Reggae and Jazz Lovers Check This: Miles Davis done reggae… on vinyl!
So I was crawling through the bins at one of my favorite local record shops in Montreal yesterday, and one of the workers there suggested this album to me. It’s a reggae interpretation of the entire legendary Miles Davis album “Kind of Blue”, put out on vinyl recently by Secret Stash records. Check out a sample from the album in the video, and the description of the album from www.secretstashrecords.com below!
(http://secretstashrecords.com/releases/)
A Reggae Interpretation of Kind of Blue
In the spring of 1981 a group of reggae studio musicians from Jamaica gathered in New York City under the direction of Jeremy Taylor, a music professor at NYU at that time. The result was this Reggae Interpretation of Kind of Blue. Though he was primarily regarded as a world-class Jazz musician and educator, Taylor had taken several trips to Jamaica to study reggae music with some of the best performers in the world. In his 1979 book, “A Space Between” Taylor wrote, “My first trip to Jamaica (May 1977) was the most eye-opening musical experience of my life. I met so many incredible players who had been brushed off by the snobby musical establishment at institutions such as the ones I was affiliated with. They showed more musicality, taste, and rhythmic comprehension than some of the most revered musicians in the states. I knew that I had to find a way to showcase their unparalleled talent in a different medium in order for some of my colleagues to fully understand and learn from it.” This statement served as the basic concept behind this album. Taylor took the most loved, well-known modern jazz album of all time and put it in the hands of reggae musicians. It was in this context that he felt his contemporaries would be able to fully understand what it was he saw in these players.
Unfortunately, weeks after directing the sessions Taylor passed away in his Paris hotel room while on a speaking tour of Europe. A final mix of the album was never made and it was never released. Collectors have long spoken of this album and in the late 80s lo-fi cassette tapes of rough mixes circulated. No official release was ever issued until now.
In early 2009, Secret Stash Records began working with the Taylor estate to finally release this album. After creating final mixes, dub versions of all the songs were also made by Secret Stash producers. Now for the first time ever, this highly sought-after album is available. This vinyl-only release is a must have for any record collector.
Track listing:
SIDE ONE
01. So What
02. Freddie Freeloader
03. Blue In Green
04. All Blues
05. Flamenco Sketches
SIDE TWO
01. So What (Dub Version)
02. Freddie Freeloader (Dub Version)
03. Blue In Green (Dub Version)
04. All Blues (Dub Version)
05. Flamenco Sketches (Dub Version)
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While the album is probably decent, I have to question the back story. Apparently all of the albums on this label have the same mysterious backgrounds that no one can verify. No mention of this “Jeremy Taylor” who wrote a book called “A Space Between” can be found on Google (outside this press release). The fact that no musicians are mentioned anywhere also makes me think this is a modern recording.
GOOD POST and FIND! I hadn’t heard about it yet but that is number one on my NEED TO BUY LIST. Thanks
It might be a modern recording which is fine unless they are really selling it as a long lost and thus more valuable release than it really is of course. Interesting.
I`ve ordered it.
my money`s on modern after hearing some of the recordings.
I’ve ordered it too! Heard about Miles Davis first from my father, a jazz-rock’n'roll-crooning-music nut! Thanks Dad. And first heard about this Reggae Interpertation of Kind Of Blue on here. That says something!!! Thanks Aaron and thanks musicaloccupation.com
Keep posting what’s hot and what’s not : )