Happy Birthday Miles Davis: Opening For Grateful Dead At The Fillmore West In 1970

Today marks what would have been the 95th birthday of Miles Davis. There are few jazz musicians as revered and influential as Davis, who passed away in 1991 at the age of 65. With his trumpet in hand, Miles consistently expanded the language of the genre, fusing styles and sounds as he recruited many of the all-time great jazz players for his groundbreaking recordings.

In honor of the innovative trumpeter’s birthday, JamBase looks at a concert held at The Fillmore West in San Francisco in 1970. The audio recording from April 12 features Miles leading a short-lived sextet during an opening set for the Grateful Dead.

Davis was joined that evening by the stellar cast of saxophonist Steve Grossman, keyboardist Chick Corea, bassist Dave Holland, drummer Jack DeJohnette and percussionist Airto Moreira. The combo opened with “It’s About That Time” from the 1969 In A Silent Way LP.

The opening set also saw takes on such classics as “I Fall In Love Too Easily,” “Footprints,” “No Blues,” “Bitches Brew” and “Spanish Key.” Stream the full performance via Milestones: A Miles Davis Archive below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4WXT_JgfTM

Setlist & Timings

• 00:00 It’s About That Time 10:38
• 10:38 Directions 11:58
• 22:37 I Fall in Love Too Easily 1:46
• 24:23 Sanctuary 3:46
• 28:10 Footprints 10:23
• 38:34 Agitation 1:46
• 40:20 No Blues 7:40
• 48:01 Bitches Brew 14:20
• 1:02:21 Spanish Key 11:11
• 1:13:33 The Theme 0:46

[Originally Published: May 26, 2017]