Call It Anything – 1970
Miles Davis
The trumpeter’s historic performance from the Isle Of Wight Festival
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Miles Davis played before one of the largest audiences of his career on Aug. 29, 1970 when he performed at the Isle Of Wight Pop Festival in England.
The trumpeter had radically altered his own music during the previous two years and, while many of his older fans did not care for his electronic and often-funky new style, Davis picked up new fans and continued to be a very influential and relevant force in modern music.
His group at the time was comprised of Gary Bartz on alto and soprano, both Keith Jarrett and Chick Corea on electric keyboards, electric bassist Dave Holland, drummer Jack DeJohnette, and percussionist Airto Moreira, all of whom would become bandleaders in the near future.
His 38-minute set was a medley of “Directions,” “Bitches Brew,” “It’s About That Time,” “Sanctuary,” and “Spanish Key” with the conclusion being Davis’ very brief “The Theme” with which he often ended his sets during the era.
When asked what he called the music that he played during this performance, Davis said “Call It Anything.”
Bartz has statements on both soprano and alto, Corea and Jarrett sound as if they are tearing apart their keyboards, and Davis blasts out some impressive high notes.
It is particularly impressive how with just a few notes, Miles Davis was able to get his musicians to move on to the next song or completely change the mood and groove, being in complete control of the often-wild proceedings.
-Scott Yanow
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