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Miles Ahead session details

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February 1, 1975 (13 items; TT = 197:28)
Festival Hall, Osaka (Japan)
Commercial for Columbia

Miles Davis (tpt, org); Sonny Fortune (ss, as, fl); Pete Cosey (g, perc, EMS Synthi); Reggie Lucas (g); Michael Henderson (el-b); Al Foster (d); James Mtume Forman (cga, perc)
First concert, first set
1 Funk [Prelude, part 1] (M. Davis) 22:00
2 Agharta Prelude (M. Davis) 10:32

Edited (1:34) on Columbia AS-214
3 Maiysha (M. Davis) 13:06

Incomplete (12:30) on pre-Sony Mastersound issues; several fragments (4:08 + 2:58 + 0:54) on Columbia AS-214

First concert, second set
4 Right Off (M. Davis) 17:22

Toward the end of the tune Davis and Henderson play with the "So What" bass vamp. Edited (4:02) on Columbia AS-214
5 Ife (M. Davis) 17:35
6 For Dave (inc) [Mr. Foster] (M. Davis) 25:44

Incomplete (12:22) on pre-Sony Master Sound issues. Cga/perc/effects last 10:00; faded at 25:44

Second concert, first set
7 Turnaroundphrase (M. Davis) 11:05
8 Tune in 5 (M. Davis) 4:53

"Willie Nelson" vamp from 0:17-0:53
9 Turnaroundphrase (M. Davis) 3:11
10 Tune in 5 (M. Davis) 2:41
11 Zimbabwe (M. Davis) 19:41

Cga/rhythm box/g/bells solos 16:42-19:44; Henderson and Mtume sing along 18:47-19:44

Second concert, second set
12 Ife (M. Davis) 18:56
13 For Dave (inc) [Mr. Foster] (M. Davis) 30:42

Incomplete (28:00) on all issues except SRCS 9130/1. Rhythm machine/effects solo 27:03-30:42; faded at end

1 Funk
12" LP: CBS/Sony SOPJ 92/3, CBS/Sony 28AP 2167/8, CBS/Sony 36AP 1787/8, Columbia AS 214, Four Men with Beards 4M 811LP
CD: Columbia C2K 46799, CBS/Sony CSCS 5154/5, Sony SRCS 9128/9, Sony SRCS 9720/1, Sony SICP 1230/1, Sony SICP 20067/8, Sony SICP 30273/4, Sony SICJ 30098/9, Columbia Legacy 86975 24922 [= Columbia (F) 86975 52492] (CD 45)

2 Agharta Prelude
45 rpm: Columbia AS-214 [EP]
12" LP: CBS/Sony SOPJ 92/3, CBS/Sony 28AP 2167/8, CBS/Sony 36AP 1787/8, Four Men with Beards 4M 811LP
CD: Columbia C2K 46799, CBS/Sony CSCS 5154/5, Sony SRCS 9128/9, Sony SRCS 9720/1, Sony SICP 1230/1, Sony SICP 20067/8, Sony SICP 30273/4, Sony SICJ 30098/9, Columbia Legacy 86975 24922 [= Columbia (F) 86975 52492] (CD 45)

3 Maiysha
45 rpm: Columbia AS-214 [EP]
12" LP: CBS/Sony SOPJ 92/3, CBS/Sony 28AP 2167/8, CBS/Sony 36AP 1787/8, Four Men with Beards 4M 811LP
CD: Columbia C2K 46799, CBS/Sony CSCS 5154/5, Sony SRCS 9128/9, Sony SRCS 9720/1, Sony SICP 1230/1, Sony SICP 20067/8, Sony SICP 30273/4, Sony SICJ 30098/9, Columbia Legacy 86975 24922 [= Columbia (F) 86975 52492] (CD 45)

4 Right Off
45 rpm: Columbia AS-214 [EP]
12" LP: CBS/Sony SOPJ 92/3, CBS/Sony 28AP 2167/8, CBS/Sony 36AP 1787/8, Four Men with Beards 4M 811LP
CD: Columbia C2K 46799, CBS/Sony CSCS 5154/5, Sony SRCS 9128/9, Sony SRCS 9720/1, Sony SICP 1230/1, Sony SICP 20067/8, Sony SICP 30273/4, Sony SICJ 30098/9, Columbia Legacy 86975 24922 [= Columbia (F) 86975 52492] (CD 45)

5 Ife
12" LP: CBS/Sony SOPJ 92/3, CBS/Sony 28AP 2167/8, CBS/Sony 36AP 1787/8, Four Men with Beards 4M 811LP
CD: Columbia C2K 46799, CBS/Sony CSCS 5154/5, Sony SRCS 9128/9, Sony SRCS 9720/1, Sony SICP 1230/1, Sony SICP 20067/8, Sony SICP 30273/4, Sony SICJ 30098/9, Columbia Legacy 86975 24922 [= Columbia (F) 86975 52492] (CD 45)

6 For Dave (inc)
12" LP: CBS/Sony SOPJ 92/3, CBS/Sony 28AP 2167/8, CBS/Sony 36AP 1787/8, Four Men with Beards 4M 811LP
CD: Columbia C2K 46799, CBS/Sony CSCS 5154/5, Sony SRCS 9128/9, Sony SRCS 9720/1, Sony SICP 1230/1, Sony SICP 20067/8, Sony SICP 30273/4, Sony SICJ 30098/9, Columbia Legacy 86975 24922 [= Columbia (F) 86975 52492] (CD 45)

7 Turnaroundphrase
12" LP: CBS/Sony SOPZ 96/7, CBS/Sony 28AP 2169/10, CBS/Sony 36AP 1789/90, Four Men with Beards 4M 810LP
CD: Columbia C2K 46115, CBS/Sony 50DP 239/40, CBS/Sony CSCS 5350/1, Sony SRCS 9130/1, Sony SRCS 9752/3, Sony SICP 1232/3, Sony SICP 20069/70, Sony SICP 30275/6, Sony SICJ 30100/1, Columbia Legacy 86975 24922 [= Columbia (F) 86975 52492] (CD 46)

8 Tune in 5
12" LP: CBS/Sony SOPZ 96/7, CBS/Sony 28AP 2169/10, CBS/Sony 36AP 1789/90, Four Men with Beards 4M 810LP
CD: Columbia C2K 46115, CBS/Sony 50DP 239/40, CBS/Sony CSCS 5350/1, Sony SRCS 9130/1, Sony SRCS 9752/3, Sony SICP 1232/3, Sony SICP 20069/70, Sony SICP 30275/6, Sony SICJ 30100/1, Columbia Legacy 86975 24922 [= Columbia (F) 86975 52492] (CD 46)

9 Turnaroundphrase
12" LP: CBS/Sony SOPZ 96/7, CBS/Sony 28AP 2169/10, CBS/Sony 36AP 1789/90, Four Men with Beards 4M 810LP
CD: Columbia C2K 46115, CBS/Sony 50DP 239/40, CBS/Sony CSCS 5350/1, Sony SRCS 9130/1, Sony SRCS 9752/3, Sony SICP 1232/3, Sony SICP 20069/70, Sony SICP 30275/6, Sony SICJ 30100/1, Columbia Legacy 86975 24922 [= Columbia (F) 86975 52492] (CD 46)

10 Tune in 5
12" LP: CBS/Sony SOPZ 96/7, CBS/Sony 28AP 2169/10, CBS/Sony 36AP 1789/90, Four Men with Beards 4M 810LP
CD: Columbia C2K 46115, CBS/Sony 50DP 239/40, CBS/Sony CSCS 5350/1, Sony SRCS 9130/1, Sony SRCS 9752/3, Sony SICP 1232/3, Sony SICP 20069/70, Sony SICP 30275/6, Sony SICJ 30100/1, Columbia Legacy 86975 24922 [= Columbia (F) 86975 52492] (CD 46)

11 Zimbabwe
12" LP: CBS/Sony SOPZ 96/7, CBS/Sony 28AP 2169/10, CBS/Sony 36AP 1789/90, Four Men with Beards 4M 810LP
CD: Columbia C2K 46115, CBS/Sony 50DP 239/40, CBS/Sony CSCS 5350/1, Sony SRCS 9130/1, Sony SRCS 9752/3, Sony SICP 1232/3, Sony SICP 20069/70, Sony SICP 30275/6, Sony SICJ 30100/1, Columbia Legacy 86975 24922 [= Columbia (F) 86975 52492] (CD 46)

12 Ife
12" LP: CBS/Sony SOPZ 96/7, CBS/Sony 28AP 2169/10, CBS/Sony 36AP 1789/90, Four Men with Beards 4M 810LP
CD: Columbia C2K 46115, CBS/Sony 50DP 239/40, CBS/Sony CSCS 5350/1, Sony SRCS 9130/1, Sony SRCS 9752/3, Sony SICP 1232/3, Sony SICP 20069/70, Sony SICP 30275/6, Sony SICJ 30100/1, Columbia Legacy 86975 24922 [= Columbia (F) 86975 52492] (CD 46)

13 For Dave (inc)
12" LP: CBS/Sony SOPZ 96/7, CBS/Sony 28AP 2169/10, CBS/Sony 36AP 1789/90, Four Men with Beards 4M 810LP
CD: Columbia C2K 46115, CBS/Sony 50DP 239/40, CBS/Sony CSCS 5350/1, Sony SRCS 9130/1, Sony SRCS 9752/3, Sony SICP 1232/3, Sony SICP 20069/70, Sony SICP 30275/6, Sony SICJ 30100/1, Columbia Legacy 86975 24922 [= Columbia (F) 86975 52492] (CD 46)

The master tapes were pretty heavily remixed when this music was prepared for release on compact disc. Much more detail (percussion, rhythm guitar comping, etc.) can be heard on the original LPs than on the CDs, even on the Sony Master Sound versions. The 4 Men with Beards LPs were mastered from the DSD digital masters made in the early 2000s.

After warming up the Septet on the west coast, Davis embarked on a three-week Japanese tour. The itinerary was as follows:

January 22 (Wed): Tokyo Koseinenkinkaikan Hall (7:00 pm)
January 23 (Thu): Tokyo Koseinenkinkaikan Hall (7:00 pm)
January 24 (Fri): Nagoya Shiminkaikan (Nagoya civic auditorium) (6:30 pm)
January 25 (sat): Kyoto Kaikan Hall (No. 1) (6:30 pm)
January 27 (Mon): Sapporo Koseinenkinkaikan Hall (6:30 pm)
January 30 (Thu): Kokura Shiminkaikan (City Hall) (6:30 pm)
February 1 (Sat): Osaka Festival Hall (two concerts, 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm)
February 2 (Sun): Osaka Festival Hall (2:00 pm)
February 3 (Mon): Shizuoka City Sunpukaikan (6:30 pm)
February 4 (Tue): Miyagi Kenminkaikan (6:30 pm)
February 7 (Fri): Tokyo Koseinenkinkaikan Hall
February 8 (Sat): Tokyo Koseinenkinkaikan Hall (two concerts, 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm)

Several of the concerts were recorded and broadcast on Japanese radio. Thanks to Eric Jooris for providing me with a copy of the concert program, and to Tom Yamaguchi for translating the schedule for me.

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