Cookin' With the Miles Davis Quintet

by Miles Davis, Miles Davis Quintet

Overview

Cookin' is the first of four albums derived from the Miles Davis quintet's fabled extended recording session on October 26, 1956; the concept being that the band would document their vast, live-performance catalog in a studio environment, rather than preparing all new tracks for their upcoming long-player. The bounty of material in the band's live sets -- as well as the overwhelming conviction in the quintet's studio sides -- would produce the lion's share of the Cookin', Relaxin', Workin', and Steamin' albums. As these recordings demonstrate, there is an undeniable telepathic cohesion that allows this band -- consisting of Miles Davis (trumpet), John Coltrane (tenor sax), Red Garland (piano), and Philly Joe Jones (drums) -- to work so efficiently both on the stage as well as in the studio. This same unifying force is also undoubtedly responsible for the extrasensory dimensions scattered throughout these recordings. The immediate yet somewhat understated ability of each musician to react with the ingenuity and precision is expressed in the consistency and singularity of each solo as it is maintained from one musician to the next without the slightest deviation. "Blues by Five" reveals the exceptional symmetry between Davis and Coltrane that allows them to complete each other's thoughts musically. Cookin' features the pairing of "Tune Up/When Lights Are Low" which is, without a doubt, a highlight not only of this mammoth session, but also the entire tenure of Miles Davis mid-'50s quintet. All the elements converge upon this fundamentally swinging medley. Davis' pure-toned solos, and the conversational banter that occurs with Coltrane, and later Judy Garland during "When the Lights Are Low," resounds as some of the finest moments between these musicians. [2007 saw the album reissued with new remastering from Rudy Van Gelder.] ~ Lindsay Planer

Product Details

Release Date:	02/06/2007
Label:	Fantasy / Prestige
UPC:	0888072301573

Tracks

1. My Funny Valentine
2. Blues by Five
3. Airegin
4. Tune Up/When the Lights Are Low

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Miles Davis Quintet   Primary Artist
Miles Davis   Primary Artist,Trumpet,Piano
Miles Davis Sextet   Primary Artist
Tony Williams   Guest Artist
Philly Joe Jones   Guest Artist,Drums
Paul Chambers   Guest Artist,Guitar (Bass),Bass,Double Bass
Ron Carter   Guest Artist
Herbie Hancock   Guest Artist
Red Garland   Guest Artist,Piano
John Coltrane   Guest Artist,Saxophone,Sax (Tenor)
Wayne Shorter   Guest Artist
John Lewis   Piano
Lorraine Geller   Piano
Sal Mosca   Piano
Charles Mingus   Piano
Lee Konitz   Sax (Alto)
Percy Heath   Bass
Arnold Fishkind   Bass
Max Roach   Drums
Howard Rumsey   Bass
Roy Haynes   Drums

Technical Credits

Stuart Kremsky   Reissue Production Assistance
Otto Harbach   Composer
Thelonious Monk   Composer
Gil Evans   Composer
Budd Johnson   Composer
George Russell   Composer
Zev Feldman   Project Assistant
Benny Carter   Composer
Tony Williams   Composer
Richard Rodgers   Composer
Spencer Williams   Composer
Charles Mingus   Composer
Jerome Kern   Composer
Sonny Rollins   Composer
Bob Porter   Reissue Supervisor
Bob Weinstock   Producer,Supervisor
Ira Gitler   Liner Notes,Original Liner Notes
Cheryl Pawelski   Project Assistant
Lorenz Hart   Composer
Lee Konitz   Composer
Red Garland   Composer
Rikka Arnold   Project Assistant
Reid Miles   Cover Design
Miles Davis   Composer
Nick Phillips   Reissue Supervisor
Rudy Van Gelder   Mastering Engineer,Remastering,Liner Notes,Recording,Engineer
Chris Cliugh   Project Assistant