Two cd's that aren't considered the artists best work, but I like them as much or better that their other stuff.
Elvis Costello Spike - Sarcastic and funny
Miles Davis Amandala - Groovy beat.
That Miles disc, Amandala - I love it. It's from the period where Miles was pissed at Warner Bros over the details of his contract. As far as I understand it, Warner Bros gained the rights to all of the music Miles wrote while under contract with them. So as not to line their pockets any further, Miles simply decided not to write any music. The tracks on Amandala are written by Marcus Miller.
If the truth be known, I'd give up everything on this disc just to be able to listen to track four (? I think it's four) over and over again. Hannibal. It's simply wonderful.
Actually, this was the tune that made me into a fan of two of my favorite musicians ever. I was watching a broadcast of highlights from the Montreux Jazz Festival. There were a couple of tunes from Miles, and one of them was Hannibal. Kenny Garrett was playing alto and completely blew me (and everybody at the performance) away during an extended solo. Miles wasn't interested in soloing at this point, and stalked around the stage looking as cool as he possibly could, ocassionally blowing a note or two on his trumpet, sometimes playing a chord or two on the electric keyboard. Then he took time out to hold up signs to the crowd expressing his amazement at Kenny Garret. After about nine minutes of this performance I was a committed Miles davis fan, and totally in awe of Kenny Garrett.
So I have to agree: when nobody else is around, I love to turn up that Amandala disc (and especially Hannibal) as loud as I can I lose myself in the music.
Chad
