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The Complete Birth of the Cool

The Complete Birth of the Cool

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Artist: Miles Davis
Label: Blue Note Records
Category: Music

List Price: $16.98
Buy New: $9.97
You Save: $7.01 (41%)



New (57) Used (22) from $3.18

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars 25 reviews
Sales Rank: 5076

Format: Original Recording Reissued, Original Recording Remastered
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5

MPN: 94550
UPC: 724349455023
EAN: 0724349455023
ASIN: B000006Q6B

Release Date: May 19, 1998
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours

Tracks:

  • Move
  • Jeru
  • Moon Dreams
  • Venus De Milo
  • Budo
  • Deception
  • Godchild
  • Boplicity
  • Rocker
  • Israel
  • Rouge
  • Darn That Dream
  • Birth Of The Cool Theme
  • Symphony Sid Announces The Band
  • Move
  • Why Do I Love You
  • Godchild
  • Symphony Sid Introduction
  • S'il Vous Plait
  • Moon Dreams
  • Budo (Hallucination)
  • Darn That Dream
  • Move
  • Moon Dreams
  • Budo (Hallucinations)

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  • Lady Day: The Best of Billie Holiday

Editorial Reviews:

Amazon.com
Birth of the Cool is the first important leader date from Miles Davis, one of jazz's most seminal figures and farsighted practitioners. Having made his reputation in large measure from playing with bop giant Charlie Parker, Davis confounded expectations when he embraced the "cool" arranging style of Gil Evans, an arranger for Claude Thornhill's band. Evans, who was employing unique voicings by adding French horns and tuba to Thornhill's instrumentations, also emphasized a diminished use of vibrato in both reeds and brass, producing a drier, "cool" sound. Two of Evans's arrangements, "Boplicity" and "Moon Dreams," appear on the album. Also involved are baritone saxophonist Gerry Mulligan, who contributed such outstanding tunes as "Jeru" and "Venus de Milo," and Modern Jazz Quartet pianist John Lewis. The result is a date that has withstood the tests of time, fashion, and Davis's own extraordinary growth as a performer. An enhanced set, The Complete Birth of the Cool expands the original issue with previously bootlegged live recordings of Davis's nonet at the Royal Roost in New York in 1948. Although the sound quality is far from perfect, the performances are remarkable, and worth the additional expense for the serious fan. --Fred Goodman


Customer Reviews:   Read 20 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars Jazz CD   November 16, 2006
 1 out of 7 found this review helpful

I ordered this CD as a gift. The individual receiving it is a jazz fan and liked the album.


5 out of 5 stars I'd give it 6 stars if I could!!   February 14, 2006
 1 out of 1 found this review helpful

This CD seems to have lots of reviews about Miles, the significance of the sessions, etc., so I won't repeat. Let me just say that this version (in contrast to the other version without the bonus material) is worth the price for the radio broadcasts alone! WAY COOL! I know they're supposed to be an extra bonus, but these are my favorite cuts from the CD.

Buy this CD now, or else!



5 out of 5 stars Cool...Daddio   March 8, 2005
 5 out of 5 found this review helpful

This album is awesome and was the first solo album by Miles Davis(1926-1991). In 1948, Miles left bebop pianeer Charlie Parker to form his own style of jazz and along with Gil Evans(1912-1988) formed a famous nonet featuring the legedary drummer Max Roach. The album was recorded from 1949-1950 but since the jazz audience didn't really "get" this new form in a time when Bebop ruled the jazz clubs and, more importantly, the record sales, the album wasn't released by Capital Records until 1957, after Miles' famous performance at the 1955 Newport Jazz Festival and the release of his 5 classic "first great quintet" recordings(John Coltrane(1926-1967)-Tenor Sax, Red Garland-Piano, Paul Chambers-Bass, and "Philly" Joe Jones(1923-1985) on drums), 4 from Prestige Records-Workin', Steamin', Relaxin', and Cookin' w/ the Miles Davis Quintet, and one from Columbia, the classic 'Round About Midnight. This album is very important in the evolution of modern jazz and this version of the album is made even better with the very rare bootlegged live material from New York's Royal Roost in September, 1948. Unlike the vocal song recorded in 1962 released on the classic second great quintet album, Sorcerer(1967), the vocal on this album is actually sung very well by Kenny Hawgood, I believe, on the song "Darn that Dream." I recommend this album to newcomers and fans of Miles Davis alike, but to those who are just getting into the great world of jazz and consider this one too big a leap, may I suggest the great jazz/fusion trio of recordings(In a Silent Way, Bitches Brew, and Tribute to Jack Johnson) or the second great quintet(Wayne Shorter-tenor sax, Herbie Hancock-piano, Ron Carter-bass, and the late Great Tony Williams(1945-1997) on drums) or if you want the tried and true sextet classic, go straight to the 1959 jazz landmark, Kind of Blue.


5 out of 5 stars Darn That Dream   December 28, 2004
 2 out of 3 found this review helpful

I'm in total agreement with Robert Kornfeld, Jr., another reviewer of this work, who, like me has listened to this music for a "couple of decades." If it is not obvious from all of the reviews, this collection defines the genre. Selections of this album were even considered for that all time classic "Tyrants From An Other World," but were not included due to production expenses. Time sure flies when you're having fun, ay' Bob?


5 out of 5 stars Great Landmark Classic in Jazz, greater w/bonus live tracks   September 7, 2004
 4 out of 4 found this review helpful

Ahh, Birth of the Cool has just gotten a facelift. There are extra live tracks on it which gives it a great perspective and gives you insight on the 2 dimensions of the Miles Davis Nonet, live and in the studio. This is one of Miles Davis' greatest and most influential recordings and started modern jazz as we know it and was very new for that time since the only type of jazz then was swing and hard bebop. This is definately an essential Miles Davis album This gem is pretty much the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band for jazz and most of it still sounds fresh today because it certainly is in most jazz reportoirs. 'Nuff said.

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