The Miles Davis Quintet-Cookin' With The Miles Davis Quintet (1957)


 

Artist: The Miles Davis Quintet

Title: Cookin' With The Miles Davis Quintet

Label: Jazz Heritage

Format: CD

Cat: 513321

Year of Release: 1957

Country and Year of Edition: US 1993

Sell Price: $3.13 VG+/VG+ 7/17/24

Discogs Last Sold: 7/10/24 NM/VG+ $3.96

Low: $0.99

Median: $2.34

Average: $2.61

High: $5.99

Current low price: $1.00

Current Number on Sale at Discogs: 31

Have/Want: 482/83

Where Sold: Bessemer, AL

Time it took to sell:  10 years

Where and When Purchased: mail order early 90's

Gwiz-gau Letter Grade: A

Sad To See It Go: No

The 4 Prestige records recorded fast and cheap in 1956 all had an -in' at the end of the title.  Cookin' is the first of the four (Relaxin', Steamin' and Workin' are the others).  This came out in 1957.   It is generally acknowledged as either at the very top tier Miles or a slight cut below, depending on who is reviewing it.  I'm not going to argue with any of 'em, it sounds great to me on a weekend morning getting my first cup of coffee.

It dawned on me I can't hum the standard "My Funny Valentine" if you put a gun to my head.  It's such a standard I don't know it.  Anyway it is from the 1937 Rogers & Hart musical originally performed by teenager Mitzi Green.  It was first a charting hit in 1945 by Hal McIntyre with vocals by Ruth Gaylor.  Sinatra did it on his Capitol debut Songs For Young Lovers in 1954.  It became the signature song for Chet Baker, from Chet Baker Sings released in 1956.  So that takes us to where Miles and his band cut their version for this release.

You want a analytical breakdown of "Blues By Five" you can go to the Jazzomat.  As any Jazz DJ would run down after the track it features John Coltrane on Tenor Sax, Paul Chambers on Bass, Philly Joe Jones on Drums and Red Garland on to join the Trumpet of Miles Davis.  It should be noted that this entire band was already deceased by the time Miles passed at 65 in 1991 of the combination of Stroke, Respiratory Ailment and who knows what else.  He was the last man of this band standing.  First Coltrane at 40 of Liver Failure in 1967, then Chambers at 33 of Tuberculosis in 1969, than Garland of a Heart Attack in 1984 shortly followed by Jones of a Heart Attack in 1985.  They lived hard in the 50's!

"Airegin" I remembered from Wes Montgomery doing it on The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery from 1960 and Miles also recorded it with Sonny Rollins in 1954.  Miles also recorded Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson's "Tune Up" in 1953 on  Blue Haze.  Here it is combined with Benny Carter's "When Lights Are Low" from 1936.  

Always interesting to see the continuum twenty plus years in either direction.

Previously Mentioned:

Muddy Waters-Electric Mud (1968)

Earth, Wind & Fire-Gratitude (1975)

Wes Montgomery-The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery (1960)

Santana-Moonflower (1977)

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