Consumer Guide Album

Miles Davis: Bitches Brew Live [Columbia, 2011]
Over the years since he died a Warner artist in 1991, Columbia has released more extra Miles albums than anyone but an obsessive need sort out, five of which I dealt with admiringly enough under the direct supervision of Gary Giddins in 1997. None of those five duplicates any of the music here, which impressed me mightily when I was first alerted to it and which near as I can tell also doesn't duplicate anything on 1998's (or the somewhat different 2004's) four-CD The Complete Bitches Brew Sessions. Nonetheless, when I ponder this Chick Corea-Gary Bartz-Dave Holland-Jack DeJohnette band my response is thanks for the rhythm section but how about subbing in more Shorter and Jarrett. Note that despite the album title, only four of the seven tunes/themes here--some recorded at the rock-chocked 1969 Newport Jazz Festival and the rest at 1970's notoriously ramshackle 1970 Isle of Wight rock do--are also on 1970's immensely influential studio Bitches Brew: "Miles Runs the Voodoo Down," "Sanctuary," "Spanish Key," and "Bitches Brew" itself. That said, this single CD documents a too-savvy-for-fusion jazz band finding their way to the next level. Does it rock? Not exactly. Do the soloists know enough to blend in some rock sonics? Definitely, and to their benefit. B+