Track Listing

1. My Funny Valentine - Miles Davis, Miles Davis,
2. Blues by Five - Miles Davis, Miles Davis
3. Airegin - Miles Davis, Miles Davis
4. Tune Up/When Lights Are Low - Miles Davis, Miles Davis
5. Tune-Up/When Lights Are Low - Miles Davis
6. Just Squeeze Me (But Don't Tease Me) - Miles Davis

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #50278 in Music
• Released on: 1991-07-01
• Number of discs: 1

Album Description
Trumpeter Miles Davis (along with tenor-saxophonist John Coltrane, pianist Red Garland, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Philly Joe Jones) are heard on this CD reissue performing such tunes as My Funnny Valentine (Davis's earliest version of this standard), Blues by Five, Airegin and a medley of Tune Up and When Lights Are Low. From the OJC/ Prestige label.

Amazon.com essential recording
The first great Miles Davis quintet included John Coltrane, Red Garland, Philly Joe Jones, and Paul Chambers, a group whose every record, honestly, is worthy of attention. The string of LPs, recorded in a blistering artistic marathon in 1956 and released originally on Prestige, is collected on the magnificent eight-CD Chronicle: The Complete Prestige Recordings and draws from their exceptional nightly club repertoire. Cookin' opens with "My Funny Valentine," just as Davis often did on gigs during this period. It gets a slight edge over the other Prestige titles of this group only because it offers a nice balance of ballads, blues, and hard-bop warhorses. Coltrane at this point lacked the consistency and otherworldly inspiration of his later work, but he was playing with a force and even a recklessness that contrasted with Davis's quiet ruminations. But on this record Davis is inspired and witty, and Coltrane matches him all the way. Meanwhile, an all-star rhythm section follows them at every step, helping create an organic unity among equals that was unprecedented in jazz before this group. --John Szwed

Customer Reviews

Great album, BUT....don't get this version!
I really love this album and can't really expand upon all the wonderful comments made by others with regard to the music, performance, and importance of this work.

However, being such a fan of this album by Miles, I have 3 differerent versions of this album:

1. Fantasy/Original Jazz Classics; ASIN: B000000Y7F, ...

2. JVC; ASIN: B000044U0U, ...

3. Fantasy/Prestige "50th Anniversary Edition"; ASIN: B00000K0YD, ...

Of these, the ... release is notably inferior in its sound quality to the other two. Both the JVC and the Fantasy "50th Anniversary Edition" were given a 20-bit remastering using JVC's 'K2 Super Coding System'. Whether it was the technical factors of the K2 system or simply a gifted recording engineer that made the difference is impossible to know without hearing the original master tapes, but the end result is that the other releases sound notably better.

However, the JVC and '50th Anniversary Edition' are sonically indistinguishable from each other (for all I know, it may actually be the same re-mastering marketed under two different labels). The JVC version doesn't really offer any value-add over the '50th Anniversary Edition', so I would suggest ignoring that particular issue, as it offers poor value for money when compared to the '50th Anniversary Edition'.

On the other hand, I really recommend paying the small extra sum to buy the '50th Anniversary Edition' instead of the 'base' version on this page. The sonic improvements are definitely worth it!

5 stars for the album itself, but 2 stars for this particular issue.

miles at his best
this album, recorded the same afternoon as three other records (relaxin', workin', and steamin') with mr. davis's first stellar quintet (davis, john coltrane, red garland, paul chambers, and philly joe jones), is a masterpiece in every sense. mr. davis was in top form having now found his own voice somewhere between dizzy gillespie's and clifford brown's blistering bop trumpet and the west coast understatement of the horn. "my funny valentine" could be played over and over again and never stop revealing the nuances of the melody each soloist coaxes from the tune as they improvise its theme. "airegin" lets us know mr. davis could blaze right along with the best of them, but the closing ballad "when lights are low," sets us free with another study for quiet evenings and romantic fires. the quintet had jelled on this album and this truly is a group piece. miles always gave his sidemen plenty of room to stretch and even encouraged trios and duos to split off during the soloing so each man could shine in their own way. a classic record.

great stuff
"Cookin, " "Relaxin," "Steamin," and "Workin," were all recorded in one afternoon in 1955 to fulfill Davis' contractuaral obligations to Prestige records so he could work full time with Columbia records.

The results of the 4 lps are varied, each with highs and lows (a noticably sad low is John Coltrane's playing on these sides, as Trane was battling, and losing to, any number of addictions from alcohol to overeating...Trane would soon take a forced sabbatical to get his life in order and Sonny Rollins would join the group), but the overall feel of all these sides are relaxed, with the group enjoying themselves.

Of wonderful note on these sides is the underrated piano of Red Garland, who, in more than one place, is allowed to lead himself, bassist Chambers, and drummer Jones, in a trio setting. The results were a very fine trio who would later record under Garland's leadership. Red's playing is simple- he loved to play block chords- and his soloing is basic yet very effective, blending well with his rhythm section battery mates.

On "Cookin," all members are focused on the 4 numbers at task, with "Blues By Five" being my personal favorite track. Miles' blowing on "My Funny Valentine" is pure and melodic, with more than a hint of emotion in it- and why it would remain a concert staple well into the late 60's.

This lp (as well as the other 3) are treats, and show the 1st great quintet (while not quite great yet- a clean and rejuvinated Coltrane would push the group to greatness) at ease and having fun.