Colin Towns & HR Big Band - Visions of Miles: The Electric Period of Miles Davis

On 'Visions of Miles' the acclaimed pianist and composer Colin Towns turns his attention to the music of Miles Davis' electric period of the 1970's and 80's. Performed by the HR Big Band, and recorded live in Frankfurt in June 2008, it includes unique arrangements of material from a number of Miles' most influential albums including Bitches Brew, On The Corner and Tutu.

In writing the arrangements Towns was presented with a particular challenge in that the themes in Miles 70's music were often very skeletal. However he clearly succeeds in his orchestration of these sometimes sparse materials by judicious use of flutes and bass clarinet, for example, together with virtuosic flights on trumpet and guitar.

By way of contrast, he also adds tunes that are more through composed including music from the Marcus Miller period in the 1980's such as Full Nelson and Tutu. These arrangements add a pleasing variety to an ambitious but very effective take on Miles Davis last creative phase.