Live-Evil

( 2 )

Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - Thom Jurek
Live-Evil is one of Miles Davis' most confusing and illuminating documents. As a double album, it features very different settings of his band -- and indeed two very different bands. The double-LP CD package is an amalgam of a December 19, 1970, gig at the Cellar Door, which featured a band comprised of Miles, bassist Michael Henderson, drummer Jack DeJohnette, guitarist John McLaughlin, saxophonist Gary Bartz, Keith Jarrett on organ, and percussionist Airto. These tunes show a septet that grooved hard and fast, touching on the great funkiness that would come on later. But they are also misleading in that McLaughlin only joined the band for this night of a four-night stand; ...
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Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - Thom Jurek
Live-Evil is one of Miles Davis' most confusing and illuminating documents. As a double album, it features very different settings of his band -- and indeed two very different bands. The double-LP CD package is an amalgam of a December 19, 1970, gig at the Cellar Door, which featured a band comprised of Miles, bassist Michael Henderson, drummer Jack DeJohnette, guitarist John McLaughlin, saxophonist Gary Bartz, Keith Jarrett on organ, and percussionist Airto. These tunes show a septet that grooved hard and fast, touching on the great funkiness that would come on later. But they are also misleading in that McLaughlin only joined the band for this night of a four-night stand; he wasn't really a member of the band at this time. Therefore, as fine and deeply lyrically grooved-out as these tracks are, they feel just a bit stiff -- check any edition of this band without him and hear the difference. The other band on these discs was recorded in Columbia's Studio B and subbed Ron Carter or Dave Holland on bass, added Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock on electric pianos, dropped the guitar on "Selim" and "Nem Um Talvez," and subbed Steve Grossman over Gary Bartz while adding Hermeto Pascoal on percussion and drums in one place "Selim". In fact, these sessions were recorded earlier than the live dates, the previous June in fact, when the three-keyboard band was beginning to fall apart. Why the discs were not issued separately or as a live disc and a studio disc has more to do with Miles' mind than anything else. As for the performances, the live material is wonderfully immediate and fiery: "Sivad," "Funky Tonk," and "What I Say" all cream with enthusiasm, even if they are a tad unsure of how to accommodate McLaughlin. Of the studio tracks, only "Little Red Church" comes up to that level of excitement, but the other tracks, particularly "Gemini/Double Image," have a winding, whirring kind of dynamic to them that seems to turn them back in on themselves, as if the band was really pushing in a free direction that Miles was trying to rein in. It's an awesome record, but it's because of its flaws rather than in spite of them. This is the sound of transition and complexity, and somehow it still grooves wonderfully.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 7/29/1997
  • Label: Sony
  • UPC: 074646513521
  • Catalog Number: 65135
  • Sales rank: 16,168

Tracks

Disc 1
  1. 1 Sivad (15:13)
  2. 2 Little Church (3:14)
  3. 3 Medley: Gemini/Double Image (5:53)
  4. 4 What I Say (21:09)
  5. 5 Nem Um Talvez (4:03)
Disc 2
  1. 1 Selim (2:21)
  2. 2 Funky Tonk (23:26)
  3. 3 Inamorata and Narration by Conrad Roberts (26:29)
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Album Credits

Performance Credits
Miles Davis Primary Artist, Trumpet
Gary Bartz Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone
Ron Carter Bass, Acoustic Bass
Jack DeJohnette Drums
Herbie Hancock Keyboards, Electric Piano
Dave Holland Bass, Electric Bass, Acoustic Bass
Keith Jarrett Organ, Keyboards, Electric Piano
John McLaughlin Guitar
Wayne Shorter Soprano Saxophone
Steve Grossman Soprano Saxophone
Airto Moreira Percussion
Joe Zawinul Electric Piano
Khalil Balakrishna Electric Sitar
Billy Cobham Drums
Chick Corea Electric Piano
Michael Henderson Electric Bass, Bass Guitar
Hermeto Pascoal Drums, Electric Piano, Vocals, Voices, Human Whistle
Conrad Roberts Narrator
Technical Credits
Gary Bartz Liner Notes
Bob Belden Producer, Reissue Producer
Steven Berkowitz Reissue Series
Kevin Gore Reissue Series
Mati Klarwein Illustrations
Teo Macero Producer
John Berg Cover Design
Tom "Curly" Ruff Mastering
Hope Chasin Packaging Manager
Cozbi Sanchez-Cabrera Art Direction
Randall Martin Reissue Design
Abdul Mati Artwork, Cover Art
Stanley Tonkel Engineer
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 3.5
( 2 )
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Sort by: Showing all of 2 Customer Reviews

  • Posted April 6, 2012

    more from this reviewer

    A Good Starting Point

    For those interested in a taste of electric Miles this may be the place to start. Live-Evil (a palindrome) seems to contain most of the elements Davis used in his electric period. Keith Jarret adds some interesting keyboards to many of the tracks. The live recordings have hardly any applause and seem more like studio works than concert tapes. Two brief numbers seem to be a nod to more traditional jazz. This may not be Davis' best 70s CD but it is worth owning. If you like this try Big Fun and Get Up With It also.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 28, 2008

    No text was provided for this review.

Sort by: Showing all of 2 Customer Reviews