Live at the Fillmore East (March 7, 1970): It's About That Time

Miles Davis took the stage of New York's Fillmore East with five other players on March 7, 1970. Leaning heavily on the soon-to-be-released Bitches Brew and looking back no further than 1962's "Masqualero," they rumbled, squawled, and stomped through two sets that might have surprised even fans of Davis's new rock-influenced sound. At times edgier than even the challenging Brew, the music was nonstop, polyrhythmic, and crashing while remaining groove-oriented. With Miles blowing one aggressive solo after another, saxophonist Wayne Shorter and drummer Jack DeJohnette rise to the moment while providing reminders of the angular sound of the '60s trio. While "Bitches Brew" itself appears in a drastically shortened but still relatively hushed treatment, the first of two versions of "It's About That Time" breaks away from In a Silent Way's midtempo meditation into full-tilt tumult. These 90 minutes capture Miles headed in the direction of Jack Johnson, stopping to give the rock audience a glimpse of himself working at another peak. --Rickey Wright