Miles away

The apotheosis of a jazz merging and accessible, it is nowhere near past wonders of the Master of Cool (Kind of Blue, Sketches of Spain, Bitches Brew, etc.), will at least have the merit of introduce to an audience that otherwise would probably missed the phenomenon and revive a somewhat declining career.

Because Miles in 1986 (album release year), is only the shadow of the great jazzman he was, whether commercially or artistically. While Miles was perfectly successful transition from classic jazz and progressive fusion disheveled, he struggles to be in the 80s when production does everything, or almost. Arriving likely by itself to the realization of this failure, and malignant like an old dog, Miles is surrounded by the cream of the new generation for an album clearly Radio described, a compromise on the form but In the end, the best album of trumpet at the cursed decade.

Admittedly, expertly designed by bassist / multi-instrumentalist Marcus Miller, producer but also composer of the majority of the selection, for Miles, Tutu fits like a glove to the veteran trumpeter. And if everything is not equal happiness in this pop jazz caressing few peaks, such as the title track, Portia or Backyard Ritual (of and with the late George Duke), alone justify that is looks at the cake. When, in addition, we consider the deluxe edition published in 2011 and offering a very pleasant at Jazz Nice Festival captured in July 1986, there is not much hesitation to celebrate as it should be an album that is worth more that the (beautiful) bag signed by Irving Penn.

We will not go that Tutu is essential, it would be an exaggeration, it's just a nice album marked by his time which ultimately aging rather well ... It was not a foregone conclusion.

Miles Davis - trumpet
Marcus Miller - bass guitars, guitar, synthesizers, drum machine programming, bass clarinet, soprano sax
Jason Miles - synthesizer programming
Paulinho da Costa - Percussion on "Tutu", "Portia", "Splatch" Backyard Ritual "
Adam Holzman - synthesizer solo on "Splatch"
Steve Reid - additional percussion on "Splatch"
George Duke - keyboards are all "Backyard Ritual"
Omar Hakim - drums and percussion on "Tomaas"
Bernard Wright - additional synthesizers on "Tomaas" and "Do not Lose Your Mind"
Micha Urbaniak - electric violin on "Do not Lose Your Mind"
Jabali Billy Hart - drums, bongos