Various Artists – Miles from India: A Celebration of the Music of Miles Davis

I have no idea how I stumbled on this double CD (it was also released on a three-LP version). I assume it caught my eye in a record store. It seemed like a good idea: a collaboration of American jazz and Indian musicians (jazz and Indian classical) interpreting the music of Miles Davis produced by Bob Belden (responsible for the remastered Miles Columbia catalog). It 100% worked. This is one of my favorite jazz albums in my modest collection (jazz is roughly 15% of my CD/LP collection), so I am not a jazz expert; I am just a casual enthusiast.

I am familiar with the Miles Davis songs here, so it is fun to hear the Indian contributions. Miles had some dalliances with Indian music and instrumentation and Indian-inspired jazz musicians (John McLaughlin – who appears on this album ) during Miles’ electric/fusion period (late 60s through mid-70s). Hence, this collaboration is not a left-field idea. The Kind of Blue album has been interpreted in many ways (reggae, bluegrass, etc.) and always seems to work no matter what style it is played.

The concept of Miles From India is to recast familiar themes from such landmark recordings as Bitches Brew, In A Silent Way, Big Fun, We Want Miles, and Kind of Blue with an East meets West vibe. Some of the instruments that shine here are the electric guitar (Stern Cosey and McLaughlin), the flute (Rakesh Chaurasia), and the Carnatic violin (Kala Ramnath).

The Kind of Blue album has been interpreted in many ways (reggae, bluegrass, etc.) and always seems to work no matter what style. It works great with the Indian influences. But what works best is the material from Miles’ electric period (Bitches Brew, In A Silent Way, and Big Fun). The original recordings had an affinity for Indian music, so the tunes feel comfortable with the Indian influences here. If you are a Miles’ electric period fan and would like some world music spices added to your music, this album will meet your needs.

The American jazz musicians are a who’s who of Miles alumni from a variety of eras:

• Saxophonists: Dave Liebman (1972-74) and Gary Bartz (1970-71)
• Guitarists Mike Stern (1981-84), Pete Cosey (1973-76) and John McLaughlin (1969-72
• Bassists Ron Carter (1963-69), Michael Henderson (1970-76), Marcus
  Miller (1981-1984), and Benny Rietveld (1987-91)
• Keyboardists Chick Corea (1968-72), Adam Holzman (1985-87) and Robert Irving III (1980-
  88)
• Drummers Jimmy Cobb (1958-63), Leon ‘Ndugu’ Chancler (1971), Lenny White (1969) and Vince Wilburn (1981, 1984-1987)
• Tabla player Badal Roy (1972-3)

The Indian contingent is represented by:

• Keyboardist Louiz Banks – who also serves as co-arranges with Bob Belden
• Drummer Gino Banks
• American-born alto saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa
• Sitarist Ravi Chari
• Vikku Vinayakram (a charter member of Shakti) on Ghatam
• V. Selvaganesh (a member of Shakti and Remember Shakti) on khanjira
• U. Shrinivas (from Remember Shakti) on electric mandolin
• Brij Narain on sarod,
• Dilshad Khan on Sarang
• Sridhar Parthasarathy on mridangam
• Taufiq Qureshi and A. Sivamani on percussion
• Kala Ramnath on Carnatic violin
• Rakesh Chaurasia on flute
• Shankar Mahadevan & Sikkil Gurucharan on Indian classical vocals

Tracklisting – Disc 1

• “Spanish Key” (from Bitches Brew) – Gino Banks, Louis Banks, Rakesh Chaurasia, Selva Ganesh, Adam Holzman, Dave Liebman, Shankar Mahadevan, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Sridhar Parthasarthy, Taufiq Qureshi, Benny Rietveld, Wallace Roney, Mike Stern & Lenny White
• “All Blues” (from Kind of Blue) – Louis Banks, Gary Bartz, Ron Carter, Ravi Chary, Jimmy Cobb, Rudresh Mahanthappa & Vikku Vinayakram
• “Ife (fast)” (from Big Fun) – Gino Banks, Pete Cosey, Michael Henderson, Adam Holzman, Dave Liebman, Kala Ramnath, A. Sivamani & Vikku Vinayakram
• “In a Silent Way (Intro)” (from In a Silent Way) – Adam Holzman, Robert Irving III & Pandit Brij Narayan
• “It’s About That Time” (from In a Silent Way) – Gary Bartz, Ndugu Chancler, Pete Cosey, Michael Henderson, Adam Holzman, Robert Irving III & Kala Ramnath
• “Jean Pierre” (from We Want Miles) – Ranjit Barot, Rakesh Chaurasia, Adam Holzman, Robert Irving III, Benny Rietveld, Mike Stern & Vince Wilburn Jr.

Tracklisting – Disc 2

• “So What” (from Kind of Blue) – Louis Banks, Ron Carter, Ndugu Chancler, Chick Corea, Selva Ganesh, Sridhar Parthasarthy & Taufiq Qureshi
• “Miles Runs the Voodoo Down” (from Bitches Brew) – Pete Cosey, Michael Henderson, Adam Holzman, Wallace Roney, A. Sivamani, Vikku Vinayakram & Lenny White
• “Blue In Green” (from Kind of Blue)- Louis Banks, Ron Carter, Jimmy Cobb, Dilshad Khan, Shankar Mahadevan, Wallace Roney & Mike Stern
• “Great Expectations (Orange Lady)” (from Big Fun) – Ravi Chary, Pete Cosey, Michael Henderson, Adam Holzman, Marcus Miller, Taufiq Qureshi, Wallace Roney, Vince Wilburn Jr. & Vikku Vinayakram
• “Ife (Slow)” (from Big Fun) – Gary Bartz, Pete Cosey, Michael Henderson, Adam Holzman, Dave Liebman, Wallace Roney & Badal Roy
• “Miles from India” (an original composition by John McLaughlin for this album) – Louis Banks, Sikkil Gurucharan, John McLaughlin & U. Srinivas