Drink up: Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew Beer is coming
Never underestimate the surprises in the course of history. In college in the early ’70s, I wrote a column predicting that someday there’d be a Charlie Parker stamp, evincing the faith that all that pure light of artistic brilliance would cut through the haze of prejudice and ignorance (low-life music, Negro culture, and wasn’t he a junkie too?).
But that was written more out of hope and faith (Bird lives!) than real confidence. So it was gratifying when Charlie finally did get his stamp in 1995. On the other hand, I recall that a few years later in the 1970s, the saxophonist Roscoe Mitchell told me that someday they’d be selling soap to his music. And I was thinking that was an expression of hisblind faith, not his hold on reality.
Then some years down the road, lo and behold, the Odwalla juice company came along and took its name from a character in a rather spacey poem set to music, words and music both by Mitchell’s Art Ensemble of Chicago bandmate Joseph Jarman, and performed by the AEC. And I recall hearing that Mitchell’s tune “Odwala” — apparently celebrating the same character — was used at one point for radio promotional spots.
Granted, “Odwalla” is pretty much the Art Ensemble of Chicago at their most accessible; I mean, it is a song of sort, a hummable tune, not a tidal wave of screams and shouts, or a solo saxophone piece that’s as much silence as sound (both of which are within Mitchell and the Ensemble’s scope; and don’t get me wrong, I love that stuff).
But I admit I didn’t see that juicy dollop ofainstream success coming for anything from that Chicago school of the jazz avant garde. The same way I wasn’t ready either for the announcement in my mailbox Thursday of Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew beer, celebrating the 40th anniversary of Davis’ pivotal Bitches Brew.
Jazz fusion may have been inevitable, but such a powerfully unexpected statement from a musician of Davis’ or any generation wasn’t. It’s a record that still kicks ass and slithers around the imagination. And like Miles in general, it keeps a kicking and slithering further into the culture. Says the release:
Make sure to tune into the Discovery Channel early next year to catch the premiere of “Brewed,” hosted by Sam Calagione, owner of Dogfish Head Brewery in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware and featuring Dogfish’s new Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew beer. One episode will be entirely dedicated to Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew, a beer created to celebrate the 40th Anniversary release of Miles Davis’ famous recording. Although the show won’t be airing until January 2011, don’t worry because the beer and the 40th Anniversary release of Bitches Brew will both be available on August 31, 2010. Click here to learn more about the new beer and the 40th Anniversary CD releases: http://www.milesdavis.com/brew.
If you haven’t checked out the link, and I hadn’t until just a moment ago, you probably have no idea how much merch is out there celebrating and capitalizing on the Prince of Darkness. From a keychain to drinking glasses to coffee mugs to jackets to $2,300 framed prints.
It may be true that consumer society is that which consumes society, but you could do worse than kick back over the Fourth with some Bitches Brew beer in Miles Davis pint glasses and discuss the contradictions of it all. (I’m counting on the beer being worthy of its namesake.)
It may be true that consumer society is that which consumes society, but you could do worse than kick back over the Fourth with some Bitches Brew beer in Miles Davis pint glasses and discuss the contradictions of it all. (I’m counting on the beer being worthy of its namesake.)
Wonder how long I have to wait for Anthony Braxton cognac?
But that was written more out of hope and faith (Bird lives!) than real confidence. So it was gratifying when Charlie finally did get his stamp in 1995. On the other hand, I recall that a few years later in the 1970s, the saxophonist Roscoe Mitchell told me that someday they’d be selling soap to his music. And I was thinking that was an expression of hisblind faith, not his hold on reality.
Then some years down the road, lo and behold, the Odwalla juice company came along and took its name from a character in a rather spacey poem set to music, words and music both by Mitchell’s Art Ensemble of Chicago bandmate Joseph Jarman, and performed by the AEC. And I recall hearing that Mitchell’s tune “Odwala” — apparently celebrating the same character — was used at one point for radio promotional spots.
Granted, “Odwalla” is pretty much the Art Ensemble of Chicago at their most accessible; I mean, it is a song of sort, a hummable tune, not a tidal wave of screams and shouts, or a solo saxophone piece that’s as much silence as sound (both of which are within Mitchell and the Ensemble’s scope; and don’t get me wrong, I love that stuff).
But I admit I didn’t see that juicy dollop ofainstream success coming for anything from that Chicago school of the jazz avant garde. The same way I wasn’t ready either for the announcement in my mailbox Thursday of Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew beer, celebrating the 40th anniversary of Davis’ pivotal Bitches Brew.
Make sure to tune into the Discovery Channel early next year to catch the premiere of “Brewed,” hosted by Sam Calagione, owner of Dogfish Head Brewery in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware and featuring Dogfish’s new Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew beer. One episode will be entirely dedicated to Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew, a beer created to celebrate the 40th Anniversary release of Miles Davis’ famous recording. Although the show won’t be airing until January 2011, don’t worry because the beer and the 40th Anniversary release of Bitches Brew will both be available on August 31, 2010. Click here to learn more about the new beer and the 40th Anniversary CD releases: http://www.milesdavis.com/brew.
If you haven’t checked out the link, and I hadn’t until just a moment ago, you probably have no idea how much merch is out there celebrating and capitalizing on the Prince of Darkness. From a keychain to drinking glasses to coffee mugs to jackets to $2,300 framed prints.
It may be true that consumer society is that which consumes society, but you could do worse than kick back over the Fourth with some Bitches Brew beer in Miles Davis pint glasses and discuss the contradictions of it all. (I’m counting on the beer being worthy of its namesake.)
Wonder how long I have to wait for Anthony Braxton cognac?
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