5. Miles Davis The Bootleg Series, Vol. 7: That’s What Happened 1982-1985 (Columbia/Legacy)

Moving beyond the formative periods covered in the series’ first six volumes (the ’50s through the ’70s), Vol. 7 lands on the early ’80s, when Miles was creating the music that would become the albums Star People, Decoy and You’re Under Arrest. As always, he was looking for something new and, surrounded by ace players, he proves that he’s still pointing the way for others to follow. JEFF TAMARKIN