Album of the Day

Any list of the five greatest figures in jazz history needs to include Miles Davis, and the trumpeter's near half-century career came to a close with a string of albums for Warner Bros. The 1989 collection AMANDLA shows Miles' sense of the pop zeitgeist was as strong as ever; these 8 tracks are informed by hip-hop and world music as well as jazz. Always a magnet for talent, Davis is backed by such great players as saxophonist Kenny Garrett, keyboardist George Duke and multi-instrumentalist Marcus Miller, who also serves as arranger. Highlights include “Big Time,” the title track and “Mr. Pastorius,” a tribute to the legendary bassist that features horn work reminiscent of Davis' Columbia-era classics. Inventive and consistently rewarding, AMANDLA is the sound of a true visionary at work.