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album reviews

Miles Davis



Birth Of The Cool 8½ ( 1949 )
Move / Jeru / Moon Dreams / Venus de Milo / Budo / Deception / Godchild / Boplicity / Rocker / Israel / Rouge / Darn That Dream

'Birth Of The Cool' was recorded over three sessions, initially as a series of 78s for Columbia Records. Miles Davis had top billing, but drawing together the likes of Evans, Mulligan and other top arrangers led to this really being a collaborative effort. The music swings effortlessly, the musicians form an ensemble and although players came and passed through the collective during the three recording sessions, the sound remains stable and solid - allowing the melodies to flow fluidly as the feel of the music demands. We've eleven instrumental cuts here and one vocal number and yes, the vocal number sounds suitably out of place and considerably more old-fashioned than the pioneering 'Cool Jazz' Miles and collegues were putting together as a reaction to bebop.

Comments about some of the tunes here then, I love the harmonies on the album, particularly 'Boplicity', beautiful harmonic tones all throughout the track yet still allowing room for a solo or three to come gently sailing through. The attack and dynamics of the drum work on 'Budo' stands out and helps the track leap out at you from its place in the middle of the album. 'Rocker' has some gentle, lovely flowing melodies, 'Jeru' has several very familiar sounding lines in amidst the fantastic playing. Those of you who know me will also not be surprised to discover I love the double-bass sounds and they are particular prominent throughout 'Venus de Milo'. I adore 'Moon Dreams', an utterly gorgeous ballad, genuinely moving and perhaps my favourite piece here. Well, 'Moon Dreams'? Romantic tones? Check.

Thirty six minutes of music and even if you don't normally like jazz, there's enough variety here to suggest all but the very narrow-minded should find something to like about 'Birth Of The Cool'. To summarise in a word? Well, impeccable does it, really. Does it for me, how about you?

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Readers Comments Stephen Worcester Cracking. I bought this about 10 years ago and it was one of those 'never off the stereo' gems. I find it brittle and wheezy, in a good way and it is indicative of Miles Davis' continuing experimentation. For me it is Max Roach's drumming (c.f. Move drum solo) which makje sit rise above the gerd, but then Max Roach polished everything he touched