Condition: New
The Miles Davis Quintet - Workin' With The Miles Davis Quintet
Label: Fantasy
Catalog#: OJC-296 (P-7166)
Format: Vinyl, LP, Reissue
Condition: NEW
Country: US
Released: 1987
Genre: Jazz
Style: Hard Bop, Modal
Credits: Artwork By [Cover] - Esmond Edwards
Bass - Paul Chambers
Drums - "Philly" Joe Jones
Engineer [Recording] - Rudy Van Gelder
Mastered By [Digital Remastering] - Kirk Felton
Piano - Red Garland
Producer [Supervision] - Bob Weinstock
Saxophone [Tenor] - John Coltrane (tracks: 1 to 5, 7, 8)
Trumpet - Miles Davis (tracks: 1 to 5, 7, 8)
Notes: Original notes:
Supervision by Bob Weinstock
Recorded in Hackensack, NJ on May 11, 1956
("Half Nelson" recorded October 26, 1956)
Recording Engineer - Rudy Van Gelder.
Digital Remastering, 1987 - Kirk Felton (Fantasy Studios, Berkley).
Cover - Esmond Edwards
Submission notes:
This is the 1987 US pressing LP reissue (by Fantasy Inc. / Original Jazz Classics catalog) of the original Prestige album relased in 1956.
Tracklisting:
1 It Never Entered My Mind (5:23)
2 Four (7:12)
3 In Your Own Sweet Way (5:42)
4 The Theme (Take 1) (1:58)
5 Trane's Blues (8:33)
6 Ahmad's Blues (7:23)
7 Half Nelson (4:46)
8 The Theme (Take 2) (1:05)
The set of albums on Prestige, [Workin', Steamin', Relaxin', and Cookin'] have always been favorites. 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.
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' 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.
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