Relaxin' With The Miles Davis Quintet (CD)

Few musicians have managed to change the course of music--trumpeter Miles Davis did it several times. An early disciple of Charlie Parker, Davis created an austere, understated approach that became the model for cool. His superb albums in the 1950s made him a star, and in the following decade, he brought small-group jazz to the limit before he unapologetically (and, for some, unforgivably) took on jazz-rock. After a break, he re-emerged in the '80s with a mixture of pop and dense, bristling funk. All the while, his refusal to follow anyone but his own muse made him both a hero and an enigma--either way, he was one of the most magnetic, influential figures in American music.

• Category:  Music  »  Jazz  »  Trumpet
• Format: CD   Learn more about the CD format using Tower WIKI.
• Release Date: January 13, 2004
• Label: Prestige Records
• UPC: 025218731669
• WAPI (Tower ID): 106648111
• Average Customer Review: There are no customer reviews yet. Be the first to write a review!
• Tower.com Sales Rank: #73389 in Music (See Top 100 Music Bestsellers)
• #6224 in Jazz (See Top 100 Jazz Bestsellers)
• #389 in Trumpet (See Top 100 Trumpet Bestsellers)

Browse more products related to "Relaxin' With The Miles Davis Quintet"

Browse more products related to "Miles Davis Quintet"

RELAXIN' WITH THE MILES DAVIS QUINTET includes dialogue snippets taken from the original master reel.

Miles Davis Quintet: Miles Davis (trumpet); John Coltrane (tenor saxophone); Red Garland (piano); Paul Chambers (acoustic bass); Philly Joe Jones (drums).

Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, New Jersey on May 11 & October 26, 1956. Originally released on Prestige (7129). Includes liner notes by Ira Gitler.

Digitally remastered using 20-bit K2 Super Coding System technology.

This is a hybrid Super Audio CD, playable on both regular and Super Audio CD players.

RELAXIN' WITH THE MILES DAVIS QUINTET includes dialogue snippets taken from the original master reel.

Miles Davis Quintet: Miles Davis (trumpet); John Coltrane (tenor saxophone); Red Garland (piano); Paul Chambers (acoustic bass); Philly Joe Jones (drums).

Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, New Jersey on May 11 & October 26, 1956.

This is a hybrid Super Audio CD playable on both regular and Super Audio CD players.

Red Garland's evocation of Big Ben in the opening chords of "If I Were A Bell" is a witty reminder that you're listening to the premier jazz combo of the 1950s, as Miles Davis once again plumbs the ravine of popular culture to come up with another engaging jazz classic.

In this case, it's a dandy from Frank Loesser's "Guys And Dolls," enlivened by Paul Chambers' perfect counter-melodies and Philly Joe Jones' supple brush work. Soon enough, Jones switches up with light stick work, as Chambers fires up his walk and Garland eggs things along with his light, sure, rhythmic strumming. A Harmon-muted Miles responds with delicate, bashful melodies, Coltrane digs in for a jitterbugging reveille and Garland mixes taut, pixieish single lines with velvety big-band chords; Jones defines the laid-back attitude with crisp side-stick accents on four.

Laid-back is the order of the day on RELAXIN'. "You're My Everything" highlights the interaction between Miles and Chambers, but it's Coltrane's expressive clarity that's such a revelation. A year before he'd probably have laid out on such a fragile ditty. On "It Could Happen To You," the band gently dances in cut time, while "I Could Write A Book" is taken at a light gallop (with superb Garland).

However, a pair from Rollins and Gillespie are equestrian events. With his boyish timbre and floating phrases, Miles updates his classic arrangement of "Oleo" from BAGS' GROOVE, as the drums and piano drop out to allow him to body surf with Chambers. Gillespie's anthem "Woody'n You" offers one briskly syncopated fanfare after another.

There are no customer reviews yet. Be the first to write a review!

• Great Deals on CDs under $9.99

  New Releases, Bestsellers and Classic Albums all for under $10! Great Music for Everyone's Tastes!

• Great Deals on DVDs under $12.99

  New Releases, Bestsellers and Classic DVDs all for under $13! Great Movies, TV and DVD Specials for Everyone's Tastes!

• Great Deals on Books under $14.99

  New Releases, Bestsellers and Classic Books all for under $15! Great Reads for Everyone's Tastes!