Workin' With the Miles Davis Quintet

Miles Davis - Workin' With the Miles Davis Quintet

Workin' With the Miles Davis Quintet
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Music CD Cover

Artist: Miles Davis
Brand: Miles Davis
Edition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 1990-10-17
Music Label: Ojc
Soundtracks:
  1. It Never Entered My Mind
  2. Four
  3. In Your Own Sweet Way
  4. The Theme [Take 1]
  5. Trane's Blues
  6. Ahmad's Blues
  7. Half Nelson
  8. The Theme [Take 2]

Free Music Notes for Workin' With the Miles Davis Quintet

Free Music Review: Great album for those who dig straight-ahead Miles
Hit: 5 Stars

The set of albums on Prestige, [Workin', Steamin', Relaxin', and Cookin'] has always been a favorite of mine. These albums were made in marathon sessions over a weekend so that Miles could be free to record under heavier promotion and a far more lucrative contract on Columbia Records. Albums like "Kind of Blue" and "Miles Ahead" that are traditionally thought of as the peak of Miles' art benefit from the increased budget of Columbia for recording and studio time as well as the opportunity to higher the best arrangers [like Bill Evans] or keep the best musicians together on the road for an extended period of time. The best albums on Columbia are not always known for hard-swinging [with the exception of Milestones] or conventional interpretations of hummable standards.

These Prestiges [Workin', Steamin', Relaxin', and Cookin'] are some of the hardest swinging albums in Miles' discography thanks to the tremendous rhythm section of Philly Joe Jones, Paul Chambers, and Red Garland. Besides Miles' own fabulous playing on the ballads, the work of that rhythm section is what makes these albums so much fun to listen to. Even Miles wants to listen to them. Miles sits out on Ahmad's Blues and allows the rhythm section to play as a trio in a tribute to Ahmad Jamal, whose delicate chamber jazz and reinterpretations of standards inform the swing of this group.

I'd recommend any of the Prestige's equally as five star albums although I realize many people won't have the budget to splurge for all four and those that do may go all the way and purchase Miles' complete Prestige albums, even though some of that material is not up to the consistently high standard here.

Workin's is best thought of as "a plays the blues set". It gives a feel for what a club date might have sounded like. They record two versions of "the theme" to close out each side of the original album, just like they used the tune to close out club sets on the road. "In Your Own Sweet Way" and "It Never Entered My Mind" are buttery ballads ideal for a romantic mood or just for savoring Miles' muted trumpet. "Four" is a standard tune that Miles wrote or borrowed that's given a solid reading. "Trane's Blues" is interesting for the gospel reference to "If you do't go don't hinder me" taken from Charlie Parker's "the hymn" before the melody is repeated at the end of the song. "Half Nelson" is a solid swinger with some nice work by Philly Joe Jones. "Ahmad's Blues" depends on what you think of the rhythm section. I dig it because I like Red Garland and enjoy the spotlight on a rhythm section that can be underappreciated. Little things like Philly Joe Jones work on the hi-hat stick out more in a trio setting. Others who just listen to Miles may prefer an album like "Steamin" in the series instead.

I'm amazed by the 'Trane bashers who are reviewing this album. If you are listening to any 'Trane before "Giant Steps" you will be hearing a man who has not fully matured as an artist and you have to take the good with the bad. No, 'Trane isn't at his best here. That's part of what jazz is. The thrill is hearing him struggle with ideas and trying to find where the seeds of greatness for his later work. To trash this album because 'Trane isn't a master yet is to kind of miss the point of purchasing this album. You get it for a focused Miles [unlike some of his fusion stuff or late Columbia stuff] and an amazing rhythm section first.

Yikes, a meandering review, but I hope this helps some folks dig an album I've enjoyed for over 10 years and come back to often.

--5 stars
SD
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Workin' With the Miles Davis Quintet Poster

Miles Davis's 1956 Quintet was one of his classic groups, featuring tenor-saxophonist John Coltrane, pianist Red Garland, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Philly Jo Jones. They recorded four albums for Prestige in two marathon sessions. Among the highlights are It Never Entered My Mind, Four, In Your Own Sweet Way and two versions of The Theme. The music is essential in one form or another. 8 tracks. From the OJC/ Prestige label.
Trumpeter Miles Davis led several sessions for Prestige Records between November 1955 and October 1956 with his legendary "first" quintet, featuring tenor saxophonist John Coltrane, pianist Red Garland, bassist Paul Chambers, and drummer Philly Joe Jones. The sessions represent an incomparable musical legacy. Impeccably engineered by Rudy Van Gelder, the music was released on five albums that provide a unique glimpse at how five brilliant instrumentalists coalesced into one of the most extraordinary ensembles in modern jazz. Workin' presents an easygoing program that balances ballads with the blues and includes quintet performances of originals by Davis ("Four," "Half Nelson"), Coltrane ("Trane's Blues"), and Dave Brubeck ("In Your Own Sweet Way"); an interpretation of the standard "It Never Entered My Mind" without saxophone; and a piano-trio version of Ahmad Jamal's "Ahmad's Blues." Coltrane's melancholy solo on Brubeck's tune and Garland's spry excursion on Coltrane's are two of this classic's many highlights. --Mitchell Feldman

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