Craft Recordings continues its deep dive into the legacy of Miles Davis with Miles ’55: The Prestige Recordings, set for release on August 22. This beautifully remastered collection revisits a pivotal year in jazz history—a time when Miles was just beginning to assemble the band that would soon change the course of the genre.
Spanning 16 tracks across 3 LPs, 2 CDs, or digital formats, Miles ’55 features three distinct studio sessions recorded at Rudy Van Gelder’s Hackensack, NJ studio. These sessions mark the early days of what would soon be known as Miles’ First Great Quintet and include contributions from jazz giants like Sonny Rollins, Red Garland, Philly Joe Jones, and a then-emerging John Coltrane.
In 1955, a newly clean-and-sober Miles Davis was on a mission. He reunited with Sonny Rollins and began crafting what would become one of jazz’s most legendary lineups. Though he’d already signed with Columbia Records by the fall of that year, he still owed Prestige a few final sessions—recordings that would become some of his most formative.
The first session (June 7) featured Oscar Pettiford, Red Garland, and Philly Joe Jones, and was originally released as The Musings of Miles. It included standards like “A Gal in Calico” and “A Night in Tunisia,” alongside Davis originals “I Didn’t” and “Green Haze.”
Later that year, Miles teamed up with Milt Jackson (of Modern Jazz Quartet fame), Jackie McLean, Ray Bryant, and others for a session that produced the album Miles Davis and the Modern Jazz Giants.
But perhaps most historically significant was the November 16 session, which officially introduced John Coltrane to the lineup. This marked the recording debut of Miles’ First Great Quintet and was released as Miles: The New Miles Davis Quintet—featuring now-classic takes on “Stablemates,” “Just Squeeze Me,” and “There Is No Greater Love.”
While these recordings have appeared in various forms over the years, Miles ’55 offers something new: all tracks have been remastered from the original analog tapes by Paul Blakemore, with lacquers cut by Kevin Gray. The package includes insightful new liner notes by jazz author Ashley Kahn and a tribute from the late jazz historian Dan Morgenstern.
Whether you're a long-time collector or new to Miles’ early catalog, Miles ’55 offers a clear, cohesive snapshot of a revolutionary artist finding his voice—and setting the stage for the legendary music still to come.
No comments:
Post a Comment