Search - Miles Davis :: Complete Birdland Recordings

Wonderful Miles Pre-Cool

Juanjo Piñeiro | Granada, Spain | 11/17/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you like Miles before he created cool and modal jazz, listen this CD. Even if you enjoy cool Miles, listen it to understand how Miles arrived to cool jazz from this amazing bop jazz.You can listen also a young Sonny Rollins, Art Blakey, Charles Mingus, etc. Three sessions from 1951 and 1952.Two versions of "Move" and "Out of Blue". Wonderful version of Parker's "Confirmation". Pre-cool "The Squirrel".Live Bop sound and surrended audience. Enthusiastic solos. A must for jazz aficionados."

Historic Bop Sessions

Mark A. Elliott | Richmond, VA United States | 02/21/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Despite the low recording quality on most tracks, this collection of be-bop Miles stands out for its energy and personnel. The May 1952 recording with Jackie McLean on alto and Don Elliot on vibes and mellophone(!) informs the Blue Note studio sessions collected on "Volume One". The June 1951 session, with JJ, Sonny, etc. might as well be called "Birth of Hard Bop". The last 3 tracks, a pick-up band, offer plain fun, with extremely bluesy renderings of bop standards. Of high interest to collectors.
Track Information:
1-6: (5/2-3/52)- J.McLean-as; Don Elliot-vb,mlphone; Gil Coggins-p; Connie Henry-b; Connie Kay-d;
7-9: (6/2/51)- J.J. Johnson-tbn; Sonny Rollins-ts; Kenny Drew-p; Tommy Potter-b; Art Blakey-d;
10-12: (9/29/51)- Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis-ts; Geo."Big Nick" Nicholas-ts; Billy Taylor-p; Chas.Mingus-b; Art Blakey-d;"