In a Silent Way (50th Anniversary)

As the 1960s came to a close, Miles Davis had begun to drift away from traditional jazz music, as his second “quintet” period reached an end. He had been toying with jazz fusion in live settings, and on his two 1968 releases Miles In The Sky and Filles de Kilimanjaro. Then came 1969’s In A Silent Way, an experimental work of jazz music, which featured revolutionary production and editing techniques, and contributions from many of the greatest jazz musicians of all time, among them were Herbie Hancock on keys, Wayne Shorter on saxophone, Tony Williams on drums, and then newcomer John McLaughlin, who would go on to form the acclaimed Mahavishnu Orchestra.

With such an eclectic sound, and a stunning array of talent, many jazz critics referred to In A Silent Way as “the kind of album that gives you faith in the future of music.” In A Silent Way is an album that foresaw where the genre was headed and gleefully embraced the future, setting the stage for greater things to come, as Miles Davis entered the 1970s.