A couple of good choices here - American Beauty and Revolver are albums that continue to get some play around this household.
But Bitches Brew is the absolute game-changer. And leaving aside the fact that it was the avatar for electrification of jazz, dig on the cohesion and intensity of a host of A-list jazz guys, with a young John McLaughlin as a critical part of the mix, as they kick-start an entire movement.
Regrettably, the good parts of that movement could not be sustained - Miles' own bands, 4-5 years down the road, just didn't have the same sense of uniform direction. And let's not talk about the unfortunate devolution to "fusion" and then to "fuzak."
From a bassist's point of view, not a lot of flash or athleticism, but 4 entire album sides of fierce, relentless GROOVE.
Of course, it never sold as many albums as Rush...but if all of those Rush fans gave this a listen, I'd bet some number of them would re-evaluate their choice, particularly those who are drawn to Rush for their musicianship.
But Bitches Brew is the absolute game-changer. And leaving aside the fact that it was the avatar for electrification of jazz, dig on the cohesion and intensity of a host of A-list jazz guys, with a young John McLaughlin as a critical part of the mix, as they kick-start an entire movement.
Regrettably, the good parts of that movement could not be sustained - Miles' own bands, 4-5 years down the road, just didn't have the same sense of uniform direction. And let's not talk about the unfortunate devolution to "fusion" and then to "fuzak."
From a bassist's point of view, not a lot of flash or athleticism, but 4 entire album sides of fierce, relentless GROOVE.
Of course, it never sold as many albums as Rush...but if all of those Rush fans gave this a listen, I'd bet some number of them would re-evaluate their choice, particularly those who are drawn to Rush for their musicianship.
