Miles Davis - Aura (rec. 1985, rel. 1989)

A suite of music composed for Miles by Palle Mikkelborg in 1984, and recorded in early 1985.  Contractual hurdles delayed its release until 1989, but it was worth the wait - Aura is nothing less than Miles Ahead for the 80s, lushly orchestrated but with the sound right up to date for its era.  Elements of rock, reggae and electronic music are all woven into the multi-colour suite, which is musically germinated from a ten-note theme based on the letters in "MILES DAVIS", a la B-A-C-H.  Sometimes eerily ambient, such as the opening minute with the calm broken by John McLaughlin introducing the theme, sometimes hard-edged and frenetic, Aura is a great album that finds Miles with plenty of spark left in him.

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pw: sgtg

Miles Davis at SGTG:
Conception
Walkin'
Blue Moods
Bags' Groove
Miles Ahead (with Gil Evans)
Sketches Of Spain (with Gil Evans)
Quiet Nights (with Gil Evans) 

A Tribute To Jack Johnson

Live-Evil
On The Corner

In Concert

Big Fun
Agharta

Dark Magus

We Want Miles

Terje Rypdal - Waves (1978)

Quintessential late-70s ECM from the label's legendary ice & fire Norwegian guitarist, Waves could almost be co-credited to Danish trumpeter Palle Mikkelborg, who made his first appearance alongside Rypdal here.  On opener Per Ulv, which would become one of Rypdal's most famous tunes, a Heart Of Glass-style rhythm machine introduces the guitarist's long, fluid meanderings before the track snaps back to a funky chorus led by Mikkelborg.  This pattern continues, making a memorable track of contrasts.  Karusell, the slower piece that follows, puts Mikkelborg in the spotlight, and he's even the writer of the strangely ominous circus-like Stenskoven that closes the album's first half.

On the title track, Rypdal re-establishes that this is still very much his record, painting eerie shapes on top of the bed of synths and fuzz bass from the great Sveinung Hovensjø, before Rypdal and Mikkelborg's lines start to weave around each other.  The Dain Curse moves the energy up several notches for the toughest funk on the album, before the synths come back for closing track Charisma.  It's not a full-on mellow out to end this great record, as Rypdal has plenty of soaring, razor-sharp lines still to put out there.  Highly recommended from start to finish.

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pw: sgtg