Just as Miles Davis remained out of the spotlight during his brief retirement from show business (1975-81), Columbia Records had manage to release two excellent albums in 1977 which would do extremely well on the jazz charts including this one. Recorded between 1967 and 1968, but withheld from till it’s release a decade later, Water Babies brings us a refreshing eclectic time capsule from Miles’ fresh entry to the Jazz-Rock Movement as it features The second Miles Davis Quintet performing on a superb set of tracks that features Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea on electric pianos alongside The Quintet’s acoustic background. Beginning on the opening title track, the steadfast track set concludes with upbeat skill and cunning pace on other marvelous compositions like Capricorn, Two Faced, the fascinating classic Dual Mr. Tillman Anthony (a special ode to bandmate and drummer Tony Williams which was brilliantly composed by Miles and Williams) and the final track Splash. So what you will find on Water Babies is how The Miles Davis Quintet showcase the enthusiastic writing and cool instrumental rapport that made up some of the best music by Miles’ 1964-68 quintet as it basically fills in some of the gaps during this transitional period from adventurous acoustic playing to the early electric performances that gave way to Miles’ entry into jazz-rock. With Hancock and Corea performing on electric piano each right alongside Miles’ trumpet, Ron Carter’s bass and Williams’ drums done in expert timing, here is another contemporary jazz masterwork that became a crucial part in Miles’ rich spectacular music legacy.
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