A Tribute to Jack Johnson

Infobox Album | Name = A Tribute to Jack Johnson
Type = Album
Artist = Miles Davis


Released = 1971 (U.S.)
1970 (CA)
Recorded = February 18 and April 7, 1970
Genre = Jazz fusion
Length = 52:26
Label = Columbia
Producer = Teo Macero
Reviews =
*"All About Jazz" (favorable) [http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=16087 link]
*Allmusic Rating|5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:yz0xlfjegcqt link]
*Blender Rating|5|5 [http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=3203 link]
*Robert Christgau (A+) [http://robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?id=944&name=Miles+Davis link]
*"Penguin Guide to Jazz" Rating|4|4 [http://www.acclaimedmusic.net/Current/A1997.htm link]
Last album = "Live-Evil"
(1971)
This album = "A Tribute to Jack Johnson"
(1971)
Next album = "On the Corner"
(1972)

"A Tribute to Jack Johnson" is a studio album by jazz musician Miles Davis, released in 1971 in the United States and in 1970 in Canada on Columbia Records. [ [http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=16087 Miles Davis: A Tribute to Jack Johnson (HTML)] All About Jazz. Retrieved on 2008-08-31] [ [http://www.discogs.com/release/1409632 Discogs.com - A Tribute to Jack Johnson (Canada release] Discogs. Retrieved on 2008-08-31] It was recorded as the soundtrack for a documentary of the same name by Bill Cayton about the heavyweight world champion boxer Jack Johnson.

Creation

The first major recording session for the album, which took place on April 7, 1970, was almost accidental: John McLaughlin, awaiting Miles's arrival, began improvising riffs on his guitar, and was shortly joined by Michael Henderson and Billy Cobham. Meanwhile, the producers brought in Herbie Hancock, who had been passing through the building on unrelated business, to play the Farfisa organ. Miles arrived at last and began his solo at about 2:19 on the first track.

The album's two long tracks were assembled in the editing room by producer Teo Macero. "Right Off" is constructed from several takes and a solo by Davis recorded in November 1969.Fact|date=February 2007 It contains a riff from Sly and the Family Stone's "Sing a Simple Song". Much of the track "Yesternow" is built around a slightly modified version of the bassline from the James Brown song "Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud"; this may be a deliberate allusion to the song's Black Power theme as it relates to the film's subject. "Yesternow" also incorporates a brief excerpt of "Shhh/Peaceful" from Davis's 1969 album "In a Silent Way" and a 10-minute section comprising several takes of the tune "Willie Nelson" from a session on 18 February 1970.

Reception

"A Tribute to Jack Johnson" was less commercially successful than Davis's previous electric album, "Bitches Brew", reaching only #159 on the Billboard 200 where "Bitches Brew" had risen as high as #35. Some fans and critics, however, consider "A Tribute to Jack Johnson" to be the musically superior album.

Track listing

ide one

#"Right Off" – 26:53

ide two

#"Yesternow" – 25:34

Personnel

The first track and about half of the second track were recorded on 7 April 1970 by this group:
* Miles Davis - Trumpet
* Steve Grossman - Soprano saxophone
* John McLaughlin - Electric guitar
* Herbie Hancock - Organ
* Michael Henderson - Electric bass
* Billy Cobham - drums

The second part of the second track (starting at about 12:55) was recorded on 18 February 1970 by a different and uncredited lineup:
* Miles Davis - Trumpet
* Bennie Maupin - Bass clarinet
* John McLaughlin - Electric guitar
* Sonny Sharrock - Electric guitar
* Chick Corea - Electric piano
* Dave Holland - Electric bass
* Jack DeJohnette - drums

At the end of the "Yesternow" there is a sound clip recorded by actor Brock Peters saying:"I'm Jack Johnson -- heavyweight champion of the world! I'm black! They never let me forget it. I'm black all right; I'll never let them forget it."

ee also

*The Complete Jack Johnson Sessions - 2003 box set

External links

* [http://www.miles-beyond.com/jackjohnson.htm Article about the making of "Jack Johnson" and "The Complete Jack Johnson Sessions" boxed set at the Miles Beyond site, dedicated to the electric music of Miles Davis]