Miles Davis, an acclaimed jazz titan, will receive a legacy upgrade when his shelved album Rubberband is released on September 6 after being unheard for more than 30 years.
The unreleased material will be packaged in 11 songs that were first recorded between 1985 and 1986, with the original production collaborators Randy Hall and Zane Giles. Reimagined by the two in 2017 with help of Davis’ nephew Vince Wilburn Jr., the rediscovered work will feature trumpet and keyboard arrangements from Davis himself. Celebrated soul singers Lalah Hathaway and Ledisi lent their delightful voices to the final version.
Rubberband was taped at a pivotal time for Davis. In 1985, the iconic trumpeter parted ways with Columbia Records, his longtime label of 30 years, to ink a deal with Warner Bros. Records. He stepped into the studio in October of that year to start recording music to reach listeners who were fans of soul and funk. Davis had plans to collaborate with Grammy winners Chaka Khan and Al Jarreau.
Unfortunately, Rubberband was put on the back burner and Davis put his focus on Tutu, his 1986 release. The album won a Grammy for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Soloist at the 29th Annual Grammy Awards in 1987.
Rubberband will be available on CD, digitally, and as a 2LP vinyl set via Rhino. The limited-edition double vinyl is pack with an exclusive 7-inch single of the song “Paradise.”
Rubberband Track Listing
1. “Rubberband Of Life” featuring Ledisi
2. “This Is It”
3. “Paradise”
4. “So Emotional” featuring Lalah Hathaway
5. “Give It Up”
6. “Maze”
7. “Carnival Time”
8. “I Love What We Make Together” featuring Randy Hall
9. “See I See”
10. “Echoes In Time/The Wrinkle”
11. “Rubberband”
Pre-order Rubberband here.
