In a Silent Way (1969)

In a Silent Way is a studio album by the American jazz trumpeter, composer, and bandleader Miles Davis, released on July 30, 1969, on Columbia Records. Produced by Teo Macero, the album was recorded in one session date on February 18, 1969, at CBS 30th Street Studio in New York City. Macero edited and arranged Davis's recordings from the session to produce the album. Marking the beginning of his "electric" period, In a Silent Way has been regarded by music writers as Davis's first fusion recording, following a stylistic shift toward the genre in his previous records and live performances.

Upon its release, the album was met by controversy among music critics, particularly those of jazz and rock music, who were divided in their reaction to its experimental musical structure and Davis's electric approach. It was nominated for the 1970 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Album. Since its initial reception, it has been regarded by fans and critics as one of Davis's greatest and most influential works. In 2001, Columbia Legacy and Sony Music released the three-disc box set The Complete In a Silent Way Sessions, which includes additional tracks.

Background and recording

By January 1969, Davis' core working band had stabilised around Wayne Shorter on soprano saxophone, Dave Holland on bass, Chick Corea on electric piano, and Jack DeJohnette on drums. For his next studio album, Davis also brought in drummer Tony Williams and keyboardist Herbie Hancock, previously members of his Second Great Quintet. In the following month, the six were joined by Austrian keyboardist Josef Zawinul and English guitarist John McLaughlin, who had been in the United States for less than two weeks to join The Tony Williams Lifetime before Davis asked him to attend the recording session. McLaughlin had been a longtime fan of Davis, and spoke with Davis of his nervousness at the prospect of recording with his idol. Among the compositions by Zawinul that Davis took a liking to was "In a Silent Way", an atmospheric piece that was titled at the suggestion of Nat Adderley while Zawinul was in the Cannonball Adderley band. Adderley wished to use the piece for his band, but Zawinul turned him down, informing him that he had already promised it to Davis.

Although Davis' live performances and recent albums Miles in the Sky and Filles de Kilimanjaro (both 1968) had indicated his stylistic shift towards jazz fusion and increasing incorporation of electric instrumentation, In a Silent Way marked a complete transition into the style, marking the beginning of his "electric" period. It was also his first recording to be constructed largely by the editing and arrangement of Davis and producer Teo Macero, whose editing techniques on In a Silent Way were informed by classical sonata form. Both tracks on the album consist of three distinct parts that could be thought of as an exposition, development, and recapitulation, with the first and third section of each track being the same piece.

In a Silent Way was assembled from various takes from a three-hour session on February 18, 1969, at CBS 30th Street Studio's Studio B in Manhattan. "Shhh/Peaceful" was composed solely by Davis, while the opening and closing section to "In a Silent Way/It's About That Time" is based on Zawinul's "In a Silent Way", which he would record in its original form in 1970 for his third solo album, Zawinul (1971). After Zawinul presented the tune to the group, it was rehearsed as it was originally written, but Davis wished for it to sound more rock-oriented and stripped the various chord changes to leave a more basic melody built around a pedal point. McLaughlin had some difficulty playing in the manner Davis wished of him, but found his way after the trumpeter suggested he play the guitar as if he were a novice. Davis believed that Zawinul was never happy with his adaptation of "In a Silent Way", but felt that the album would have been less successful had its original arrangement been kept. Zawinul had expressed some dislike of Davis' arrangement, in particular of two chords that he believed that Davis was wrong to remove. Zawinul claimed that he was responsible for the melodic bass line and descending melody of "It's About That Time" but was not credited; he blamed Macero for this, as he "always put things together so that it came out as if Miles had written it."

Two days after the February 18 session, Davis returned to the studio and recorded "Ghetto Walk" with drummer Joe Chambers. "Ghetto Walk" was intended to be included on In a Silent Way with "Shhh/Peaceful", but it was later swapped for "In a Silent Way/It's About That Time". The group also played through "Early Minor", another Zawinul piece, on February 20, but it too was scrapped.

Release

In a Silent Way was originally released on July 30, 1969.