After over thirty years the Miles Davis album A Tribute to Jack Johnson has come to be recognized as a triumph of jazz-rock fusion, second only to Davis' "Bitches Brew" album. The album served as the soundtrack to a documentary film about a black boxer whose defiant spirit and triumphant victories over white boxers inspired black pride as well as invoking the fury of the Ku Klux Klan.
The album has now been given the box set treatment, which is important on three counts:
1. Documenting the most rock influenced work of Miles Davis
2. Presenting these recordings digitally remastered for the first time.
3. Documenting the many different songs and takes used for the "Tribute" as well as every other studio jam recorded during the same period (Feb - June 1970); many previously unreleased.

Davis made these recordings with the core members of his group that recorded "Bitches Brew" including Chick Corea, John McLaughlin, and Jack DeJohnette. However, unlike the expanded two-drummer, two bass, three keyboard setup on "Brew" this band on these recordings is stripped down to a smaller core that is able to slam down the funk and rock grooves for the soloists to jam on. The funky drumming of DeJohnette drives some of the most irresistible fusion ever heard (especially on disc three) and is helped along with the funky keyboards of Corea (as well as surprise guest Herbie Hancock) and the still challenging harmonics of Davis.

The sheer volume of this set (over six hours, including multiple takes of the tracks "Right On" and "Willie Nelson") as well as a big price tag will make it daunting to buy, but fans of Davis will find it essential. All in all, this has to be one of the best box sets in recent memory and I highly recommend it.

P.S. - For those on a budget, a single disc version of the original Jack Johnson album should be available soon.