Big Fun

by Miles Davis

Overview

Despite the presence of classic tracks like Joe Zawinul's "Great Expectations," Big Fun feels like the compendium of sources it is. These tracks are all outtakes from other sessions, most notably Bitches Brew, On the Corner, and others. The other element is that many of these tracks appeared in different versions elsewhere. These were second takes, or the unedited takes before producer Teo Macero and Miles were able to edit them, cut and paste their parts into other things, or whatever. That is not to say the album should be dismissed. Despite the numerous lineups and uneven flow of the tracks, there does remain some outstanding playing and composing here. Most notably is "Great Expectations" from 1969, which opens the album. Here the lineup is Miles, Steve Grossman, Bennie Maupin, John McLaughlin, Khalil Balakrishna, and Bihari Sharma on sitar and tambura, Herbie, Chick Corea, Ron Carter, Harvey Brooks, Billy Cobham, and Airto. Creating a series of vamps from drones and a small melodic figure, there is very little in the way of groove or melodic development until the middle section, where a series of modalities enters the composition. The second album in the set features "Go Ahead John," an outtake from Jack Johnson's sessions that is 28 minutes in length. It's a riff-based groover, with McLaughlin and his wah-wah pedal setting the pace with Steve Grossman on soprano. The basic motif is the blues, floating around E and Bb flat, but there are modulations introduced by Miles into Db flat that add a kinkier dimension into the proceedings as well. Dave Holland is the bass player, and DeJohnette is the drummer. There is no piano. What's most interesting about this date is how it prefigures what would become "Right Off" from Jack Johnson. It doesn't have the same fire, nor does it manage to sustain itself for the duration, but there are some truly wonderful sections in the piece. This is for Miles fans only, especially those of his electric period, because it fills in the puzzle. The reissue added four bonus tracks to the original double-LP set, but other than "Recollections" by Zawinul, they shed little light on the mystique and development of the intensely creative music being developed in 1969 and 1970. Others should be directed to Bitches Brew, In A Silent Way, Jack Johnson, or Live Evil as starting points. ~ Thom Jurek

Product Details

Release Date:	08/07/2000
Label:	Sony Music
UPC:	5099706397328

Tracks

1. Great Expectations
2. Ife
3. Recollection
4. Trevere
5. Go Ahead John
6. Lonely Fire
7. Little Blue Frog
8. Yaphet

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Miles Davis   Primary Artist,Trumpet
Miles Davis Quintet   Primary Artist
Al Foster   Guest Artist,Drums
Jack DeJohnette   Guest Artist,Drums,Drums (Snare)
Dave Holland   Guest Artist,Bass,Bass (Electric)
John McLaughlin   Guest Artist,Guitar,Guitar (Baritone),Guitar (Electric)
Wayne Shorter   Guest Artist,Saxophone,Sax (Tenor),Sax (Soprano)
Joe Zawinul   Guest Artist,Organ,Keyboards,Farfisa Organ,Piano (Electric)
Chick Corea   Guest Artist,Piano (Electric)
Herbie Hancock   Guest Artist,Piano (Electric)
Larry Young   Organ,Celeste
James Mtume   Percussion,African Percussion
Khalil Balakrishna   Sitar,Tamboura,Percussion,Sitar (Electric),Indian Instruments
Airto Moreira   Cuica,Berimbau,Percussion,Indian Instruments
Badal Roy   Tabla
Billy Cobham   Drums,Triangle,Drums (Snare)
Bennie Maupin   Flute,Clarinet,Clarinet (Bass)
Carlos Garnett   Sax (Soprano)
Sonny Fortune   Flute,Sax (Soprano),Soprano (Vocal)
Steve Grossman   Saxophone,Sax (Soprano)
Billy Hart   Drums
Bihari Sharma   Sitar,Tabla,Tamboura,Percussion,Sitar (Electric)
Lonnie Liston Smith   Piano
Ron Carter   Bass
Michael J. Henderson   Bass
William Hart   Drums
Michael Henderson   Bass,Guitar (Bass)
Harvey Brooks   Guitar (Bass),Bass (Electric)
Carlos Carnette   Sax (Soprano)
Harold "Ivory" Williams   Piano,Sitar

Technical Credits

Frank Laico   Engineer
Joe Zawinul   Composer
Darren Salmieri   Artist Coordination
Stan Weiss   Mixing,Remixing,Mixing Engineer
Bennie Maupin   Liner Notes
Seth Foster   Engineer,Digital Remastering
Teo Macero   Producer
Steven Berkowitz   A&R
Bob Belden   Producer,Reissue Producer
John Guerriere   Mixing,Remixing,Mixing Engineer
John Jackson   Production Assistant
Miles Davis   Composer
Urve Kuusik   Photography
Randall Martin   Reissue Design
Rachel Dicono   Packaging Manager
Stanley Tonkel   Engineer
Russ Payne   Mixing,Remixing,Mixing Engineer
Seth Rothstein   Project Director
Patti Matheny   Artist Coordination
Howard Fritzson   Art Direction,Reissue Art Director