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Review 1
Birth of the Cool, recorded in 1949-1950, wasn't released in its entirety until 1957. But chronologically, it was Miles Davis's first offering under his own name, and also his first collaboration with the innovative arranger Gil Evans. Davis had been immersed in bebop as a member of Charlie Parker's quintet, but by 1948 he was seeking a new direction. Gil Evans, known for his forward-thinking bop arrangements for the Claude Thornhill Orchestra, was also ready to strike out on his own. The resulting Birth of the Cool nonet struck a balance between the bop combo and the big band, between the fire of bop improvisation and the more spacious moods and varied colors made possible by a larger ensemble - one that included French horn and tuba as well as more conventional jazz instruments. The creative ramifications would be felt for decades to come, even up to the present day.
Evans and Davis may have catalyzed the project, but the circumstances leading up to Birth of the Cool involved a wider circle. By mid-1947 Evans's apartment had become a creative headquarters for like-minded musicians such as Gerry Mulligan, John Lewis, and John Carisi; all three would make major contributions to the album as arrangers. (Evans served as musical director but in fact wrote only two of the original 12 arrangements.) Other major figures among the album personnel include Gunther Schuller, Lee Konitz, J.J. Johnson, Kai Winding, Al Haig, Max Roach, and Kenny Clarke.
The Complete Birth of the Cool includes the original 12 album tracks, along with 13 tracks from the nonet's only live broadcast, at the Royal Roost in September 1948 (several months prior to the first studio session). The live tracks, released here for the very first time, include the Gershwins' "Why Do I Love You?" and John Lewis's "S'il Vous Plait" as well as Evans's 19-second "Birth of the Cool Theme," none of which were recorded in the studio.  |
Players
Miles Davis : Trumpet
J.J. Johnson : Trombone
Lee Konitz : Sax (Alto)
John Lewis : Piano
Gerry Mulligan : Sax (Baritone)
Kai Winding : Trombone
Mike Zwerin : Trombone
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Tracks
1. Move Best 2:33
2. Jeru Mulligan 3:13
3. Moon Dreams MacGregor/Mercer 3:19
4. Venus De Milo Mulligan 3:13
5. Budo Davis/Powell 2:34
6. Deception Davis 2:49
7. Godchild Wallington 3:11
8. Boplicity Henry 3:00
9. Rocker Mulligan 3:06
10. Israel Carisi 2:18
11. Rouge Lewis 3:15
12. Darn That Dream DeLange/VanHeusen 3:25
13. Birth Of The Cool Theme Evans :19
14. Symphony Sid Announces The Band
15. Move Best 3:40
16. Why Do I Love You DeSylva 3:41
17. Godchild Wallington 5:15
18. Symphony Sid Introduction
19. S'il Vous Plait Lewis 4:22
20. Moon Dreams MacGregor/Mercer 5:06
21. Budo (Hallucination) Davis/Powell 1:25
22. Darn That Dream DeLange/VanHeusen 4:25
23. Move Best 4:48 |
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