Previously Unheard Miles Davis Album set for release: CD cover, Video

Miles Davis shocked the music world in 1985 when he left Columbia Records after 30 years to join Warner Bros. Records. In October of that year, he began recording the album Rubberband in Los Angeles at Ameraycan Studios with producers Randy Hall and Zane Giles.

The musical direction Davis was taking during the sessions marked a radical departure, with the inclusion of funk and soul grooves, as well as plans to feature powerhouse vocalists Al Jarreau and Chaka Khan. Eventually, the album was shelved, and Davis went on to record Tutu, leaving the Rubberband songs unheard and untouched for over 30 years.

Davis’ fans finally got a taste of the iconic trumpeter’s long-lost album last year with the release of a 4-track Rubberband EP for Record Store Day. Now Rhino/Warner Records are excited to announce that the entire 11-track Rubberband album will make its long-awaited debut on September 6th on CD, LP, and digitally. Finished by the original producers Hall and Giles, and Davis’ nephew Vince Wilburn Jr., who played the drums on the original sessions for the album in 1985-86, the album also features newly recorded vocals from acclaimed US singers Lalah Hathaway (daughter of soul legend Donny Hathaway) and the 12-time Grammy-nominated Ledisi.

Davis, who plays both trumpet and keyboards on the album, was joined in the studio by keyboardists Adam Holzman, Neil Larsen and Wayne Linsey, percussionist Steve Reid, saxophonist Glen Burris, and Vince Wilburn, Jr. on drums. The sessions were engineered by Grammy-winner Reggie Dozier, whose brother Lamont Dozier was part of the legendary Motown songwriting team Holland-Dozier-Holland.

Rubberband includes linear notes from George Cole, writer of The Last Miles, and features an original painting by Miles Davis as the cover art.

Track Listing:

“Rubberband Of Life” – featuring Ledisi
“This Is It”
“Paradise”
“So Emotional” – featuring Lalah Hathaway
“Give It Up”
“Maze”
“Carnival Time”
“I Love What We Make Together” – featuring Randy Hall
“See I See”
“Echoes In Time/The Wrinkle”
“Rubberband”