The History and Popular Music of the ’60s class learned about Miles Davis’ groundbreaking 1969 record. Here are their reactions.
Gibson McCoy:
Miles Dewy Davis was one of the most influential jazz composers and trumpet players during the 1960s and maybe of all time. His father wanted to buy him a trumpet but his mother wanted him to play the violin and in the end, his father won the argument. He went to Julliard but dropped out to become a member of Charlie Parker’s bebop quintet; they played together from 1945 to 1948. In 1959 he released Kind of Blue that made him more well-known. His 1969 album, In a Silent Way, is also recognized as another of his masterpieces, is a studio album produced by Columbia Records.
Davis’ band members were stabilized around John McLaughlin on guitar, Jack DeJohnette on drums, Wayne Shorter tenor saxophone, Dave Holland bass and Tony Williams on drums. In a Silent Way marks the beginning of Miles Davis’s electric era. Even though the album did well commercially, most jazz critics were skeptical about the album because of its electric instrumentation. In a Silent Way is not stereotypical jazz and it’s not rock and roll, it’s a mix of Davis’s jazz background, his deep emotions, and originality. Bitches Brew, his next album, continued his journey into the land between rock and jazz genres. Today Miles Davis continues to be one of the best and most influential jazz musicians of all time, he added on to and also created new jazz styles and produced some of the most listened to jazz records.
Alex Skiles:
Maybe it’s because I associate trumpets with skeletons, but I found the album to be haunting, and wanted to do something equally haunting with Miles’ face. His expression sticks with me as much as the music, and so I isolated different shadows of his face to create a ghostly effect.
Conor McGeady:
In a Silent Way by Miles Davis was a wonder to listen to. This record changed what jazz could be at the time, opening up a slightly more experimental way of writing, with electric guitar and electric pianos combined with the classical drums and double bass combo of a typical jazz ensemble, all complementing and playing together with Davis’ trumpet. Although there are only two tracks, this record feels like you’re not exactly all there, if that makes sense. It’s a bit corny to say “out of body experience” but I really felt like I was almost taken away from myself while listening. On the first track, “Shh/Peaceful,” the rhythm-heavy hi-hats with the hypnotic electric instruments combined so well to create an atmosphere that I can’t really describe with words. The atmosphere felt almost nostalgic while also feeling unsettling, but not in a way that was uncomfortable. Like something you might hear in Pink Panther, but with more spice and tone. One of my favorite TV shows of all time, Cowboy Bebop, has music like this in the soundtrack, so it reminded me of that as well.
The instrumentation by itself isn’t all that groundbreaking, but there were times where I felt like the melodies on the guitar felt unorthodox, but in a good way. It felt like someone who wasn’t classically trained just picked up a guitar and started playing along just with what sounded good, which is one of the best things about music. I don’t think a lot of people in the modern era will choose to listen to music like this to relax, but I definitely think I will. Hell, I even put both the songs on my “Homework Music” playlist due to how relaxing it is in the background. If you ever need something to fall asleep to, or just appreciate some chill jazz music, I’d highly recommend this record.
Sam Swartley:
I did three improvised drawing with the spirit and mind of Miles. Nothing is a mistake. Everything is an opportunity. One of the drawings is more well thought out, a view of a jazz trio. Another is two figures, less thought out and more free flow. The last one is pretty much just letting my mind go and see what happens on the page. Each drawing has something special about it and I think it’s cool that your mind can just flow onto a page and create something so random and interesting.
Pritam Khalsa
In a Silent Way was one of my favorite albums this year. My favorite of the two songs is “In a Silent Way” because the song shifts multiple times and it makes it more interesting. For my response the song felt very much like soft pink and blue. The beginning and end were more soft so they are in watercolor and soft lines but the middle felt more harsh and like bells so there is yellow and it is collaged.
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