When Live and Studio Refuse to Stay Separate
Live-Evil captures Miles Davis at his most restless, refusing to let any boundary hold him still.
By 1970, Miles Davis had fully abandoned any version of jazz his earlier fans might have recognized. Live-Evil, released in 1971, is a double album that mixes two very different things: dense, sprawling electric jams recorded live at the Cellar Door club in Washington D.C., and shorter studio pieces built around compositions by Brazilian musician Hermeto Pascoal. Producer Teo Macero edited and shaped the live material heavily in the studio, which means even the "live" portions are partly constructed artifacts. That is not a criticism — it is the point. Davis and Macero were treating the recording process itself as a creative tool, not a document.
The live tracks are long, loud, and layered. Davis plays electric trumpet through effects, buried at times in a dense mix that includes electric piano, bass, and percussion pulling in multiple directions at once. Tracks like "Sivad" and "What I Say" do not build toward traditional peaks — they grind and cycle, which can feel thrilling or exhausting depending on your patience with this approach. This is jazz-rock in the genuine sense: not smooth or polished, but genuinely rough and strange. The studio tracks with Pascoal's compositions provide contrast — they are warmer, more melodic, and worth paying attention to in their own right.
This is not the easiest entry point into Davis's electric period — Bitches Brew (1970) is more immediately gripping and better organized. But Live-Evil rewards repeated listening because it is genuinely odd, and the Pascoal pieces add a dimension most electric Davis albums lack. If you are already a fan of this era, it is essential. If you are just starting out, come back to it after you have spent some time with Bitches Brew.
Who's playing
Michael Hendersonelectric bass guitar
Dave Hollanddouble bass, electric bass guitar
Ron Carterdouble bass
Keith Jarrettelectric piano, organ
Chick Coreaelectric piano
Herbie Hancockelectric piano
Hermeto Pascoalelectric piano, membranophone
Joe Zawinulelectric piano
John McLaughlinguitar
Gary Bartzalto saxophone, soprano saxophone
Steve Grossmansoprano saxophone
Wayne Shortersoprano saxophone
Miles Davistrumpet
Jack DeJohnettedrums
Billy Cobhamdrums
Airto Moreirapercussion
Khalil Balakrishnaelectric sitar
Where next?
More by Miles Davis
All 59 albums →
The musicians on this record
Crystal Silence 1973
Chick Corea
plays electric piano here
plays electric piano here
Head Hunters 1973
Herbie Hancock
plays electric piano here
plays electric piano here
Expectations 1972
Keith Jarrett
plays electric piano here
plays electric piano here
Schizophrenia 1969
Wayne Shorter
plays soprano saxophone here
plays soprano saxophone here
