Miles Davis - "Dark Magus" - Live In São Paulo, Brazil 1974

"For Dave" May 28th 1974, Theatro Municipal, São Paulo, Brazil ‘I could put together the greatest rock ’n’ roll band you ever heard’ Miles Davis, December 1969 Miles Davis (Trumpet, Organ); Dave Liebman (Saxophone, Flute); Michael Henderson (Bass); James Mtume Forman (Conga, Drum Machine, Percussion) Reggie Lucas (Rhythm Guitar); Pete Cosey (Lead Guitar, Percussion); Dominique Gaumont (Lead Guitar); Al Foster (Drums); Footage used courtesy of Andrea Tonacci and the Standby Program. ½” open reel video, 1974, 60 mins, recorded by Andrea Tonacci, 2 min. clip available. "When Brazilian filmmaker Andrea Tonacci brought his collection of 52 portapak tapes to us for preservation, he didn’t remember what was on some of them. Standby staff was excited to discover, as Tonacci was to rediscover, this footage of a musician Miles Davis performing in São Paolo, Brazil at the Teatro Municipal in the spring of 1974. Preserved by the Standby Program 2015" "When I got back to my hotel room, I thought I was having a heart attack. I called the front desk and they sent up a doctor and he put me in the hospital. They had tubes up my nose and IV's attached to me. The band was scared; everyone thought I was going to die. I thought to myself, this is it. But I pulled through that one. They had to cancel the show that night and reschedule it the following night. I played and blew everybody's mind I was playing so good." Miles, The Autobiography Pg. 330 While this concert on June 1st was recorded on stage by Saxophone virtuoso Dave Liebman, unknownst to the band, the 2nd set also being filmed in the audience. This marks the only known footage of the band with Guitarist Dominque Gaumont "The French Jimi Hendrix". We join the band mid-song, during "For Dave". As Davis begins his solo, like a snake charmer, playing while the band slowly building up behind. We see Conga player James Mtume looking very calm, playing at double time pace, while gradually building intensity. At 1:05, a very focused Michael Henderson creates what can only be described as a Vortex effect with his Bass, which even David Liebman seems to respond to. After the turnaround progression at 1:16, at 1:30 all hell breaks loose. You can hear audience members respond at 1:36 "Hey!!!!", and Miles seemingly respond back at 1:41. The recording is such, that you can hear his amplified Trumpet notes reverberating off the halls of the theater. A female audience member yells "Hey!" as a triumphant Miles Davis finishes his solo. Just the day before he was in the hospital with fears of an Overdose, only to return and give perhaps one of his strongest performances of 1974. As the clip fades out, we can only hope to see a release of this powerful performance in official form by the Miles Davis Estate someday.