Miles Davis & Robert Glasper – “Maiysha (So Long)” (Feat. Erykah Badu)

Miles Davis & Robert Glasper – “Maiysha (So Long)” (Feat. Erykah Badu)

A couple months back we learned that a host of notable names would be featured on the Miles Davis tribute album Everything’s Beautiful. Erykah Badu, KING, Stevie Wonder, Hiatus Kaiyote, Bilal, Phonte, Illa J, and John Scofield (a guitarist from Davis’ band), among others, will all make appearances. Bilal’s feature, “Ghetto Walkin’,” dropped in tandem with the details of the album. Today, Badu’s guest spot, “Maiysha (So Long),” has surfaced via Rolling Stone.

Robert Glasper has always been a multi-genre maestro, and the pairing with Badu is beautifully organic, as she has the versatility to match his melding. Davis’ original rendition, “Maiysha,” was a Latin jazz groove filled with rousing intricacies fluctuating in energy for 14 minutes. Glasper and Badu’s version is half that length, and intertwines Davis’ original trumpet and organ with the neo-soul singer’s voice as she soulfully laments about an ex. The Latin jazz feel is still very much present, but the blending of Badu’s melodic R&B sensibilities and Glasper’s rearrangement invigorates the original sounds with new life. Listen.

UPDATE: Listen to “They Can’t Hold Me Down” featuring Illa J below. Glasper told Zane Lowe on his Beats 1 Radio show that the beat reminded him of J Dilla and it was only right to get his brother on the track.

Everything’s Beautiful is out 5/27, the day after what would have been Davis’ 90th birthday. Pre-order it here.

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