for one, this is a discovery of something fresh and deep. feeding off of one another into the unexpected is certainly exciting and innovative. these are perhaps all defining values of the album by Miles Davis. sure it's unaccessible to the average listener, but for those who are educated in musicality and structure will find endless qualities and possiblities of creativity. this album was a feet unimaginable and paints pictures of places noone has dared to go. what are some other viewpoints or thoughts that you might have about the album?

sure *****es Brew is a masterpiece in it's own right, but I believe it started with "In a Silent Way"...musicians such as Mahavishnu John McLaughlin, Tony Williams, Chick Corea, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock and Dave Holland made it such a memorable recording, and also concluded to make *****es Brew later on in 1969...

very interesting. i will have to hear that. as i recall Herbie did some similar work with Horace Silver. did they do any free form?

I don't think Herbie ever was into the free jazz styles, but I know that he could manage it if he wanted to...great artist

*****es brew rocks. Although I agree its not exactly "easy listening" I think every jazz fan needs to get there hands on the CD sometime.

it is pretty easy listening to me.

I guess you guys havn't heard too much Peter Brotzmann.

I'd have to agree w/ you, Geoff -- *****es Brew is hardly the de facto standard of abrasive inaccessibility, but it is a fantastic album that spawned many imitations in its wake. I'll also agree w/ what Equinox said -- In A Silent Way, to my ears, is a more profound statement and perhaps more revolutionary than it's successor, although both are, of course, absolute masterpieces and all-time classics.

So...would anyone care to mention their favorite track from the album? It's been a while since I've given it a listen, so I'll have to put it in again before I can say which is my favorite.

well, "Miles Runs the Voodoo Down" is probably my fav, but when I obtained "the complete *****es brew sessions" I would have to say a lot of Joe Zawinul's work that was left off the original sparked my interest frequently...If you haven't heard the Complete sessions for both "In a silent Way" and this album, I would highly recommend it...

Amazing work and it was especially shocking in 1969. There was always this rumour about Jimi Hendrix doing some sessions with Miles during that timeframe anybody know of any verification of that one. That might have been an interesting combination considering the Brew really put Miles back in the public mind and Jimi was riding high after Woodstock.

never heard the Jimi Hendrix reference to this piece of work, but now that you mention it, that leads to my curiosity...