20 of 21 recommend this SA-CD
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Label:
  Columbia - http://www.columbiarecords.com/
Serial:
  CS 86556
Title:
  Miles Davis: In A Silent Way
Description:
  "In A Silent Way"

Miles Davis
Wayne Shorter (tenor and soprano saxophones)
Joe Zawinul, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea (piano, organ)
John McLaughlin (guitar)
Dave Holland (bass)
Tony Williams (drums)
Details:
  1. Shhh/Peaceful
2. In a Silent Way/It's About That Time
Genre:
  Jazz
Content:
  Stereo/Multichannel
Media:
  Single Layer
Recording type:
  Analogue
Recording info:
 

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Reviews: 7 show all

Review by vonwegen September 11, 2003 (2 of 2 found this review helpful)
Performance:  Sonics:
My first & favorite Miles Davis album, this is great for driving. Too bad Sony or Philips isn't curently developing any SACD surround car systems at the moment.

One note: there are apparently two different versions of this SACD, both with identical 5.1 mixes (which sound great, BTW, especially the 3 keyboards and their sonic positions)--but with different stereo mixes. Most review copies sent to magazines had the re-mixed stereo mix done by Bob Weldon & Mark Wilder when the CD version was issued several months ago.

My copy has the original stereo mix from the vinyl issue--you can hear how the multiple splices Teo Macero & Miles did have deteriorated in sonic quality--one splice in particular, at 10:42 into Shh/Peaceful, is particularly noticeable because the mixdown tape has a big drop-out due to tape crinkle.
Also the closing fadeouts at the end of both sides of vinyl are obviously much cruder and quite abrupt because the faders on the mixing board at Columbia Studios were not nearly as sensitive as the ones in use today--vinyl of course covered that up because most people didn't have the equipment to reveal such sonic 'problems'.

It's actually quite fun to compare the old stereo mix with the 5.1 one--shows how much DSD technology has brought us.

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Review by carledwards August 4, 2008 (1 of 1 found this review helpful)
Performance:  Sonics (S/MC): /
The multi-channel format really serves this music well. The extra detail and spatial separation put you right in the middle of the mix. As to the performances, it's obvious that this is a classic session and for good reason: Miles was breaking new ground at the time. It sounds just as fresh today as it did in the sixties. One of my all-time favorite records and a delight to have it on SACD.

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Review by JW September 14, 2006 (1 of 1 found this review helpful)
Performance:  Sonics (S):
Two tracks. That's all. This music sounds as if it floats in a three-dimensional space. Miles' trumpet has tremendous bite but never distorts. The electric piano can distort a little on some of the overtones, but not by much. Well layered soundstage. Infectuous rythmns by Tony Williams on drums underpin the whole thing. Yup, the bass is muddy/woolly - as observed above by another reviewer. And it has tape hiss.

Straight ahead jazz fans beware. This is Miles in electronic and improvisational - though not experimental - form. Not angular, no counterpoints, but it is a little free form although it stops well short of free jazz in my opinion. Nicely flowing. And very interesting, especially track 1. Track 2 is monotonous until about 8m.30s into it, then it gets going with Dave Holland laying down some very cool (electronic) bass patterns. But you know, 2 tracks and 38 minutes is enough.

Jw

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