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
Sylva cover

Sylva

Snarky Puppy, Metropole Orkest
75th cover

75th

Joe Zawinul
Domino Theory cover

Domino Theory

Weather Report
Bombella cover

Bombella

WDR Big Band, Abdullah Ibrahim
Bright Future cover

Bright Future

Nikola Bankov
No Material cover

No Material

Sonny Sharrock, Nicky Skopelitis, Peter Brötzmann, Jan Kazda, Ginger Baker
Hot Rats cover

Hot Rats

Frank Zappa
Agharta cover

Agharta

Miles Davis
City Swamp cover

City Swamp

Jake Long
Beyond Now cover

Beyond Now

Donny McCaslin