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Charles Pillow Large Ensemble: Electric Miles

By Mark Corroto
August 31, 2018
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Charles Pillow Large Ensemble: Electric Miles

You thought not, but you can put the genie back in the bottle. What we're talking about is the specter unleashed by

Miles Davis

trumpet
1926 - 1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Miles Davis with Bitches Brew (Columbia, 1970). Davis' expanded lineup for BB with ten-plus musicians, including the electric pianos of

Joe Zawinul

keyboards
1932 - 2007

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Zawinul,

Chick Corea

piano
1941 - 2021

" data-original-title="" title="">Chick Corea, and

Larry Young

organ, Hammond B3
1940 - 1978

" data-original-title="" title="">Larry Young,

Bennie Maupin

woodwinds
b.1940

" data-original-title="" title="">Bennie Maupin playing bass clarinet, a young guitarist

John McLaughlin

guitar
b.1942

" data-original-title="" title="">John McLaughlin, two bassists, percussion, and more percussion, and oh yeah,

" data-original-title="" title="">Wayne Shorter's saxophone was ever present. Charles Pillow did that with his Large Ensemble's Electric Miles.

Back in the day, Davis devotees were split on their opinions of his new direction. Some pined for his first great quintet (with

John Coltrane

saxophone
1926 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">John Coltrane), others were just digging into his second quintet (Shorter,

Herbie Hancock

piano
b.1940

" data-original-title="" title="">Herbie Hancock,

Ron Carter

bass
b.1937

" data-original-title="" title="">Ron Carter, and

Tony Williams

drums
1945 - 1997

" data-original-title="" title="">Tony Williams), and most were trying to figure out what to make of his introduction of electric instruments with In A Silent Way (Columbia, 1969). Certainly Bitches Brew, and Miles' exploration of jazz/rock with Jack Johnson (Columbia, 1971) and On The Corner (Columbia, 1972) caused teeth gnashing for some post-bop heads, but he also created a new audience of folks who were checking out Jimi Hendrix and Sly Stone.

Looking back 50 years at Bitches Brew with the ease of today's digital access to almost every recording available at your fingertips, almost trivializes Davis' accomplishment. Where today's listeners have 110 years of jazz development, Davis had but half of that, plus consider that rock music was maybe 20 years old. This was revolutionary music. Arranger, saxophonist, and flutist Charles Pillow sums up Davis' first electric period (1969-72), not with long-form jams and

Teo Macero

producer
1925 - 2008

" data-original-title="" title="">Teo Macero studio splicing, but with orchestral arrangements. Davis' revolution accomplished its goals of shattering jazz into a million parts, while absorbing rock and Eastern music. Pillow escorts Davis' electric genie back into his bottle, making music in the same manner that Davis co-created with

Gil Evans

composer / conductor
1912 - 1988

" data-original-title="" title="">Gil Evans on Sketches Of Spain (Columbia, 1960) and Miles Ahead (Columbia, 1962). Pillow's arrangements smooth out the rougher edges, allowing soloists like

Tim Hagans

trumpet
b.1954

" data-original-title="" title="">Tim Hagans, who formed the tribute band Animation, and Clay Jenkins to deliver authentic echoes. Pillow dresses Electric Miles for a large ensemble while maintaining the ghostly presence of Davis. "Black Satin" swells with horn lines before nestling into the familiar On The Corner groove, with alumni

Dave Liebman

saxophone
b.1946

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Liebman hoisting his saxophone. The music Pillow presents is a ripened, lets say matured version of Davis' sound. Fittingly enough in this 21st century, Zawinul's "In A Silent Way" is delivered in a regal manner as is Shorter's "Sanctuary." It is though, the lesser known "Directions" that burns the brightest on this recording with inspired solos by Hagans, trombonist Michael Davis and saxophonist Luke Norris. This recording makes you wonder what Pillow could do with

Thelonious Monk

piano
1917 - 1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Thelonious Monk's orchestral performance At Town Hall (Riverside, 1959). Hint hint.

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Track Listing

Pharoah��s Dance; Bitches Brew; Black Satin; In A Silent Way; Directions; Sanctuary; Yesternow; Spanish Key.

Personnel

Charles Pillow

saxophone

Charles Pillow: arranger, alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute, alto flute; Colin Gordon: alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute; Luke Norris: tenor saxophone, clarinet; CJ Ziarniak: tenor saxophone; Karl Stabnau: bass clarinet; Michael Davis: trombone; Abe Nouri: trombone; Jack Courtright: trombone; Gabe Ramos: bass trombone; Tony Kadleck lead trumpet; Charlie Carr: trumpet; Clay Jenkins: trumpet; Tim Hagans: trumpet; Julian Garvue: electric piano; Chuck Bergeron: electric bass; Mike Forfia: acoustic bass (4, 6); Jared Schonig: drums; David Liebman: soprano saxophone (3, 7).

Album information

Title: Electric Miles | Year Released: 2018 | Record Label: MAMA Records

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