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
Disrespectful cover

Disrespectful

Tim Lefebvre, JZ Replacement
Floating Point cover

Floating Point

John McLaughlin
Gratitude cover

Gratitude

Earth, Wind & Fire
Music from Siesta cover

Music from Siesta

Marcus Miller, Miles Davis
The Elements cover

The Elements

Joe Henderson, Alice Coltrane
Spiral Mercury cover

Spiral Mercury

Chicago/São Paulo Underground, Pharoah Sanders
Only Sky cover

Only Sky

David Torn