Podcast 847: A Conversation with Jason Miles

Jason Miles and his group Kind of New had big plans for 2020. Their funky new album, Black Magic, was released by Ropeadope to critical acclaim in spring 2020, as the world braced for lockdown. Tour plans in Europe to perform the music were canceled, and Jason, like all of us, found himself at home looking for positive ways to get through this unusual time. Revisiting the album, he decided to to add tracks to the existing album to continue the message of the importance and vitality of the work. Along with the core band of Gene Lake (Drums) Reggie Washington (Bass) Jay Rodriguez (Sax, Flute), Miles added 3 new tracks. The first is a live track from the original sessions, "It's About Time" with Phillip Dizack on Trumpet, plus two new studio tracks: "1974" featuring the legendary Randy Brecker on Trumpet, and "Kind of Miles" featuring Trumpeter Russell Gunn. Jason also finished producing the first full-length album for singer Rebecca Angel, Love Life Choices. The pandemic nixed any large studio plans, but Miles was able to use his many connections to get contributions sent in from his Kind of New rhythm section and by the likes of guitarist Romero Lubambo and trumpeter/flugelhornist Dennis Angel.  Podcast 847 is my conversation with Jason, as we talk about the reappearance of Black Magic, his times working with Miles Davis and Marcus Miller on the Tutu and Amandla albums, and his forthcoming book, The Extraordinary Journey of Jason Miles: A Musical Biography, which is based on his touring show of the same title. Musical selections include "Kind of Miles" from Black Magic, and "For What It's Worth" from Rebecca Angel's Love Life Choices.