An edit of “It’s About That Time” follows, featuring some tasty guitar by Carlos Santana laid over the original. Clocking in at 4:53, it’s the longest track on the disc, and the only one really given a chance to breathe. Abbreviated versions of “Honky Tonk” and “Black Satin” make up the final six minutes of Evolution. And though they’re painfully short, they nonetheless showcase the nuances of Miles’ trumpet style.
Evolution of the Groove is a solid imagining of what Miles might sound like in 2007. More importantly, it’s a reminder of his continued influence. The only complaint I have with this little EP is it’s far too short. Then again, Miles was always mercurial. By the time we thought we’d caught up to him, he was already in another plane. We’ll never know with certainty what he’d be doing now, but in a universe of infinite futures and parellel routes, Evolution of the Groove is a nice rest stop.
Article comments
1 - Glen Boyd
This sounds like a really cool little EP Ray...or is it more like a 12" maxi-single? Either way, reading your review makes me wish I'd claimed this one after all. Nicely done.
-Glen
2 - Pico
Reading about this latest reworking of Miles recordings reminds my of another one of ten years ago,Panthalassa, where Bill Laswell did what I thought was a superb job tinkering with some vintage recordings of Davis' early fusion period.
3 - Ray Ellis
It's not a maxi-single, Glen. The tracks melt into one another pretty seamlessly, but they're still recognizable as individual cuts.
I haven't heard "Panthalassa" in years, Pico, but my memories of it would put it in a different category than this EP.This one is maddening in that it's so short, whereas the Laswell mix was fully realized.
All in all, though, I really like "Evolution." It's a great introduction to those who may not be familiar with Miles. For those of us who revered him, it's a bittersweet reminder that he was the voice of jazz innovation.
Thanks, guys.
4 - Dave
5 - Connie Phillips
Congrats! This article has been forwarded to the Advance.net websites and Boston.com.