Been listening to this and the Quintet sets all over again this past week, and I gotta say, the IASW box is shockingly revelatory...not necessarily "great" always, but...to hear all the changes Miles was going through, how many different ways he looked at to contextualize the ideas that he finally coalesced with Bitches Brew, it's a fascinating look at the creative process. The changes really began at the tail end of the Quintet's life, but here is where the corner is turned with no looking back. And what really fucks me up is the unedited-ish version of "Shhh/Peaceful", how there was an actual head in place that not only ended up on the proverbial cutting room floor, but one that also had a passage that echoed/predicted Zawinul's title tune, and one that is repeatedly referenced in the solos. Who knew? And "Ghetto Walk"!!! How did we get Big Fun and not get this? This IS big fun!
All in all, for "only" 3 CDs, this is one hell of an adventure. Perfect it's not, but fun? You betcha'!
Besides, I swear that before I die, I will be in a band that plays "Dual Process" in public, more than once, and plays the living shit out of it.