MILES DAVIS — Tutu (review)

MILES DAVIS — Tutu album cover Album · 1986 · Pop/Art Song/Folk Buy this album from MMA partners
2/5 ·
dreadpirateroberts
A fascinating album with a superb cover, but not all that satisfying.

At least, to the typical jazz fan it won't be. It's nice to hear Miles' muted trumpet, but the backing he's playing over simply takes so few risks that it's almost on autopilot. It's too smooth and sounds decidedly glib in that 80s way, with airy synth and programming that has little sense of adventure. The tempo stays pretty even, pretty safe, and while his soloing is at times inventive (it's still Miles) there's certainly no spirit of collaboration or egging each other on.

And so the album has the sound of an 80s OST, perhaps to an action film or a thriller maybe, only it's delivered with less dynamic and less instruments (such as 'Backyard Ritual' which actually stands out because of this.) The song 'Tutu' itself is a perfect example of what to expect from the album and it works quite well, but elsewhere it's more of the same slap bass, ethereal synth and spacious beats that never evoke space nor raise the pulse. 'Portia' is not bad either, but the set really is a difficult listen if you're not already a fan of the production period.

A Miles Davis collector should eventually check this out, because in terms of soloing, he really does get to do as he pleases over the backing tracks. Otherwise, maybe give this album a miss.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Jazz Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

Cecil Taylor Unit : Live At Fat Tuesdays, February 9, 1980 First Visit Avant-Garde Jazz
CECIL TAYLOR
Buy this album from MMA partners
Solo Bern 1984 - First Visit Avant-Garde Jazz
ANTHONY BRAXTON
Buy this album from MMA partners
Ernesto Rodrigues, Bruno Parrinha & Johannes von Buttlar : Whispers and Reveries Jazz Related Improv/Composition
ERNESTO RODRIGUES
Buy this album from MMA partners
Ernesto Rodrigues, Nuno Torres & Johannes von Buttlar : Cosmic Collision Jazz Related Improv/Composition
ERNESTO RODRIGUES
Buy this album from MMA partners
Ernesto Rodrigues, Carlos Bechegas, João Madeira & Monsieur Trinité : Free to Open Jazz Related Improv/Composition
ERNESTO RODRIGUES
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

Songs My Mom Liked EPK - Anthony Branker
ANTHONY BRANKER
js· 17 hours ago
“INFLUENCES” by Jared Hall, trumpeter & composer
JARED HALL
js· 17 hours ago
Jean-Pierre (feat. Darryl Jones)
BILL EVANS (SAX)
snobb· 1 day ago
Magic Box
CHRISTOPHE MARGUET
snobb· 1 day ago
The Peacocks
ANTOINE DRYE
js· 1 day ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed