Miles Davis (trumpet)Big Fun (Columbia, 1969)
The Miles Davis cannon is showered with influential and astonishing albums, Bitches Brew being one of them. But after you've listened to Bitches Brew and you experience the "world" music vibe Miles was trying to capture, where do you go next? He would make slew of incredible live album featuring all new material during the '70s. One album that I've always felt was overlooked is entitled Big Fun (Columbia; 1969). Big Fun is awash of electric fusion but also Indian raga and hypnotic modal structures.
Big Fun actually took 4 years to complete. Miles had recorded almost every track with a different ensemble of musicians (including Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, John McLaughlin, Billy Cobham on drums and the wonderful sitar and tambra work from Khalil Balakrishna. Balakrishna's trance-like work is evident on the opening track "Great Expectations". This really does set the tone for the proceedings. Another standout for me the duel between Chick Corea and Joe Zawinul both on electric piano (right and left channel (or speaker) respectively) on the lovely "Recollection". There's also some funky movements with "Ife" mainly provided by piano work of Lonnie Smith and Harold Williams but some infectious drum/percussion work from Al Foster, Billy Hart and Jame 'Mtume" Forman.
Big Fun is a massive cross section of styles that really only Miles could orchestra among so many musician over 4 different sessions. It's a jaw dropping experience to hear this recorded after Bitches Brew and seeing contrast the movements. There not radically different, just the emphasis is placed--jam sessions with short bits of structure--but only Miles knows that. The majority of the tracks on Big Fun were technically recorded during other sessions which is why some jazz fans may know some of the tracks from boxed sets (Bitches Brew and On The Corner) but make no mistake this is an album that Miles had in mind and its a beautiful mixture of styles that you should definitely listen to after Bitches Brew. If you have it already let us know your thoughts.