The second of the February 1 concerts in Osaka hit the ground running with frenetic trumpet calls in a piece that the musicians themselves called “Turnaround.” Eleven minutes later, experts would recognize the 5-beat groove of “Tune In Five” (on which Pete Cosey, using a pick, briefly superimposed the last riff of “Yesternow” from Jack Johnson, titled “Willie Nelson”). As was usual in the concerts of this time, the “Zimbabwe” suite rambled from piece to piece, each introduced by a new riff or rhythmic call, with one of Reggie Lucas’ rare solos about 30’30 in, and then Pete Cosey’s strange moment of electronic experimentation on his small synthesizer. Cosey ended the first record humming and accompanying himself on the autoharp—against a background of bells. Although the rhythm section takes off again on ”Gondwana,” the haunting riff that introduces the second suite conveys the desolate tone of this last official recording before Miles’ five-year withdrawal the following summer, brought on by a new and violent state of depression and complicated health problems.
Original issue: CBS/Sony LP (J) 28AP 2169/70 in 1975 in Japan
Producer: Teo Macero
Engineer: Tomoo Suzuki
All compositions by Miles Davis
Miles Davis (tpt, org); Sonny Fortune (ss, fl); Pete Cosey (g, synth, perc); Reggie Lucas (el-g); Michael Henderson (el-b); Al Foster (d); Mtume (perc)
Recorded live at Osaka Festival Hall, Japan on February 1, 1975
- Zimbabwe (Live)
- Gondwana (Live)
