AGHARTA

Let me preface this by saying that I am a big fan of jazz, both traditional and fusion, but I do not worship at the altar of Miles Davis. While I understand that he was one of the most influential jazz artists who opened the door for electric fusion, I do not believe he was the first, or ever the best at it.

This album is actually a perfect example of a Miles Davis concert from the seventies on. I had the pleasure of seeing his band a few times in this period. Each concert had many of the same features: an amazingly talented band, playing loosely defined jams, while Miles wandered about on the stage, occasionally giving directions, and sometimes playing random blips and beeps, but rarely anything inspiring, through his trumpet. I'm very sorry, but Miles was once on of the best jazz trumeters ever, but by this time, the drugs and abuse must have taken it's toll. The album's liner notes say that Miles was suffering from a degenerating hip, ulcers, and numerous other ailments during this performance. Maybe these were problems for the entire lest stage of his career.

This album is, for the most part, listenable. The band is fantastic. They can jam for hours, creating mystifying rhythms and solos around Miles' loose direction. The guitar, sax and flute solos here are all fun to listen to. But when Miles steps up, it's a disappointment.