Miles Remembered: The Silent Way Project

Mark Isham, Miles Davis (Tribute)

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 25, 1999)
• Original Release Date: May 25, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00000J2PD
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #176,928 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Trumpeter Mark Isham's Miles Remembered: The Silent Way Project is another in a slew of Miles Davis tributes released in the late 1990s. It follows Miles tributes by Wadada Leo Smith and Henry Kaiser (Yo Miles!) and producer Bill Laswell (Panthalassa) in looking back specifically on the great trumpeter's electric period of the early 1970s. Purist fans of this part of Miles's career might be a little put off by Isham's live recording, as The Silent Way Project is more his own interpretations of several themes from the period than a collection of unerringly faithful versions. The title track, for example, is almost unrecognizable as Isham and his band veer off into ambient territory after the initial opening theme. Also, the overall vibe the band generates is in truth closer to the slicker sound of Miles's 1980s recordings than it is to the dense and heavily percussive leanings of the albums that originally contained this material. Still, there are plenty of worthwhile moments here that will appeal to fans of Miles's '70s period, from the all-out guitar-driven crash of "Jack Johnson" to the avant-funk of "Ife" and "Spanish Key." --Ezra Gale

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another incarnation of Miles' music, June 4, 2000

By	Bruce Saunders (Pittsboro, NC United States) - See all my reviews

I don't want to compare this to the Miles Davis' recording. I really like both of them. It's great to see Miles Davis music played in different incarnations this time with a very competent band with Mark Isham at the helm. I especially enjoyed listening to the 2 guitarists. This is one CD I will listen to many times.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Back Stage Tapes, February 4, 2009

By	Mr. Richard D. Coreno "Mr. C" (Berea, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

The back story for the album is unique; trumpeter Mark Isham wanted archival material from his Miles Davis tribute concerts and had no plans to release the music. And the taping was an afterthought, so it wasn't as if tour dates were "planned" for a future album. But credit Isham's manager for approaching Columbia Records, which yielded a deal to release a portion of the 30-plus hours of recorded performances.

The band - especially guitarists Pete Maunu and Steve Cardenas and bassist Doug Lunn - sizzle on the numbers from the "electric" phase of the late-1960s to mid-1970s, with the 15:26 Spanish Key the standout, with Right Off (Theme from Jack Johnson), Ife and Black Satin not far behind.

The music has a wonderful relevance because it was created for all the right reasons; one artist honoring an iconic superstar who had a major impact on his professional career.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Electric Miles Eden, January 4, 2000

By A Customer

Miles turned the jazz world on its head, by going electric. Isham goes back to the 1970's and returns with the goods. My only complaint would be that I want more. Isham composes two original pieces worthy of inclusion among the Davis and Davis/Zawinul originals. Fine playing by everyone. 1999 was a weak year for jazz, but this makes up for the dry spell.