pieces to form another piece. Those two things seem normal now, but was heresy to jazz purists at the time.

On the other hand, this album has been considered either rock or a fusion of rock and jazz. I just don't get that feeling when I listen to it. There aren't any rock and roll rhythms or structures from what I can tell. Nor is there a rock and roll style of jamming, as some have claimed. Miles was playing this way on Kind of Blue.

Of course, how the album was edited might be what everyone was referring to, but I don't see that as making this a rock and roll album. I don't think any rock and roll band that I've listened to up to this point edited their music like this. Sure, there were artists like the Beatles who used the studio as an instrument and made heavily layered songs, but that's not what Miles is doing. Or that's not what I hear with the end product. If anything, he took the idea, which may or may not be a feature of rock and roll, and made turned it completely into a jazz feature.

I like Miles' style on this album. The music is quiet and soothing. It has an airy, ethereal quality to it. There is a groove or two, but it doesn't dominate. In retrospect, this album is the mild-mannered and well-mannered sibling to the crazed and ill-mannered Bitches Brew.

The only problem I have with the album, is that I hate the sound of Joe Zawinul's organ. As far as I know, he's a great musician, but every time I hear his organ, I cringe. It's more tolerable on Bitches Brew than it is on this album. Maybe it's not more tolerable, it's just easier to ign

This album is enjoyable and it deserves to be on the 1001 Albums list for its innovation, but I don't think this is Miles' best work. It's not essential to own it, but both pieces are worth listening to.

★★★★★★★★☆☆