Agharta is a live double album by American jazz musician Miles Davis (pictured) and his septet. Titled after the legendary subterranean city, it was recorded at a concert in Japan's Osaka Festival Hall in February 1975. Saxophonist Sonny Fortune, bassist Michael Henderson, and guitarist Pete Cosey improvised against a dense backdrop of riffs, electronic effects, cross-beats, and funk grooves from the rhythm section. Davis had already alienated many in the jazz community while attracting younger rock audiences with his radical electric fusion music. This dark, angry, and somber performance was seen as a reflection of his emotional and spiritual state—he was in physical pain from health issues and a substance abuse problem, and had been touring constantly with his band since 1973. The album was released in Japan in August 1975 by CBS/Sony, and in North America in 1976 by Columbia Records. A highly divisive record, it further challenged Davis' jazz audience and critics. It was reevaluated positively after a generation of younger musicians was influenced by the group's abrasive music and Cosey's effects-laden free improvisations, and is seen as the culmination of Davis' electric period.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agharta_(album)
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1847:
Scottish physician James Young Simpson discovered the anaesthetic qualities of chloroform. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chloroform
1889:
Menelik II, who would later introduce several technological and administrative advances under his reign, was crowned Emperor of Ethiopia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menelik_II
1966:
The Arno River flooded Florence, Italy, to a maximum depth of 6.7 m (22 ft), leaving thousands homeless and destroying millions of masterpieces of art and rare books. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1966_flood_of_the_Arno
1991:
Former Philippine First Lady Imelda Marcos was granted a presidential pardon by Corazon Aquino and allowed to return from exile. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imelda_Marcos
2008:
Barack Obama became the first African American to be elected President of the United States. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
chad: 1. (uncountable) Small pieces of paper punched out from the edges of continuous stationery, or from ballot papers, paper tape, punched cards, etc. 2. (countable) One of these pieces of paper. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/chad
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
Many things there are that mankind must not know — not until the human race stands ready to accept that which is, but can never be seen! in lines for --Doctor Strange https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Doctor_Strange
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