Aura (Miles Davis album)

Infobox Album
Name = Aura
Type = Studio
Artist = Miles Davis


Released = September 12, 1989
Recorded = January 31–February 4 1985
Genre = Jazz fusion
Length = 66:59
Label = Columbia Records
Producer = Palle Mikkelborg
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|3|5 [http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=&sql=10:pt8m96oodep5 link]
Last album = "Amandla"
(1989)
This album = "Aura"
(1989)
Next album = "Dingo"
(1992)

"Aura" is a concept album by Miles Davis, produced by Palle Mikkelborg, released in 1989. All compositions and arrangements are by Danish composer/trumpeter Palle Mikkelborg, who created the suite in tribute to Miles Davis when Davis received the Léonie Sonning Music Prize in December 1984. [A prestigious award, mostly given to classical composers and musicians; see [http://www.sonningmusik.dk/cms/view/index.asp?ipageid=221 official website] . Miles Davis was the first non-classical musician to receive the prize, and was particularly happy to receive the prize when he learned that Igor Stravinsky was one of the earlier recipients.] [Prior to the concert, Miles Davis was announced to only play for the last ten minutes of the suite. He eventually played for over 40 minutes, also playing Cyndi Lauper and Rob Hyman's "Time after Time" and his own "Jean Pierre."]

The main theme consists of 10 notes, yielded by the letters "M-I-L-E-S-D-A-V-I-S". It is introduced at the beginning over a sustained chord of these same notes. The following 9 movements of the suite represent the colours Mikkelborg sees in Miles's aura.

The music is scored for an extended jazz big band, and the core of the band is formed by the Danish Radio's Big Band, featuring Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Thomas Clausen and Marilyn Mazur [It was during the Aura sessions that Davis became fascinated with Mazur's wide range of percussion talents, and he subsequently hired her for his touring band.] . Notable international guests as John McLaughlin and Davis' nephew Vince Wilburn are featured during the recordings. [At the December 1984 concert, guitarist John Scofield — then member of Davis' touring band — was featured as guest.] They took place in Copenhagen in 1985 at Davis' own initiative, as he had been very honored and satisfied with the suite. It was the first time Miles Davis recorded with a big band for over 20 years. "Aura", however, is not a conventional big band jazz album. The music is perhaps best categorized as fusion jazz with a strong flavor of modern classical music, as many of the orchestral passages reveal Mikkelborg's inspiration from composers like Olivier Messian and Charles Ives. [The 10-note opening theme is played freely against a dissonant background chord in a manner reminiscent of Ives' "The Unanswered Question".]

Although the album was recorded and finalized in 1985, contractual issues delayed its release until 1989. The album won a Grammy Award in 1990 for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance.

Track listing

All tracks composed and arranged by Palle Mikkelborg

#"Intro" – 4:48
#"White" – 6:07
#"Yellow" – 6:55
#"Orange" – 8:41
#"Red" – 6:05
#"Green" – 8:13
#"Blue" – 6:36
#"Electric Red" – 4:19
#"Indigo" – 6:06
#"Violet" – 9:04

Personnel

:Trumpet: Miles Davis:Trumpets & Flugelhorns: Benny Rosenfeld, Idrees Sulieman, Jens Winther, Palle Bolvig, Perry Knudsen:Trombones: Jens Engel, Ture Larsen, Vincent Nilsson, Ole Kurt Jensen, Axel Windfel:Saxophones and Woodwinds: Bent Jædig, Flemming Madsen, Jesper Thilo, Per Carsten, Uffe Karskov:Keyboards: Kenneth Knudsen, Ole Koch-Hansen, Thomas Clausen:Guitars: Bjarne Roupé and John McLaughlin:Bass: Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen:Fender Bass and Fretless Bass: Bo Stief:Drums: Lennart Gruvstedt:Electronic Drums: Vince Wilburn:Percussion: Ethan Weisgaard and Marilyn Mazur:Harp: Lillian Thornquist:Oboe and Cor Anglais: Niels Eje:Vocals: Eva Thaysen :Additional Trumpet and Flugelhorn: Palle Mikkelborg

Notes