Get real and calm down. See you’re displaying the snobbery I can’t stand. Did I say that I specifically prefer Bitches Brew over Sketches of Spain or Kind of Blue or even earlier? Not exactly or at all!!!!!!! I mentioned Miles Davis in reference to Jazz in general and not as a comparison of Miles’ work as a whole or one recording/period over another. Bitches Brew was simply an example. You have taken what I said put your own preconceived notions on top and made a mess of everything. “More popular” that’s arguable. But more important your arrogance is what leads you to believe that “popularity” is immediately and directly related to “dilution” of an art form. It’s ridiculous. I don’t think his wife really MADE Miles completely move is whole conscious in the direction he moved. He stayed on that path in one form or another until his death. Seems like you read too many gossip rags.
Most important is your complete lack of contextual understanding really is way outside the bounds of this thread. I wouldn’t have replied, but with something as serious as this I felt compelled to defend my reputation.
Probably what was most important and the best about Miles’ later work is the way he gave new and promising players a spotlight to hone their craft in relative freedom and then send them on their way to fill the world with way more music than anything or possibly anyone has. It’s a big deal and not about “selling out” which is what could be taken from your point of view. BTW, after I mentioned Bitches Brew I decided to listen to some Miles and put on Sketches Of Spain which I have always loved. So
Edit:
Oh and “Fusion” is just another term the industry used so they can label something and sell it. Fusion doesn’t swing? I think you need to listen to more fusion. I think you probably mean the type of improvisation that Bitches Brew mostly consists. Plus “Swing” is just one expression of Jazz. Groove is the term I use for that “Je ne sais quoi” that moves music and people.
Hmm, you call me arrogant while you start your reply with "Get real and calm down" as if you were going to proceed to set me straight with your superior opinions and erudition. I can tell what type of person you are just from that.
Let's get to the meat of your bombast shall we not? You seemed to take great umbrage that I "assumed" you preferred fusion era (Bitches Brew) Miles to his earlier output. I didn't assume at all, because here's what you said "...while I’m a jazz lover I much prefer the Miles Davis Bitches Brew form of Jazz.". "MUCH PREFER". What else could one infer from that? That's what you stated. Am I supposed to think counter intuitively and conclude that you like them equally? Perhaps you could express yourself a little more clearly next time especially if someone is going to read it as written?
"...I decided to listen to some Miles and put on Sketches Of Spain which I have always loved. So
"
Given the type of person you've shown yourself to be this comes as no surprise.
Swing is without a doubt (see most every book ever written about jazz) an essential part of jazz along with improvisation. "Groove" as you refer to it, as in music that makes people want to "move", is found in myriad genres of music so becomes virtually moot in any definitions we may seek.
Fusion is not just a label as you so wrongly contend. It has stylistic traits of its own but implicit in the word "fusion", it typicall combines elements of other genres mostly in the form of jazz influenced improvisation over a rock or funk beat. It's fine unto it self but, I still stand by contention, fusion is not jazz, it is fusion. Much, though certainly not all, of fusion was an attempt to simply sell more units by diluting the portion of its lineage that came from jazz. It may have grooved but it did not swing.There are no shortage of examples of this. If you don't like that, you can start playing a Helix!
Sidebar: Freddie Hubbard, who was well established in straight ahead jazz, jumped on the fusion bandwagon early but after a few years came back to the jazz fold saying he "couldn't handle playing that music (fusion) anymore". O the snobbery Freddie.
I'll end with a quote from Louis Armstrong: "If you have to ask what jazz is, you'll never know." O the arrogance of Mr. Armstrong.
PS I do agree with you on one thing: this is off topic to this thread so this will be my last missive. I'll let you have the last word since you seem the type of which that would be essential to maintain your self image.
