SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: MILES DAVIS & ROBERT GLASPER – EVERYTHING’S BEAUTIFUL

Miles Davis & Robert Glasper
Everything’s Beautiful
Columbia/Legacy

Being a fan of Miles Davis’ music, the period that I enjoyed the most was his classic period from the ‘50s to the ‘60s when he straddled Bebop, hard-Bop, Modal, Freebop and early Fusion. Miles was definitely an artist who kept looking forward, forgetting what lies behind in search of new expressions and new ways of doing things.

Upon hearing this tribute album, I give credit to Robert Glasper for reimagining and reconstructing Davis’ music and recordings for the 21^st century as an intelligent exercise of creativity and interpretation. However, this project has me desiring that Glasper delve into the classic period more. Case in point: Davis’ Modal classics “Milestones” and “Right on Brotha,” interpolating Wayne Shorter’s “Nefertiti” by guest Stevie Wonder, are the only classic period elements brought into the mix.

This set will more likely appeal to the newer generation who wants a more intelligent approach toward the old and new. But for those who love Miles Davis and the rich body of work he provided, it would be best to stick to the originals as a way to remember him by.

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