Miles Davis, More Sessions 1975-76, (ER070)

Another snag from Elastic Rock that for some reason seems to be no longer available there. This one is some rare ephemera from the twilight of Miles great 70s funk band. These tracks have been packaged together in several other collections including "Unknown Sessions 1973-1976, Volume 1 & 2." As Miles descended into cocaine, he played less and less. While his trumpet is completely absent on the first track, his presence is felt, and the opener exhibits both great guitar and great drum machine manipulation by Pete Cosey. Miles does play on the subsequent tracks, beginning with the multiple takes of the melodic "Latin." On "Song of Landa," Miles trumpet disappears again as he plays only minimal organ, yet the simple heartfelt melodicism hints at the direction his music will take when he reemerges in 1980. "TDK Funk" is a brief reprise of the greatest funk band of all time. A bittersweet bookend to one of the greats.

Tracks and personnel:
1 Turn of the Century (M. Davis) Feb 27, 1975 15:34
2 Latin (M. Davis) [takes 3/4] May 5, 1975 4:47
3 Latin (M. Davis) (take 6) May 5, 1975 4:41
4 Latin (M. Davis) (take 6, different mix) May 5, 1975 4:15
5 Song of Landa (S. Morrison-M. Davis) (take 2) Mar 30, 1976 4:05
6 Song of Landa (S. Morrison-M. Davis) (take 6) Mar 30, 1976 4:48
7 TDK Funk (M. Davis) (Untitled original E) Dec 27, 1976 5:01

February 27, 1975
Columbia Studio, New York
Miles Davis Septet
Miles Davis (tpt, org); Sonny Fortune (ss, ts, fl); Pete Cosey (g, perc); Reggie Lucas (g); Michael Henderson (el-b); Al Foster (d); James Mtume Forman (cga, perc)

May 5, 1975
Columbia Studio, New York
Miles Davis Septet
Miles Davis (tpt, org); Sam Morrison (ts); Pete Cosey (g, perc); Reggie Lucas (g); Michael Henderson (el-b); Al Foster (d); James Mtume Forman (cga, perc)

March 30, 1976
Columbia Studio, New York
Miles Davis Studio Group
Miles Davis (org); Sam Morrison (ss, as, fl); Mark Johnson (el-p); Pete Cosey (g, perc); Michael Henderson (el-b); Al Foster (d)

December 27, 1976
Unknown studio, New York
Miles Davis Studio Group
Miles Davis (org); Pete Cosey (g, perc); Michael Henderson (el-b); Al Foster (d)