Miles Davis: Tutu [WARNER BROS.]

Why you'll love it

Back on vinyl from Rhino with the original eight-track running order and Irving Penn's famous cover portrait. Tutu won Davis a Grammy for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Soloist, and Eiko Ishioka took another for the album package.

This edition

• Rhino reissue of the Warner Bros. album
• Irving Penn cover portrait in Eiko Ishioka's Grammy-winning design
• Original eight-track running order

About the album

Tutu started life as a Prince collaboration. When that fell through, bassist Marcus Miller took over, writing and arranging almost everything and playing most of the instruments himself (bass, synths, drum machines, bass clarinet, soprano sax), with Tommy LiPuma co-producing. George Duke brought "Backyard Ritual", Scritti Politti's "Perfect Way" became a Miles tune, and Davis named the record for Archbishop Desmond Tutu, then leading the fight against apartheid.

The sound is pure mid-'80s, all sequencers and funk, with that muted trumpet floating over the top on "Tutu", "Portia" and "Full Nelson". It split listeners at the time; Paul Tingen later counted it among the "defining jazz albums" of the decade, one that brought in a whole new, younger crowd. The cover, a close-up of Davis's face by Irving Penn, remains a very good reason to own the LP rather than the stream, and frankly a very good reason to tidy up before guests come over.

Tracklist

Listen

Out July 10, 2026 on Warner Bros. / Rhino, a reissue of the 1986 album.