From Cool to Bop: The Anthology Miles Davis Artist

The late '40s were a very productive time for {|Miles Davis|}, who was still in {|Charlie Parker|}'s employ when, in 1947, he started recording as a leader. The following year, {|Davis|} unveiled what came to be called {|The Birth of the Cool|} Band ... Read more

The late '40s were a very productive time for {|Miles Davis|}, who was still in {|Charlie Parker|}'s employ when, in 1947, he started recording as a leader. The following year, {|Davis|} unveiled what came to be called {|The Birth of the Cool|} Band -- a highly influential nonet that boasted such {|cool|} {|jazz|} icons as {|Gerry Mulligan|} and {|Lee Konitz|}. The terms {|cool|} {|jazz|} and {|West Coast jazz|} have often been used interchangeably, but {|cool|} {|jazz|} (a softer, more subtle and understated version of {|bebop|}) actually started in New York with {|Davis|} and {|Stan Getz|}. Focusing on {|Davis|}' live performances of the late '40s, this excellent two-CD set finds the trumpeter appearing in both {|cool|} and non-{|cool|} settings. Disc One is devoted to September 1948 performances at {|the Royal Roost|} in Manhattan's Times Square area, where {|Davis|} leads his Birth of the Cool nonet. On Disc Two, however, he co-leads a quintet with pianist {|Tadd Dameron|} at {|the International Festival of Jazz|} in Paris (May 1949). And the contrasts are fascinating -- subtlety and restraint generally prevail at {|the Royal Roost|}, whereas a harder, more aggressive approach characterizes the {|Davis|}/{|Dameron|} quintet's Paris performances (which feature {|James Moody|} on tenor sax). {|Cleopatra|}'s {|Stardust|} label successfully shows us two different sides of the multi-faceted, chameleon-like {|Davis|} -- listeners hear the differences, but they also hear the parallels. Whether {|Davis|} surrounded himself with soft-toned or hard-swinging players, he was usually a trumpeter who valued economy; {|Davis|} chose his notes carefully and practiced restraint even when those around him were being forceful. {|From Cool to Bop: The Anthology|} falls short of essential, but it's still a fine double-CD that is highly recommended to those who have more than a casual interest in {|cool|} {|jazz|} and '40s {|bebop|}. ~ Alex Henderson Less