The Best of Miles Davis

by Miles Davis

Product Description:

Personnel: Miles Davis (trumpet); John Coltrane (tenor saxophone); J.J. Johnson (trombone); Horace Silver, Red Garland (piano); Oscar Pettiford, Paul Chambers, Percy Heath (bass instrument); Kenny Clarke, Max Roach, Philly Joe Jones (drums).

Recording information: Van Gelder Studios, Englewood, NJ (1953 - 1956).

Miles Davis had so many phases over the course of his career (most of them groundbreaking) that ranking their importance seems futile, but one of the most significant was his tenure at Prestige (1951-1956). During this period, Davis refined his signature "cool" trumpet sound (characterized by his breathy tone and spare, spacious phrasing) and formed his first long-running quintet with drummer Philly Joe Jones, bassist Paul Chambers, pianist Red Garland, and John Coltrane on tenor saxophone.

THE BEST OF MILES DAVIS is a strong 10-song sampler of his Prestige work, featuring five tracks by the great quintet (the treatments of two Sonny Rollins tunes, "Airegin" and "Oleo," are especially noteworthy). The personnel on the other tracks--including Rollins himself on tenor sax, pianist Horace Silver, bassist Percy Heath, trombonist J.J. Johnson, and drummers Kenny Clarke and Max Roach--represent the cream of the jazz world at the time. The music ranges from simmering bop ("I'll Remember April") to lightly swinging balladry ("When Lights Are Low"), and is sophisticated, complex, beautiful, and among the best of its era. Though the individual Prestige albums are all important, THE BEST OF provides a fine introduction to this classic music.