Tutu cover
Released

After 30 years, Miles Davis left Columbia Records for Warner Bros., and his opening statement was as stark as its black-and-white, sphinxlike cover photo. His piercing, muted horn floated through moody, post-Prince funk soundscapes assembled by bassist Marcus Miller, including a version of Scritti Politti’s minor hit “Perfect Way.” In some ways this album couldn’t be more 1986, but it’s also got an eerie quality on tracks like “Portia” and “Backyard Ritual” that gives it a timeless feel. And the tenderness in his playing is like probing at a bruise.

Phil Freeman

Recommended by

Suggestions
Free as the Wind cover

Free as the Wind

The Crusaders
The  Study of Touch cover

The Study of Touch

Django Bates' Belovèd
Heritage cover

Heritage

Lionel Loueke
Skin Tight cover

Skin Tight

Ohio Players
Spirit Groove cover

Spirit Groove

David Murray, Kahil El'Zabar
Functional Arrhythmias cover

Functional Arrhythmias

Steve Coleman and Five Elements
Manu Katché cover

Manu Katché

Manu Katché
The Dreamer cover

The Dreamer

José James
The Trance of Seven Colors cover

The Trance of Seven Colors

Maleem Mahmoud Ghania, Pharoah Sanders
Only Sky cover

Only Sky

David Torn