Miles in the Sky

Untitled

Miles in the Sky is an album recorded in January and May 1968 by the Miles Davis quintet. It is notable for the first use of electric piano and electric guitar on an issued recording by Davis, a foreshadowing of his move into fusion music over the next few years.

Although the album was released shortly after recording, the tracks come from different sessions which show different stages of Miles Davis's evolution from acoustic jazz to electric "fusion" music. "Paraphernalia" features George Benson's electric guitar, although it is more conservative in style than the earlier "Circle in the Round", which was not released until the late seventies. "Black Comedy" and "Country Son" are Davis's last return to the acoustic quintet format in the studio. "Stuff", with its electric bass guitar, Fender Rhodes piano and binary rhythm, is in yet another idiom, that of the forthcoming Filles de Kilimanjaro.

"Paraphernalia" was the only composition from this album to enter Davis's live book.

Track listing

1. "Stuff" (Davis) - 16:58
2. "Paraphernalia" (Shorter) - 12:36
3. "Black Comedy" (Williams) - 7:25
4. "Country Son" (Davis) - 13:49
5. ""Black Comedy" (alternate take) - 6:26
6. "Country Son" (alternate ta) - 14:38

Musicians

• Miles Davis - trumpet
• Wayne Shorter - tenor saxophone
• Herbie Hancock - piano
• George Benson - electric guitar
• Ron Carter - bass
• Tony Williams - drums

Track listing

Side one

1. "Stuff" (M. Davis) - 16:58
2. "Paraphernalia" (W. Shorter) - 12:36

Side two

1. "Black Comedy" (T. Williams) - 7:25
2. "Country Son" (M. Davis) - 13:49

The 1998 CD reissue also includes alternate takes of "Black Comedy" and "Country Son".

Performers

• Miles Davis - Trumpet
• Wayne Shorter - Tenor saxophone
• Herbie Hancock - Piano, Electric piano on "Stuff"
• George Benson - Electric guitar on "Paraphernalia"
• Ron Carter - Double bass, electric bass on "Stuff"
• Tony Williams - drums