The William Claxton Collection, 180 gram vinyl LP in Gatefold packaging.

Although Miles Ahead (Columbia CL-1041/CS-8633) marked Miles Davis’ first recording Nwith the Gil Evans Orchestra, it was not their first collaboration. They had known and respected each other since the mid-Forties and in 1948-49 they were the two primary architects behind the Birth of the Cool, with respect to both the perennial nonet album and the “cool” sound which became associated with it and which developed into a new jazz style. Miles Ahead, Miles’ first recording on fl ugelhorn, is a completely refi ned product in which the arrangements, the repertoire and the mood of every improvisation were carefully selected. Even though the album is formed by pieces by different composers, Evans’ arrangements create the effect of a concerto more than individual pieces put together. The complete LP Steamin’ with the Miles Davis Quintet (Prestige PRLP-7200) has been added here as a bonus.

PERSONNEL:

MILES DAVIS, flugelhorn
With THE GIL EVANS ORCHESTRA
New York, May 6-27, 1957.

(*) BONUS ALBUM (11-16): STEAMIN' WITH THE MILES DAVIS QUINTET
MILES DAVIS, trumpet; JOHN COLTRANE, tenor sax; RED GARLAND, piano;
PAUL CHAMBERS, bass; PHILLY JOE JONES, drums.
Hackensack, New Jersey, May-October 1956.

TRACKS:

01 SPRINGSVILLE
02 THE MAIDS OF CADIZ
03 THE DUKE
04 MY SHIP
05 MILES AHEAD
06 BLUES FOR PABLO
07 NEW RHUMBA
08 THE MEANING OF THE BLUES
09 LAMENT
10 I DON’T WANNA BE KISSED
11 SURREY WITH THE FRINGE ON TOP(*)
12 SALT PEANUTS (*)
13 SOMETHING I DREAMED LAST NIGHT (*)
14 DIANE (*)
15 WELL YOU NEEDN’T (*)
16 WHEN I FALL IN LOVE (*)

TOTAL TIME: 77:02 Min.