Dark Magus

Dark Magus is a live double album by the American jazz trumpeter, composer, and bandleader Miles Davis. It was recorded on March 30, 1974, at Carnegie Hall in New York City, during the electric period in Davis' career. His group at the time included bassist Michael Henderson, drummer Al Foster, percussionist Mtume, saxophonist Dave Liebman, and guitarists Pete Cosey and Reggie Lucas; Davis used the performance to audition saxophonist Azar Lawrence and guitarist Dominique Gaumont. Dark Magus was produced by Teo Macero and featured four two-part recordings, titled with the Swahili numerals for numbers one through four. Dark Magus was released after Davis' 1975 retirement, upon which Columbia Records issued a series of albums of his live music and studio outtakes. After releasing the Agharta (1975) live recording in the United States, Columbia released the live Pangaea (1976) and Dark Magus (1977) albums only in Japan, through CBS/Sony. The label's A&R executive, Tatsu Nosaki, suggested the album's title, which refers to the Magus from Zoroastrianism. Despite an ambivalent reception by contemporary music critics, Dark Magus inspired noise rock acts of the late 1970s and experimental funk artists of the 1980s. In retrospective reviews, critics praised its jazz-rock musical aesthetic and the group members' performances, and some believed certain elements foreshadowed jungle music. The album was not released in the United States until its July 1997 reissue by Columbia/Legacy.