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Track Listings
| 1. Move (Rudy Van Gelder) (2000 - Remaster) |
| 2. Jeru (Rudy Van Gelder) (2000 - Remaster) |
| 3. Moon Dreams (Rudy Van Gelder 24Bit Mastering 00) (2000 Digital Remaster) |
| 4. Venus De Milo (Rudy Van Gelder 24Bit Mastering 00) (2000 Digital Remaster) |
| 5. Budo (2000 Digital Remaster) (Rudy Van Gelder Edition) |
| 6. Deception (2000 Digital Remaster) |
| 7. Godchild (2000 Digital Remaster) |
| 8. Boplicity (Rudy Van Gelder 24Bit Mastering) (2000 Digital Remaster) |
| 9. Rocker (Rudy Van Gelder 24Bit Mastering 00) (2000 Digital Remaster) |
| 10. Israel (2000 Digital Remaster) |
| 11. Rouge (Rudy Van Gelder 24Bit Mastering 00) (2000 Digital Remaster) |
| 12. Darn That Dream (2000 Digital Remaster) |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk
Many thought that Miles Davis's contributions to Charlie Parker's mid-1940s bebop quintet were insignificant if not disastrous, but his promise became clear on the 1949-50 nonet sides which were collected on LP in 1957 as Birth Of The Cool. If bop's breakneck tempos had caught the young trumpeter unprepared, he flourished in the more relaxed environments of such as "Jeru" and "Israel", maximising the lyricism which became the hallmark of his style. The credit must be shared, however: Miles was part of a group of young experimenters in which Gil Evans, previously noted for his impressionistic arrangements for Claude Thornhill, was a prominent voice. Hence flowing solos from Miles and alto saxophonist Lee Konitz are underpinned by detailed, multi-dimensional writing from Evans, Gerry Mulligan and John Carisi which is more intriguing than the improvisations. Kind Of Blue from 1959 is doubtless a Miles essential, but this set offers a broader sonic experience. The group's nine instruments--unusually for the time including French horn and tuba--are deployed with great craft to create rich, mobile tapestries of tone, texture and harmony. No sound like this had been heard before in jazz, and the rarefied yet vigorous mood it set floated through the collective consciousness of jazz in the ensuing years. There have been several CD editions of these sessions, but this is the first to be drawn from the original 78 tapes rather than the LP master. With transfers by Rudy Van Gelder, the result is a new freshness in music which in some respects still sounds like it could have been written yesterday. --Mark Gilbert
Product Description
CD
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
60 of 65 people found the following review helpful
By Martin Lowe
Format:Audio CD
If you're new to jazz, you can easily be swayed away from the genre by stuff that sounds like a tray of dropped cutlery.
This, however, is a sheer joy to listen to - whether dipping a tentative toe into the ocean that is jazz, or if your beard smells of real ale and your favourite chords are augumented thirteenths.
The remarkable consensus amongst critics that this is one of the finest jazz albums made goes to show how strong it is. It is a major achievement that even jazz critics can't be snobbish about this - a groundbreaking record made in 1949 that still sounds fresh.
Buy - you will not be disappointed.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By TR
Format:Audio CD
This album is an absolute classic. It helped establish Miles Davis and Gil Evans in the jazz world and features other great players such as Gerry Mulligan, Lee Konitz and Max Roach.
A word of warning though if you are new to jazz, know Miles Davis from some of his later albums, or are not a fan of West coast (aka Cool) jazz it may not immediately set your world on fire. However, give the album some time and the superb writing and arrangements should win you over.
It's true that prior to these recordings Miles had struggled as a Charlie Parker sideman with the speed of Parkers bop playing. Indeed it could be said that throughout his lengthy career Miles best playing was on slow or mid paced numbers that allowed his lyricism to shine. Birth of the cool was certainly more laid back than Parkers bop and Miles playing is superb throughout.
The other reasons that the album is a classic though are the strong writing and the excellent arrangements by Gil Evans that are intelligent and multi-layered yet overall the tracks are all concise. A nonet is used and the larger horn section, including french horn and tuba, adds depth to the arrangements. The arrangements were certainly in a different direction to the the big band and swing arrangements that had gone before and the album had a huge affect on later arrangers, whilst it became common to use tuba and french horn in extended mid size groups.
Overall a truly classic jazz album. My only complaint is the inclusion of Darn that Dream the only vocal track on the album. The vocal style sounds incredibly dated and has me reaching for the stop button as quick as a flash.
A word of warning though if you are new to jazz, know Miles Davis from some of his later albums, or are not a fan of West coast (aka Cool) jazz it may not immediately set your world on fire. However, give the album some time and the superb writing and arrangements should win you over.
It's true that prior to these recordings Miles had struggled as a Charlie Parker sideman with the speed of Parkers bop playing. Indeed it could be said that throughout his lengthy career Miles best playing was on slow or mid paced numbers that allowed his lyricism to shine. Birth of the cool was certainly more laid back than Parkers bop and Miles playing is superb throughout.
The other reasons that the album is a classic though are the strong writing and the excellent arrangements by Gil Evans that are intelligent and multi-layered yet overall the tracks are all concise. A nonet is used and the larger horn section, including french horn and tuba, adds depth to the arrangements. The arrangements were certainly in a different direction to the the big band and swing arrangements that had gone before and the album had a huge affect on later arrangers, whilst it became common to use tuba and french horn in extended mid size groups.
Overall a truly classic jazz album. My only complaint is the inclusion of Darn that Dream the only vocal track on the album. The vocal style sounds incredibly dated and has me reaching for the stop button as quick as a flash.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Tyrone
Format:Audio CD
If you're a history buff, you'd love to see these cuts in their original '54 Classics In Jazz LP package & the four '49 & '50 single sides as bonus tracks (Israel & Venus de Milo were on both and b-side Darn That Dream was n't on The Cool 'til '71), but it's unlikely because this repackaged '57 album made them famous & you can see why. Although up to 8 years old, if you were new to them they must have sounded young, bright & modern. This is beautifully written, arranged & played music that casually glides on a breeze.
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4.6 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Classic album
Classic trumpety, jazzy, cool, smoky, dank basement sort of music. Good introduction to jazz for jazz virgins. In a word? Nice...
Published 16 hours ago by CharlieBoy
3.0 out of 5 stars
Nice in spots.
Not really Miles, as he's in the middle of an inoffensive nonet. The first four tracks on his next album Conception, knock it's spots off.
Published 15 days ago by E. Coolican
5.0 out of 5 stars
S miles
The best trumpet ever and such good company. I've never heard a miles davis album I didn't like. He's the man.
Published 8 months ago by Colin the Bear
2.0 out of 5 stars
I might give it another go
I no longer have this album in my collection, for when I first heard It I was extremely disappointed. I found it much to jarring on the ears. Maybe it's just dated. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Axehack
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Birth Of The Cool: Miles Davis - Historically important recordings...
Back in 1949/50, Miles Davis and eight friends recorded 3 sessions. The results were released as singles, then collected together and released in 1957 as `Birth Of The Cool' under... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Victor
3.0 out of 5 stars
Personally not my favourite
For me this isn't Miles' best album but i guess it's important historically. I'm more of a fan ohis quintet years with Coltrane
Published on 3 April 2011 by Andrew
4.0 out of 5 stars
I listen to it all the time.
He's one of the greatest and this album was a worthy addition to my collection.
Published on 9 Aug 2009 by Daniel Alheiros
2.0 out of 5 stars
Caution
I own several of MD's album - my personal favourite being Sketches of Spain. This album, which is rather dull, I made the mistake of buying on the basis of the track Rocker on a... Read more
Published on 15 July 2007 by C. Carswell
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cool and Blue
The cool ooozes out of this great Miles classic. Surely, together with Kind of Blue, a must have...
And if you liked this one, check out Gerry Mulligan's "Rebirth of... Read more
Published on 11 Sep 2001
5.0 out of 5 stars
And a genius is born...
This is where it all starts, people. You have to hear this stuff. If the only jazz CD you've ever heard of is 'Kind Of Blue', for my money this has a little more bite to it - oooh... Read more
Published on 28 April 2001
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