ProJazz.net

Aura is a concept album by Miles Davis, produced by Danish composer/trumpeter Palle Mikkelborg, released in 1989. All compositions and arrangements are by Mikkelborg, who created the suite in tribute when Davis received the Léonie Sonning Music Prize in December 1984, the year Decoy was released.

Reception

Aura was well received by music critics. AllMusic editor Thom Jurek described its music as “an amalgam of classical impressionism, European new music, jazz, rock, electronic, and other genres.” Wes Long of PopMatters called Aura “ruthlessly inventive”, an “ever-moody masterpiece”, and “quite possibly the last monumental effort” from Davis. Fred Kaplan of New York commented that the release emerged from an era of “mechanical rut” for Davis and called Aura “a jolting synthesis of jazz, rock, and Messiaen-influenced classical music that lit up a future path lamentably unfollowed.” Todd S. Jenkins of All About Jazz commented that the album “successfully blends Miles’ electric style with the feel of his earlier big-band works with Gil Evans, another of Mikkelborg’s prime inspirations.”

Track listing
All tracks composed and arranged by Palle Mikkelborg

“Intro” – 4:48
“White” – 6:07
“Yellow” – 6:55
“Orange” – 8:41
“Red” – 6:05
“Green” – 8:13
“Blue” – 6:36
“Electric Red” – 4:19
“Indigo” – 6:06
“Violet” – 9:04

Personnel
Trumpet: Miles Davis
Trumpets and flugelhorns: Benny Rosenfeld, Idrees Sulieman, Jens Winther, Palle Bolvig, Perry Knudsen, Palle Mikkelborg
Trombones: Jens Engel, Ture Larsen, Vincent Nilsson
Bass trombone: Ole Kurt Jensen
Bass trombone, tuba: Axel Windfeld
Saxophones and woodwinds: Bent Jædig, Flemming Madsen, Jesper Thilo, Per Carsten, Uffe Karskov
Oboe and English horn: Niels Eje
Keyboards: Kenneth Knudsen, Ole Kock Hansen, Thomas Clausen
Guitars: Bjarne Roupé, John McLaughlin
Bass: Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen
Fender bass and fretless bass: Bo Stief
Drums: Lennart Gruvstedt
Electronic drums: Vincent Wilburn Jr.
Percussion: Ethan Weisgaard, Marilyn Mazur
Harp: Lillian Thornquist
Vocals: Eva Hess-Thaysen

_______________

Released: September 12, 1989
Recorded: January 31–February 4, 1985
Studio: Easy Sound Studio, Copenhagen, Denmark
Length: 66:59
Label: Columbia
Producer: Palle Mikkelborg