Track Listing

1. Right Off
2. Yesternow

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #20419 in Music
• Brand: Sony
• Released on: 2005-01-11
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Dimensions: .23 pounds

Amazon.com essential recording
Miles Davis was a gifted composer of film soundtracks, and this is arguably his best. Certainly it's his most listenable film piece. A boxer himself, Davis had a feel for movement in the ring, and this recording overflows with the admiration he had for the grace, style, and confidence of fighters like Sugar Ray Robinson. Jack Johnson was, for a long time, Miles's favorite of his own recordings, and you can see why from the first note: guitarist John McLaughlin steps out and strides across a shuffling groove that is closer to barroom R&B than it is to rock; Davis weighs in with that clipped but plaintive sound which promises you that no matter what kind of music he takes on next, he will always be Miles. And then when--midway through the first of two long jams--Herbie Hancock muscles his way into the mix on organ, of all things, you realize that they could go on like this forever. A joyful, liberating record. --John Szwed

Customer Reviews

A great disc by one of the all-time greatest artists!
For those who aren't aware, this JACK JOHNSON soundtrack was compiled from 1970 studio sessions by Miles Davis for a rarely-seen documentary of the legendary boxer. The 2005 Ken Burns-directed UNFORGIVABLE BLACKNESS documentary with music by Wynton Marsalis is an entirely different audio/video project. Although Davis' music i.m.o. certainly evokes the spirit of Johnson, it also stands on its own musical merits as arguably one of the most outstanding Miles albums of his entire career (which is saying something because Miles' career is loaded with classic, timeless performances).

As I wrote of the boxed set of the JACK JOHNSON sessions, if ever progressive strains of jazz, rock, blues, and funk found common ground -- without selling any of the above short -- I'd argue it was in the early-1970 sessions from which this album was pasted together. JACK JOHNSON rocks steady, gets on the good foot, and does so with jazz intuition and blues feeling. Miles' playing is awesome, and I would consider his opening solo on "Right Off" to be as brilliant as any I've heard by him at ANY point in his career, finding a perfect, unpredictable balance between basic and abstract improvisational phrases. The rhythm section -- including John McLaughlin on guitar, Michael Henderson on electric bass, and Billy Cobham on drums -- throws down a steady beat that reacts to and pushes Miles onward and upward. Reedman Steve Grossman, keyboardist Herbie Hancock, more from Miles, and finally McLaughlin manage to keep this lengthy cut interesting, while some spliced-in segments from related sessions by producer Teo Macero keep the listener off-balance to good effect.

"Yesternow" builds slowly off of a Henderson bass motif, beginning quietly but eventually erupting into a electrifying riff that at one point has frequently uncredited guitarist Sonny Sharrock creating joyful noises that are apt to forever remain edgy as future generations discover this already 35-year old album. Those who are unfamiliar with JACK JOHNSON may have to make some adjustments to fully appreciate this album, given that it is comprised of two long tracks, spliced to their 20-plus minute lengths from various sessions (which btw are heard in unedited form on the excellent COMPLETE JACK JOHNSON SESSIONS boxed set). Also, there are no pre-written melodies as the music focuses mostly on solo statements by -- and the interaction of -- the musicians. If you can accept this album on its own terms, you're likely to be rewarded with an inspired listening experience no matter how often you play it. Which one can say of dozens of Miles Davis albums!

The life of Jack
This album and the songs contained, cover the rise and fall of Jack Johnson America's MOST infamous and 1st Black Heavyweight Champion. The up tempo beginning of "Right Off" is Johnson striving to fullfill the ambition of his youth and overcome the staggering imbalance forced upon him by America's racist foundations. The tempo changes during the piece to express the "flat spots" and the "downs" that even a powerful man such as Jack Johnson experienced while being the most SUCCESSFUL Black man of his era. "Right Off" ends like it begins with a bang. "Yesternow" seems to be the manifesto of a man begging for acceptance from the world in general and America in particular. It tells the world who this man is and that his being is not up for debate, it is a "take it or leave it" pronouncement! "Accept me as I am or not at all", I will survive and thrive in either case!

excellent album.....
Miles is amazing as always. More rock than jazz though for all those who love the classics. Some fast paced changes and movements through a wide range of hard jazz, it totally rocks. Start with Miles in the sky,then In a silent Way, then this album and end with his masterpiece Bitches Brew for the entire progession of one of the most phenomenol talents of our time. Peace