"U 'n' I" is a composition by Miles Davis recorded for his 1983 album "Star People". It is one of the rare examples of Davis playing relatively straight. "U 'n' I" is arrestingly charming and brisk. For "Star People" Davis decided to keep things simple - all tunes have concise bodies around them and the melodies are relatively discreet while the solos are performed in a spotlight manner - no blanket tugging - "U 'n' I" is perfect example of this approach. The result is a lot of space in the music - you can hyperventilate inside this structures. "U 'n' I" feels massive. But it is unusually easily digestible.
There is clear rhythm pattern with no jumping around, there is distinct, almost old-school be-bop, melody without twists and turns colored by inventive back and forth with guitar and a little shout-out with soprano sax. It is laid back and shuffling, cool, mildly tempered jazz fusion tune with rippling chords and funky stabs ready to grab you by the throat and baptize in the mood for something-something. It is also one of the catchiest late-period Miles Davis pieces. "U 'n' I" feels right even though the melody is childish by Davis' standards.
In its core "U 'n' I" is a sound enactment of taking a walk with somebody you love. Stroll hand in hand, no bullshit (just because). There are two main voices - trumpet and guitar. They talk about everything and nothing in particular, going round and round, basically looping, phasing sometimes, curdling in their thoughts and bumbling all the way.
Rhythmically it is based on laidback, relaxed walking patterns. You have legs and lungs and heart sometimes almost bursting out to the forth. Sometimes the step is a little bit too fast and then tries to make it up by slowing down a bit and somewhat stumbling. It feels a swingy as if you're nearly overwhelmed with the flush of feelings but still in control. The resulting groove is infectious - Al Foster and Mino Cinelu do the cool funky cat walking tall strut like no one else while Marcus Miller' bass is dancing around. It transcends the whole thing. Miles Davis and Mike Stern' are playing off each other doing parallel narratives - trying to calculate all possible moves of each other and attempt to hit a preemptive strike. But they never do it. It is unsettling in some way. The resulting melody is irresistible. It sticks, it gets in your head - whirling and curling and you can't help but utter-mumble it every time you take a walk.
Unlike uncertain, careful and overly reasonable stuff from "The Man with the Horn" - "U 'n' I" reeks with quiet and understated confidence. This time Miles Davis knows exactly what he wants to do and he goes for it. The whole thing is like something not exactly comprehensible but very distinct. It moves towards you but kinda not but it feels like there is something going on and it is immensely cool. It defies certain rules of composition for sake of more abstract and angular approach. It goes circles with minimal variations ending up being completely different.
That's how you make an awesome jazz tune.
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