Relaxin' with The Miles Davis Quintet

Occupation

• Trumpet: Miles Davis
• Tenor Saxophone: John Coltrane
• Piano: Red Garland
• Bass: Paul Chambers
• Drums: Philly Joe Jones

Relaxin 'with the Miles Davis Quintet is a jazz album by Miles Davis, recorded on 11 May and 26 October 1956 Prestige Records.

Background to the album

Due to his appearance at the Newport Jazz Festival on July 17, 1955 was the career of Miles Davis strong boost as he with his performance - accompanied by Percy Heath and Connie Kay - with songs like Now 's the Time and 'Round Midnight able to impress audiences. This year, the Modern Jazz had increased greatly in popularity in the U.S.; this was due to musicians like Chet Baker, Gerry Mulligan and Dave Brubeck, the jazz made ​​a wider audience back to the bebop revolution. The record label Columbia Records was therefore on the lookout for young, promising talent. The Columbia - chief sat in Newport in the audience was from Miles ' appearance excited and offered him a record deal.

The obstacle to the rapid change to Columbia was the fact that the trumpeter his record label Prestige Records owed ​​four albums. After the Newport appearance to Miles Davis made ​​immediately on finding a new band. He undertook Red Garland and Philly Joe Jones, with whom he had already recorded in 1955 quartet recordings in the summer. Added to this was the only 19 -year-old bassist Paul Chambers. He also wanted a second instrument, a saxophone in the band, which was to deliver the kind of contrast as it once did Charlie Parker in their joint formation. Garland and Jones made ​​Miles attention to John Coltrane. She eventually received a contract to play at the legendary Birdland. On October 27, 1955, the new quintet recorded two bebop numbers, Budo and A -Leu- Cha. However, the two titles could be published only after Davis had fulfilled its contractual obligations in Prestige Records. A month later, on 16 November, was the prestige album Miles ( PRLP 7014 ), which represented the final breakthrough to the hard bop style. Coltrane got in the soon- famous " first Miles Davis Quintet " the freedom to develop his then revolutionary style.

The album

To get out early from his contract with Prestige, Miles Davis took his quintet in two " studio marathon " in May and October 1956 a total of 24 titles on: " As with a club gig was the quintet his whole repertoire happen. All tracks were played down without repetition. Although both sessions are characterized by a high musical level, but in some titles the rush of production is clearly audible (eg in Blues by Five or Half Nelson ). "

The repertoire included bebop standards like Salt Peanuts or Woody 'n ' You reminiscent of Dizzy Gillespie to Broadway tunes like You Are My Everything and I Could Write a Book. The "refinement" of standards they succeeded, especially in songs like If I Were a Bell or My Funny Valentine, the Miles Davis since a long time should have in his program.

The title

The first four pieces are from the October session, the other two of the May session.

Edition history

The recorded during the two sessions of 11 May and 26 October titles published except on Relaxin ' (P 7129, 1957) for a further three albums, so first on Cookin ' with the Miles Davis Quintet (P 7094, October 1956 ), Workin 'with the Miles Davis Quintet (P 7166, 1959), and Steamin ' with the Miles Davis Quintet ( Prestige P 7200, 1961).