Miles Davis: Live in Poland 1983

Rating: ★★★★

Record and Artist Details

Musicians:

Miles Davis
John Scofield (g)
Darryl Jones (b)
Miles Davis (t)
Bill Evans
Miles Davis
Robert Irving III (ky)
Mino Cinelu (perc)
Al Foster (d)

Label:

Domino RecordsD

November/2015

Catalogue Number:

891235

RecordDate:

1983

Of all the ensembles that Davis led following his comeback in 1981, his band with John Scofield is usually recognised as his best, and Star People and You're Under Arrest his best albums of his final period. Live in Poland 1983, recorded 13 October 1983 at Warsaw's Congress Hall, captures the band in concert just after Star People had been released. It has previously been available on both CD and DVD, albeit minus the three bonus tracks on this release, which comes with a Limited Edition Collector's Item sticker. Saxophonist Bill Evans, dubbed by critics at the time as ‘Miles’ man who never was' – perhaps unkindly – was replaced on Star People by Branford Marsalis, so the live versions from the album of ‘That's Right’ and ‘Code M.D.’ with Evans provide an opportunity of comparing the respective styles of these two musicians in the very specific group context dominated by Davis. ‘Jean Pierre’, from his comeback album We Want Miles, had by then become de rigueur in live performance, but the best performance comes on the Scofield original ‘It Gets Better.’ The bonus tracks – three from 1981 – are interesting: the same personnel as above but with Mike Stern on guitar in place of Scofield, Marcus Miller in for Jones on bass and Irving omitted. Of special interest is a 15.44 minute version of ‘My Man's Gone Now’ featuring Davis; his lip may have been showing the effects of his six-year sabbatical, but nonetheless he was capable of a moving performance.

Follow us

Jazzwise Print

  • Latest print issues

From £5.83 / month

Subscribe

Jazzwise Digital Club

  • Latest digital issues
  • Digital archive since 1997
  • Download tracks from bonus compilation albums during the year
  • Reviews Database access

From £7.42 / month

Subscribe

Subscribe from only £5.83

Never miss an issue of the UK's biggest selling jazz magazine.

Subscribe

View the Current
Issue

Take a peek inside the latest issue of Jazzwise magazine.

Find out more