

Jack Johnson was recorded for the soundtrack of a film about Jack Johnson, the first black heavyweight boxer who won the title in 1910. Fist issued in 1972 with the cover of Johnson in the car that is the back of this 2020 reissue with the picture of Miles on the front. This is Miles’s most Rock oriented albums from his Jazz Rock fusion years from ’69 to ’75. With a line-up of Herbie Hancock, Billy Cobham and John McLaughlin, plus Michael Henderson and Steve Grossman they really rock out on these two long tracks. “Right Off” at 27 minutes is a full out jam with amazing guitar by McLaughlin with Miles blowing his notes on the trumpet with a driving rhythm. Somewhere in the middle it quiets down for some mellow sax with some kind of drone sound behind it before picking up the pace again until finally fading out. Any Rock band from the 70’s could be heard playing music like this in concert. The 25 and a half minute “Yesternow” is slower with trumpet, organ and sax until the last 10 minutes or so when guitar is added to a faster Funky beat. My favorite period of Miles career as you might expect and I still have Live-Evil and Big Fun to listen to.