Buddy Miles: Changes

Rock/funk drummer Buddy Miles (who passed away earlier this year) enjoyed a successful solo career, in addition to appearing on over 70 albums with Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Wonder, David Bowie, Carlos Santana, and others. Although the DVD cover here echoes Buddy Miles' classic 1971 album Them Changes, this release actually compiles two 1990s concerts. The vocalist/drummer performs the first 12-song set in Geneva, Switzerland with his band MST in 1995 at the New Morning Rock Heroes Festival. Miles and his dreadlocked mates fry up a funk-metal hybrid that recalls Living Colour in this 77-minute set (presented in Dolby Digital 5.1) that includes a mix of originals (such as “Life Is What You Make It”) and cover songs (such as Otis Redding's “Knock on Wood” and the Beatles' “Come Together”), concluding with a trio of Hendrix tunes: “Purple Haze,” “Voodoo Child,” and “Hey Joe.” The second date stems from Paris 1996, opening with Miles on guitar accompanied by a five-piece band, and offers only two numbers, but they're epic in length: Albert King's “Born Under a Bad Sign” (19:28) and the Impressions' “For Your Precious Love” (13:22), recorded in stereo. Describing his physique as “plenty big,” Miles remains seated for both sets, but shreds and emotes with gusto. DVD extras include the half-hour 2004 documentary “After the Experience: A Buddy Miles Self-Portrait,” in which Miles talks about his career, as well as a text bio and discography. Recommended. Aud: P. (K. Fennessy)