"Steamin' with the Miles Daves Quintet"Personnel:
Miles Davis: Trumpet
John Coltrane: Tenor Sax
Red Garland: Piano
Paul Chambers: Bass
Philly Joe Jones: Drums
Tracks:
Surrey with the Fringe on Top
Salt Peanuts
Something i Dreamed Last Night
Diane
Well You Needn't
When i Fall In Love
Recorded: 1961
NO! 100 need more then just a link!!
ReplyDeleteThe set of albums on Prestige, [Workin', Steamin', Relaxin', and Cookin'] has always been a favorite of mine. 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. Albums like "Kind of Blue" and "Miles Ahead" that are traditionally thought of as the peak of Miles' art benefit from the increased budget of Columbia for recording and studio time as well as the opportunity to higher the best arrangers [like Bill Evans] or keep the best musicians together on the road for an extended period of time. The best albums on Columbia are not always known for hard-swinging [with the exception of Milestones] or conventional interpretations of hummable standards.
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's 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. Others who just listen to Miles may prefer an album like "Steamin" in the series instead.
I'm amazed by the 'Trane bashers who are reviewing this album. If you are listening to any 'Trane before "Giant Steps" you will be hearing a man who has not fully matured as an artist and you have to take the good with the bad. No, 'Trane isn't at his best here. That's part of what jazz is. The thrill is hearing him struggle with ideas and trying to find where the seeds of greatness for his later work. To trash this album because 'Trane isn't a master yet is to kind of miss the point of purchasing this album. You get it for a focused Miles [unlike some of his fusion stuff or late Columbia stuff] and an amazing rhythm section first.
By 'souldrummer' (United States)
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