There’s an interesting story attached to this recording.
Apparently Tony Williams picked up some of Miles’ ways – unsurprisingly; imagine joining the band of the world’s ‘best’/most famous jazz trumpeter at just 17! – and, at this time, wasn’t going out of his way to be charming or ingratiating. Quite the reverse!
If you read this interesting blog post (including the comments!), you can learn more. Here’s an extract from a comment left by one Michael Rusenberg, on the above mentioned blog post:
I was there!
Together with a collegue of mine we had travelled from Cologne to Bremen. For some reason, when we arrived – as I recall – the recording was over, and we met the band (except for TW) in a hotel room.
The[y] were quite frustrated because they had an argument with Beat Clubs director Mike Leckebusch over the given equipment. Beat Club used Orange, but TW insisted on Marshall. (You can see one Marshall speaker behind Larry Young).As I recall (very vaguely) they split from the recording crew in vital disagreement, demanding that the recording should not be used for release.
I’ve read that they played a 30 minute set. And so far I’m only aware of this one nine minute extract having surfaced.
Rather intriguingly, to me, anything Jack Bruce or Ginger Baker did, outside of Cream – and even a good deal of Cream’s material, to be honest – just doesn’t connect with me. Likewise what Tony Williams or Mike Shrieve have done, post Miles/Santana.
John McLaughlin and Larry Young, on the other hand, have both produced music under their own names, or in other collaborative projects, that I really dig.
Anyway, this footage is of historical interest, it being the only known film of this group.