Amandla (album)

Last updated
Amandla
Amandla (album).jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedMay 18, 1989
RecordedDecember 1988 – early 1989
Genre Pop jazz, funk, jazz fusion
Length43:16
Label Warner Bros.
Producer Tommy LiPuma, Marcus Miller, George Duke
Miles Davis chronology
Music from Siesta
(1987)
Amandla
(1989)
Aura
(1989)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]
DownBeat Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Hi-Fi News & Record Review A*:2 [4]
Los Angeles Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [5]
MusicHound Jazz 2/5 [6]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [7]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [8]
Tom Hull – on the Web B+ [9]

Amandla is an album by jazz musician Miles Davis, released in 1989. The word Amandla holds significance in various Nguni languages, including Zulu and Xhosa, where it translates to "power." It is the third collaboration between Miles Davis and producer/bassist Marcus Miller, following their previous works Tutu (1986) and Music from Siesta (1987), and it serves as their final album together.

Contents

The album mixes elements of the genres go-go, zouk, funk and jazz, combining electronic instruments with live musicians. The composition "Mr. Pastorius", featuring drummer Al Foster, is a tribute to late jazz bassist Jaco Pastorius. [10] "Catémbe" is a Mozambican and Angolan cocktail of red wine and cola.

Critical reception

In a contemporary review, DownBeat said Amandla possessed "a precise and consistent sound that flows through the shifting instrumental combinations and lingers after the music has stopped". [2] In The Rolling Stone Album Guide (2004), J. D. Considine felt the record sounded "vaguely African" and somewhat conservative because of its reliance on session musicians. [7]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Catémbe" Marcus Miller 5:35
2."Cobra" George Duke 5:15
3."Big Time"Marcus Miller5:40
4."Hannibal"Marcus Miller5:49
5."Jo-Jo"Marcus Miller4:51
6."Amandla"Marcus Miller5:20
7."Jilli"John Bigham5:41
8."Mr. Pastorius"Marcus Miller5:41

Personnel

Production

Studios

Related Research Articles

<i>The Sun Dont Lie</i> 1993 studio album by Marcus Miller

The Sun Don't Lie is an album by Marcus Miller, released in 1993 on PRA Records. The album rose to No. 10 on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart. The album "is dedicated to the memory of Miles Davis."

<i>Tutu</i> (album) 1986 studio album by Miles Davis

Tutu is an album by jazz trumpeter Miles Davis, released in 1986 by Warner Bros. Records. It was recorded primarily at Capitol Studios in Los Angeles and Clinton Recording in New York, except the song "Backyard Ritual", which was recorded at Le Gonks in West Hollywood. Davis received the 1986 Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Soloist Grammy Award for his performance on the album.

<i>High Life</i> (Wayne Shorter album) 1995 studio album by Wayne Shorter

High Life is an album by jazz saxophonist Wayne Shorter that was released on Verve Records in 1995. This album won the Grammy Award in 1996 for Best Contemporary Jazz Performance. Some of the musicians include keyboardist Rachel Z, guitarist David Gilmore, bassist Marcus Miller, percussionists Lenny Castro and Airto and drummer Will Calhoun of Living Colour.

<i>Christmastime</i> (Michael W. Smith album) 1998 studio album by Michael W. Smith

Christmastime is a studio album by Michael W. Smith. It was his second holiday-themed release, following 1989's Christmas.

<i>Rhythm of Love</i> (Anita Baker album) 1994 studio album by Anita Baker

Rhythm of Love is the fifth album by American R&B/soul singer Anita Baker, released in 1994. The album peaked at #3 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and #1 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop chart and was certified double platinum, giving Baker her fourth platinum selling album.

<i>Black Diamond</i> (The Rippingtons album) 1997 studio album by The Rippingtons

Black Diamond is the tenth album by American Jazz group The Rippingtons. Released in 1997, it was their first project for the Windham Hill label. The album reached number one on Billboard's contemporary jazz chart.

<i>Oasis</i> (Roberta Flack album) 1988 studio album by Roberta Flack

Oasis is Roberta Flack's first solo album of newly recorded songs since 1982's I'm the One. Released 1 November 1988, Oasis features the number-one U.S. singles, "Oasis" (R&B), and "Uh-uh Ooh-ooh Look Out ".

<i>Live Around the World</i> (Miles Davis album) 1996 live album by Miles Davis

Live Around the World is a live album by American jazz musician Miles Davis. The single CD contains live recordings from 1988 to 1991. The album peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Top Jazz Albums chart.

<i>Out of the Loop</i> (Brecker Brothers album) 1994 studio album by Brecker Brothers

Out of the Loop is an album by the Brecker Brothers that was released by GRP Records in 1994. In 1995 the album won the brothers two Grammy Awards for Best Contemporary Jazz Performance and Best Instrumental Composition.

<i>Sweet Thing</i> (album) 1997 studio album by Boney James

Sweet Thing is the fifth album by jazz saxophonist Boney James, released in 1997. "I Still Dream" features Al Jarreau.

<i>Boneys Funky Christmas</i> 1996 studio album by Boney James

Boney's Funky Christmas is the first Christmas album and fourth studio album by jazz saxophonist Boney James, released in 1996.

<i>Body Language</i> (Boney James album) 1999 studio album by Boney James

Body Language is the sixth album by jazz saxophonist Boney James, released in 1999.

<i>Ride</i> (Boney James album) 2001 studio album by Boney James

Ride is the eighth album by jazz saxophonist Boney James, released in 2001. The album spawned the smooth jazz radio singles "RPM" and "See What I'm Sayin'?" and the Urban AC radio singles "Something Inside" with R&B singer Dave Hollister and "Ride" with R&B singer Jaheim.

<i>Pure</i> (Boney James album) 2004 studio album by Boney James

Pure is the ninth album by jazz saxophonist Boney James, released in 2004.

<i>Everlasting</i> (Natalie Cole album) 1987 studio album by Natalie Cole

Everlasting is the eleventh studio album by American singer Natalie Cole, released on June 14, 1987 by Manhattan Records. The album peak to number 8 on Billboards Top R&B Albums chart, and number 42 on the Billboard 200 chart.

<i>Lucky Man</i> (Dave Koz album) 1993 studio album by Dave Koz

Lucky Man is the second studio album by saxophonist Dave Koz. It was released by Capitol Records on June 29, 1993 in NYC, followed by a nationwide release in November 1993 and international release in May 1994. The album peaked at number 2 on Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart. The album has sold over 500,000 copies in the United States and has thus been certified gold by the RIAA.

<i>Saxophonic</i> 2003 studio album by Dave Koz

Saxophonic is the seventh studio album by saxophone player Dave Koz. It was released by Capitol Records on October 7, 2003. The album peaked at number 2 on Billboard Jazz Albums chart.

<i>Sax for Stax</i> 2008 studio album by Gerald Albright

Sax for Stax is the thirteenth studio album by Saxophonist Gerald Albright issued in 2008 by Peak Records. The album rose to No. 4 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Albums chart, No. 7 on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart and No. 24 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

<i>This Is Love</i> (Lee Ritenour album) 1998 studio album by Lee Ritenour

This Is Love is a studio album by American guitarist Lee Ritenour released in 1998 on GRP Records. The album reached No. 4 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Albums chart.

<i>Stephanie Mills</i> (album) 1985 studio album by Stephanie Mills

Stephanie Mills is the tenth studio album by the American R&B singer Stephanie Mills, released in 1985 on MCA Records. Following her last release I've Got the Cure on Casablanca Records, Mills self-titled new album was the first release upon signing a new recording contract with MCA Records.

References

  1. Yanow, Scott. "Review: Amandla". AllMusic . Retrieved 16 November 2009.
  2. 1 2 Down Beat : 29. October 1989.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: untitled periodical (link)
  3. Larkin, Colin (2011). "Miles Davis". Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN   978-0857125958.
  4. Hyder, Ken (September 1989). "Review: Miles Davis — Amandla" (PDF). Hi-Fi News & Record Review (magazine). Vol. 34, no. 9. Croydon: Link House Magazines Ltd. p. 100. ISSN   0142-6230. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 September 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021 via World Radio History.
  5. Feather, Leonard (June 18, 1989). "Mixed Doubles in New Jazz Releases". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved May 22, 2016.
  6. Holtje, Steve; Lee, Nancy Ann, eds. (1998). "Miles Davis". MusicHound Jazz: The Essential Album Guide. Music Sales Group. ISBN   0825672538.
  7. 1 2 Considine, J. D. (2004). "Miles Davis". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon & Schuster. pp.  215, 219. ISBN   0-7432-0169-8.
  8. Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 351. ISBN   978-0-141-03401-0.
  9. Hull, Tom (n.d.). "Grade List: Miles Davis". Tom Hull – on the Web. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  10. "Robot Check". 2002.
Bibliography