Cool jazz offered musicians an alternative to the lengthy explorations and hot jams favoured by the boppers. The tracks on Birth are all under four minutes and feature the laid-back style of playing that would eventually take the West Coast by storm. Lee Konitz, Gerry Mulligan, Max Roach and Gil Evans would all go on to individual success.
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Relaxin' Miles Davis Quintet 1956 [Prestige]
In a marathon 1956 recording session Davis' classic quintet featuring John Coltrane drew on its live repertoire to put down the bulk of material that would appear on this and three other superb albums… Cookin', Steamin' and Workin'. They all have their admirers, basically boilin' down to personal preference as to which is the best to acquire.
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Milestones Miles Davis 1958 [Columbia]
Featuring the same personnel that appeared on the follow-up Kind of Blue, this record more than holds its own as one of the true classics of jazz. With Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley and Red Garland's trio on board it was hard to miss. In a quirk of history, however, its justly famous successor was so good that Milestones was almost forgotten.
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Kind Of Blue Miles Davis 1959 [Columbia]
Regarded as a landmark record in Davis' conceptual development of modal jazz. The songs are built on chords & scales rather than the key in which they are played. The result is a moving record of haunting beauty - played to perfection by Davis, John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Bill Evans, Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers and Jimmy Cobb.
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Sketches Of Spain Miles Davis 1960 [Columbia]
Arguably the best of the late-50s Miles Davis collaborations with composer/arranger Gil Evans, although there is nothing wrong with the others. Anchoring the record is the stirring 'Concierto de Aranjuez' - a Spanish classical piece around which the rest of the album is built. The orchestra features a host of top-flight trumpeters. Brilliant.
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Miles Smiles Miles Davis Quintet 1966 [Columbia]
A transitional album for Davis chronologically sandwiched between the Gil Evans collaborations and his fusion period. Smiles is widely regarded as the best album by Davis' second quintet featuring pianist Herbie Hancock and tenor Wayne Shorter. While there are no real surprises here, the record certainly maintains Davis' stellar standards.
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Nefertiti Miles Davis 1967 [Columbia]
A widely debated record in terms of its historical significance, Nefertiti showcases Davis' second classic quintet at their exploratory best. While there are certainly freeform elements, most of the music is still recognisable as hard bop. Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock are superb, with plenty of pointers to fusion and the future on hand.
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In a Silent Way Miles Davis 1969 [Columbia]
Davis broke new ground again with this timeless record. The future of fusion was on show - with Joe Zawinul, Herbie Hancock, Dave Holland, John McLaughlin, Wayne Shorter and Chick Corea all on board. Extending tracks with dubbing and electric instruments set the purists howling, despite the sheer beauty and obvious genius on display.
