Birth of the Cool

( 4 )

Editorial Reviews

Barnes & Noble - Steve Futterman
Although Miles Davis initially came to fame as the trumpet foil for bop giant Charlie Parker, the first recordings to gain him wide attention were the 1949 and 1950 sessions that were later dubbed “The Birth of the Cool.” These highly influential sides brought Davis together with such important collaborators as arranger Gil Evans, saxophonists Gerry Mulligan and Lee Konitz, and pianist John Lewis. The music itself, inspired by such forerunners as the saxophone playing of Lester Young and the impressionistic big-band sounds of Claude Thornhill, certainly drew on a “cooler” palette than the more frenetic modern jazz of the period. Still, this new attitude coaxed superb...
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Editorial Reviews

Barnes & Noble - Steve Futterman
Although Miles Davis initially came to fame as the trumpet foil for bop giant Charlie Parker, the first recordings to gain him wide attention were the 1949 and 1950 sessions that were later dubbed “The Birth of the Cool.” These highly influential sides brought Davis together with such important collaborators as arranger Gil Evans, saxophonists Gerry Mulligan and Lee Konitz, and pianist John Lewis. The music itself, inspired by such forerunners as the saxophone playing of Lester Young and the impressionistic big-band sounds of Claude Thornhill, certainly drew on a “cooler” palette than the more frenetic modern jazz of the period. Still, this new attitude coaxed superb improvisations from the featured players, whose concise passages flowed beautifully through the highly crafted arrangements. The arresting tonal colors and more restrained atmosphere drew in a new generation of players -- mainly on the West Coast -- who, during the early 1950s, brought the popular “Cool School” of jazz into being. By that time, Davis himself had moved on to contemplate different musical vistas.
All Music Guide - Stephen Thomas Erlewine
So dubbed because these three sessions -- two from early 1949, one from March 1950 -- are where the sound known as cool jazz essentially formed, Birth of the Cool remains one of the defining, pivotal moments in jazz. This is where the elasticity of bop was married with skillful, big-band arrangements and a relaxed, subdued mood that made it all seem easy, even at its most intricate. After all, there's a reason why this music was called cool; it has a hip, detached elegance, never getting too hot, even as the rhythms skip and jump. Indeed, the most remarkable thing about these sessions -- arranged by Gil Evans and featuring such heavy-hitters as Kai Winding, Gerry Mulligan, Lee Konitz, and Max Roach -- is that they sound intimate, as the nonet never pushes too hard, never sounds like the work of nine musicians. Furthermore, the group keeps things short and concise probably the result of the running time of singles, but the results are the same, which keeps the focus on the tones and tunes. The virtuosity led to relaxing, stylish mood music as the end result -- the very thing that came to define West Coast or "cool" jazz -- but this music is so inventive, it remains alluring even after its influence has been thoroughly absorbed into the mainstream
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 1/9/2001
  • Label: Blue Note Records
  • UPC: 724353011727
  • Catalog Number: 30117
  • Sales rank: 1,525

Tracks

Disc 1
  1. 1 Move (2:35)
  2. 2 Jeru (3:10)
  3. 3 Moon Dreams (3:21)
  4. 4 Venus de Milo (3:14)
  5. 5 Budo (2:34)
  6. 6 Deception (2:50)
  7. 7 Godchild (3:12)
  8. 8 Boplicity (3:02)
  9. 9 Rocker (3:07)
  10. 10 Israel (2:19)
  11. 11 Rouge (3:17)
  12. 12 Darn That Dream (3:26)
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Album Credits

Performance Credits
Miles Davis Primary Artist, Trumpet, Leader
Al Haig Piano
Lee Konitz Alto Saxophone
John Lewis Piano
Gerry Mulligan Baritone Saxophone
Max Roach Drums
Al McKibbon Bass
Billy Barber Tuba
John Barber Tuba
Nelson Boyd Bass
Kenny Clarke Drums
Junior Collins French Horn
Kenny "Pancho" Hagood Vocals
J.J. Johnson Trombone
Gunther Schuller French Horn
Joe Shulman Bass
Sandy Siegelstein French Horn
Kai Winding Trombone
Technical Credits
Miles Davis Arranger
John Lewis Arranger
Gerry Mulligan Arranger, Liner Notes
Pete Rugolo Producer
Johnny Carisi Arranger
Michael Cuscuna Reissue Producer
Gil Evans Arranger
Rudy Van Gelder Remastering
Pete Welding Liner Notes
Franko Caligiuri Reissue Producer, Reissue Art
Aram Avakian Cover Photo
Walter Rivers Producer
Cleo Henry Composer
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 4 )
Rating Distribution

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Sort by: Showing all of 4 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Delicious

    I have few words to define this very delicious album. Extraordinary. Powerful. Melodic. Joyous. Terrific. Magnificent. Glorious. Precious. Exciting. And truly...undefinitive. All these words also are the words that express the one and only Miles Davis...like Louis Armstrong and many jazz artists and legends before him, he was truly the empire of jazz.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    A Must Have Title for Jazz Fans

    This is legendary music played by very accomplished musicians and still sounds fresh and interesting, even though recorded over 50 years ago. If you're a jazz fan: get this disc and also Gerry Mulligan's ''Re-Birth of The Cool'' from 1991. (Mulligan was a writer/arranger and member of this 1949 Miles Davis group).

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    my opinion

    cool cd

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 22, 2009

    No text was provided for this review.

Sort by: Showing all of 4 Customer Reviews