Miles Davis Quintet – Workin’ With the Miles Davis Quintet (Blue Vinyl LP by Craft)

Undeniably one of the best small bands in the history of jazz, the Miles Davis Quintet of the mid-1950s made history at the Cafe Bohemia on Manhattan’s Barrow Street and in the New Jersey studio of Rudy Van Gelder for Prestige. This is the third in a series of four LPs taped in two marathon studio sessions, done in the style of sets at the Bohemia. Preceded by Cookin’ and Relaxin’, Workin’ is a mix of standards and originals, up-tempos and ballads, and a trio number, “Ahmad’s Blues.” The music this quintet made in the mid-’50s period will live forever: the excitement of the emerging John Coltrane; the informed, melodic swing of Red Garland; the tremendous snap and pop of the rhythm trio of Garland, Paul Chambers, and Philly Joe Jones; and Miles’ poignancy and intense swing.

Musicians:
Miles Davis, trumpet
John Coltrane, tenor saxophone
Red Garland, piano
Paul Chambers, bass
Philly Joe Jones, drums