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Amandla is an album by jazz musician Miles Davis, released in 1989. The word Amandla holds significance in various Nguni languages, where it translates to “power.” It is the third collaboration between Miles Davis and producer/bassist Marcus Miller, following their previous works Tutu (1986) and Music from Siesta (1987), and it serves as their final album together.

The album mixes elements of the genres go-go, zouk, funk and jazz, combining electronic instruments with live musicians. The composition “Mr. Pastorius”, featuring drummer Al Foster, is a tribute to late jazz bassist Jaco Pastorius. “Catémbe” is a Mozambican and Angolan cocktail of red wine and cola.

Reception

In a contemporary review, DownBeat said Amandla possessed “a precise and consistent sound that flows through the shifting instrumental combinations and lingers after the music has stopped”. In The Rolling Stone Album Guide (2004), J. D. Considine felt the record sounded “vaguely African” and somewhat conservative because of its reliance on session musicians.

Track listing
All tracks are written by Marcus Miller, except where noted.

1. “Catémbe” 5:35
2. “Cobra” George Duke 5:15
3. “Big Time” 5:40
4. “Hannibal” 5:49
5. “Jo-Jo” 4:51
6. “Amandla” 5:20
7. “Jilli” John Bigham 5:41
8. “Mr. Pastorius” 5:41

Personnel
Miles Davis – trumpet
Marcus Miller – bass guitar, arrangements (1, 3–8), keyboards (1, 3–6, 8), guitars (1, 4, 7), drums (1), bass clarinet (1–4, 7, 8), soprano saxophone (1, 3), additional keyboards (2, 7)
George Duke – keyboards (2), Synclavier (2), arrangements (2)
Joey DeFrancesco – additional keyboards (2)
Joe Sample – acoustic piano (6)
John Bigham – keyboards (7), guitars (7), drum programming (7), arrangements (7)
Jason Miles – synthesizer programming (8)
Michael Landau – guitars (2)
Foley – guitars (3, 4, 7)
Jean-Paul Bourelly – guitars (3, 5)
Billy “Spaceman” Patterson – wah-wah guitar (7)
Ricky Wellman – drums (3, 7)
Omar Hakim – drums (4, 6)
Al Foster – drums (8)
Don Alias – percussion (1, 3, 6)
Mino Cinelu – percussion (1)
Paulinho da Costa – percussion (4, 5)
Bashiri Johnson – percussion (6)
Kenny Garrett – alto saxophone (1, 3–7), soprano saxophone (2)
Rick Margitza – tenor saxophone (5)

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Released: May 18, 1989
Recorded: December 1988 – early 1989
Length: 43:16
Label: Warner Bros.
Producer: Tommy LiPuma, Marcus Miller, George Duke